The European Union is currently grappling with the highest number of illegal migrant arrivals on its shores since 2015, placing significant strain on its reception services. In response to this challenge, the EU is looking to establish a cooperation agreement with Tunisia and achieve a historic European accord related to asylum and migration laws.
Reports of migrants drowning in the Mediterranean Sea, the detention of rescue vessels, and alleged inhumane treatment faced by migrants, including recent claims concerning Greece, have drawn criticism from media outlets, politicians, and non-governmental organizations.
Italy has called for support as the number of irregular arrivals to the EU has surged in recent months, with significant increases in several Southern European countries. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani recently stated, “The international situation is deteriorating, prompting people to leave Africa in search of a foothold in Europe, whether through the Balkans or the Mediterranean. We are working to control the situation, but the European Union needs to take action.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared a nationwide state of emergency in April to address the rising migrant numbers. As of August 23rd, 105,909 migrants had arrived in Italy by sea, according to the Italian Ministry of Interior, compared to 51,328 during the same period last year.
A spokesperson stated last month that “the European Commission is aware of the increase” and is collaborating with Italian authorities to provide assistance on the island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, a long-standing hotspot for migrant arrivals.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called for further agreements with non-EU partner countries to manage migration. In July, she stated, “We must work more closely with countries of origin and transit,” emphasizing Europe’s need to increase investments in stabilizing North African economies. She added, “Together, we must more consistently combat organized crime carried out by human traffickers and smugglers.”
Perilous Journeys Continue
The route across the central Mediterranean remains the preferred choice for migrants during the first seven months of 2023, often originating from North Africa and Turkey, aiming to cross the sea and reach Italy. There were 89,047 recorded arrivals via this route, accounting for over half of all entry attempts, as reported by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). More migrant arrivals are expected via this route in the coming months, with smugglers offering lower prices amid fierce competition among criminal groups.
Nevertheless, the Mediterranean Sea continues to pose significant risks, with over 2,060 migrants reported missing so far in 2023.
Growing Pressures in Eastern and Western Directions
The Spanish Canary Islands have witnessed an increase in the number of migrant boats departing from West Africa to its shores. In August alone, 2,692 people were either rescued or had arrived on the Canary Islands’ coast, more than double the number recorded in July.
Non-governmental organizations anticipate a rise in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands in the coming months due to favorable weather conditions, the political crisis in Senegal, instability in the Sahel region of Africa, and famines in various parts of the continent.
Greece’s Ministry of Migration has reported a significant increase in the number of migrants arriving from the Turkish Aegean coast to several Greek islands in recent weeks.
According to the ministry, there were 6,669 migrants in reception centers on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros, and Kos by mid-August, compared to 2,964 during the same month in 2022.
Heading north, Belgium is facing a crisis concerning asylum seekers, with a rapidly increasing number of arrivals compared to the previous year, putting additional pressure on an already strained system. As a result, accommodation will not be provided for male asylum seekers, as the government temporarily suspended this approach in recent times.
Western Balkan Route Remains Active
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has reported a decrease in the number of migrants using the Western Balkans route, which is the second most popular after the Central Mediterranean route. More than 52,200 cases were discovered, marking a 26% decline. This drop can be attributed, in large part, to the implementation of stricter visa policies.
While the number of migrant camps in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina has significantly reduced, the country continues to serve as a transit zone for migrants heading into the European Union.
In Slovenia, there has been a noticeable increase in registered illegal migrant entries from January to July compared to 2022. Data from the company showed an increase from 10,103 to 26,871 entries, with most of them arriving via Croatia, which joined the Schengen Area in January last year.
However, Serbia has not witnessed a significant change in numbers. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 73,000 migrants have passed through reception centers in the country.
Historic Agreement on a Challenging Path
The European Union has taken several steps to address illegal migration. After years of heated debates, EU member states reached an agreement in June concerning two texts within the “New Pact on Asylum and Migration.”
This agreement, viewed as “historic,” constitutes a comprehensive reform of the EU’s asylum policy, aiming for fair and sustainable migration within the bloc. Under the new plan, asylum applications will be processed within 12 weeks, and all migrants will be distributed among the 27 EU countries based on their GDP and population, with the goal of achieving 30,000 annual resettlement operations.
This compromise introduces a new solidarity mechanism, mandating that the acceptance of eligible asylum seekers should not be voluntary but obligatory. Countries unwilling to accept eligible migrants will be required to pay compensation of €20,000 ($21,720) per migrant. In case of a crisis, the European Commission will determine whether the affected country needs solidarity when dealing with an increase in migrant numbers.
The asylum and migration agreement serves as the basis for legislative negotiations between EU member states and the European Parliament. However, the agreement faced an initial setback on July 26 when EU member states failed to reach an accord on a key aspect of the proposed plan, specifically relating to migration and asylum rules during crises.
The rotating EU presidency, with support from Italy and other countries, proposed a compromise, but it failed to secure the backing of several nations, including Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Germany, Slovakia, and the Netherlands also expressed concerns about the possibility of lowering asylum standards under the agreement.
Poland, a staunch opponent of the new asylum policy, intends to hold a referendum on October 15, the same day as the parliamentary elections in the country. The Polish government will seek input from its citizens on the proposed reforms to the EU’s asylum policy, specifically on whether accepting a quota of migrants should be mandatory.
“Partnership Model” Agreement with Tunisia
External factors play a crucial role in influencing migrant flows into the European Union. The EU signed an agreement with the government of Tunisian President Kais Saied in July to work together to curb the increasing number of migrants using Tunisia as a transit or departure point for the EU, particularly Italy.
Critics have derided the agreement as unethical, accusing Tunisia of inhumane treatment of migrants, while others view it as a step in the right direction for permanently reducing migration. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the memorandum of understanding between Tunisia and the EU as a “partnership model” with North African countries.
The European Commission aims to provide €105 million for search and rescue operations and migrant returns to their countries of origin, in addition to €150 million to support Tunisia’s budget. Furthermore, Tunisia can expect to receive loans of up to €900 million at low-interest rates to achieve long-term economic and financial stability.
This memorandum of understanding with Tunisia is part of the European Commission’s approach to link cooperation in combating migration and human trafficking with agreements in the economic and energy sectors.
