Suddenly, in July and August this year (2017), the number of refugees and migrants crossing fell by two-thirds.
The story of how this happened played out on three fronts: at sea, where there was a concerted attempt to discredit a flotilla of charity boats that were saving lives; in the European Union, where foreign policy was transformed to pursue the single goal of reducing migration; and on the northern coast of Libya, where Italy cut deals with known smugglers and communities to trap migrants.
This investigation, spanning Brussels, Malta, Rome, Tunis and Libya, aims to provide the definitive account of European action, its impact on stability in Libya and the rights of migrants stranded there.
