MEP Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission, holding it accountable for the deaths of at least 70 people who drowned when a boat capsized off the Libyan coast on 6 April 2026. The question, filed on 8 April 2026 under Rule 144, directly challenges the EU's migration policy, arguing that the tragedy is a direct result of political decisions prioritising border control over human life. The MEP's intervention puts pressure on the Commission to reassess its approach, impacting EU institutions, national governments, NGOs, and migrants themselves.
Question targets EU responsibility and demands action
The question contains two concrete demands: first, that the Commission assess its responsibility for the rising death toll on the central Mediterranean route linked to externalisation and border control; second, that it take urgent action to establish a fully operational European search and rescue operation and create legal and safe pathways to prevent further preventable deaths. The MEP frames the deaths as avoidable, criticising the EU's tightening migration policy through third-country agreements and the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Policy orientation: shift from security to life protection
The question advocates for a fundamental policy shift away from border security and towards the protection of life, calling for a dedicated EU search and rescue mission and legal migration channels. This orientation challenges the current trajectory of EU migration policy, which has focused on externalisation and deterrence. The MEP's stance aligns with humanitarian and pro-migrant positions, opposing the dominant security-driven approach.
Expected follow-up: Commission reply within six weeks
The Commission is required to respond to written parliamentary questions within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal the institution's policy direction on search and rescue and legal pathways, potentially indicating whether it will maintain current policies or consider reforms. The reply will be closely watched by migration advocates and member states with differing views on border management.