Italian-Libyan Pacts on Migration - How a renovated partnership is negatively impacting the rights of people on the move

As a destination country along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, the Central Mediterranean Sea, Italy has a long history of dealing with people on the move. In fact, by departing from North African countries such as Tunisia and Libya, people who flee their country of origin for social, political or economic reasons try to reach the safe territories of the European Union. Even though this phenomenon is well established by now, Italy’s migration policy has been inconsistent and harmful towards people on the move. In particular, the ongoing deals between Italy and Libya are enabling violent push- and pullbacks of people intercepted at sea and are breaching many international obligations concerning human rights. Despite the different tools which have been used to formalise the cooperation between the two countries, this partnership represents a common thread in the succession of Italy’s many governments throughout time. Article available in English and Italian.

Language(s): Englisch / English
Publisher: Alice Cazzoli, borderline-europe

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News from Italy - Scirocco Nr. 2 2025

Scirocco [ʃiˈrɔkko-Scirocco] is a southeasterly, hot strong wind that carries dust and sand across the Mediterranean Sea to Sicily and the north of Italy for often only a few hours. This short info is published since March 2021, currently every month. The current issue of Scirocco deals with the tightening of EU repatriation regulations for migrants, the uncertain future of the Italy-Albania deal, the legal success in the Diciotti case as well as protests and the precarious conditions of refugees in Italy. English version will follow soon.
Language(s): Deutsch / German

‘Unwanted’ - extraterritorialisation of border procedures and tightening of deportation regulations in Italy. Is resistance still possible?

On 11 March 2025, the EU Commission presented its new proposal for the Return Regulation. Deportation regulations are set to be significantly tightened, with renewed discussions around the establishment of so-called ‘return hubs’. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, is proposing that these detention centres for deportees should also be located in non-EU countries – qualified as so-called “safe third countries” (SCO) (art. 38, Asylum Procedure Directive). So is the Italian government's ‘Albania solution’ back on the table? In our previous article, we asked why Italy is putting so much emphasis on this expensive and, as we will see below, ill-conceived agreement between Italy and Albania. Looking again into the Italian situation, including the “current stop” to the implementation of the Italy-Albania protocol, the direct governmental attack to the autonomy of the judicial power, and the main challenges it entails for the rule of law, is essential to understand the recent policy developments at the EU level concerning asylum and returns.
Language(s): Deutsch / German

Jahresbericht 2023: Widerstand gegen das europäische Grenzregime

2023 war kein gutes Jahr für die Menschenrechte. Kriege, Konflikte, wirtschaftliche Not und klimatische Veränderungen haben viele Menschen gezwungen, ihre Heimat zu verlassen. Gleichzeitig konnten wir eine fortschreitende Externalisierung der EU-Außengrenzen beobachten. Politisch scheint in der EU alles dafür getan zu werden, die Festung Europa zu stärken. Damit sollen möglichst viele Menschen davon abgehalten werden, Schutz in der EU zu suchen. Die Leidtragenden all dieser Entwicklungen sind, wie immer, die Flüchtenden selbst. Bei alldem können wir nicht tatenlos zuschauen. Deshalb haben wir auch 2023 kritisch beobachtet, dokumentiert, informiert und interveniert. Die Ergebnisse unserer Arbeit findet ihr im folgenden Bericht.
Language(s): Deutsch / German