Ilkka Laitinen has headed up Frontex since the agency was established in 2005, but AFP reports that the Finn’s position is now under threat after Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said he would like an Italian to head the organisation.
The move comes after two tragedies in waters off the Italian island of Lampedusa that saw hundreds of migrants drown. Italy has asked for assistance from EU countries to deal with increased migration flows.
Letta assembled his cabinet on Monday evening to discuss ways to deal with the issue. He also met Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, who was visiting Rome on Monday. Katainen offered assistance in the form of training, surveillance boats and experts.
AFP says that Italy would like to change Frontex, whose task is to help safeguard the EU’s external borders, by offering training and operational assistance to member states.
