2017-10-03
Consequences of the EU's Attempt to Neutralise People Smugglers
TRIPOLI - The central Mediterranean is now the busiest corridor for irregular migration into the European Union. All past efforts to combat flows have resulted in more sea crossings and more deaths at sea.
Suddenly this July and August (2017) the numbers of refugees and migrants crossing fell by two thirds.
The story of how this came about took place on three fronts: at sea where there was a concerted attempt to discredit a flotilla of charity boats that were saving lives; at the European Union, where foreign policy was transformed to pursue the single goal of reducing inward migration; and on the north coast of Libya, where Italy made deals with known smugglers and municipalities to trap migrants.
This investigation which spans, Brussels, Malta, Rome, Tunis and Libya, seeks to deliver the definitive account of European actions, their impact on stability in Libya and the right of migrants stranded there.
Team members
Supported
Grant of €3.500 awarded in January 2017. ID
ECB/JA2A/2017/380 and ECB/JA2A/2017/399ONLINE
- The central mediterranean: European priorities, Libyan realities - Newsdeeply.com, 3 October 2017
- Priorità europee, realtà libiche - Open Migration, 12 October 2017
- Bootjes vol vluchtelingen zien we nauwelijks meer. Maar de reden is een nog groter probleem - De Correspondent, 26 October 2017;
- Deeply Talks: Fallout From E.U. Migration Obsession Rocks Libya - The New Humanitarian, 17/10/2017;
- Storm in the Central Mediterranean: European priorities, Libyan realities - GREAT Insights Magaine, 05/02/2018
CONFERENCES:
- European priorities, Libyan realities: the central Mediterranean refugee crisis - IJF19 WebMagazine, 14/04/2018
Documents
Refugees+Deeply+Quarterly+2+v7.pdf
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