EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos on Wednesday inaugurated the new building of the EU Regional Task Force in Catania, Sicily.

Avramopoulos met with the Italian Interior Minister Angelina Alfano and Frontex’s executive director Fabrice Leggeri to discuss the current developments.

“Europe is right here in front of you, supporting Italy which is bearing on its shoulders an important share of the responsibility in the refugee crisis,” Avramopoulos underlined. “With the inauguration of the new building of the EU Regional Task Force, we have taken another important step in consolidating our hotspot approach here in Italy,” he added.

“As I have repeatedly said during my previous visits in Italy: in this crisis, this very complex situation Italy is not alone. Europe is standing by Italy,” the EU Commissioner stressed.