Publications of borderline-europe
‘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 Publisher: Maldusa, borderline-europe
Streiflicht Italia: Lost Lives, Untold Stories (only in German)
People on the move die in the Mediterranean - every day, often without a name, without saying goodbye, without anyone knowing. This publication tells the stories of those who are lost and those who are left behind. Of mothers who, years later, still hope. Of sisters begging the authorities to act. And of a policy that takes these deaths into account - and systematically renders them invisible. The stories in this issue show what happens when states fail to save people when they could. When relatives have to fight for repatriation because bodies have been buried anonymously. When official bureaucracy fails - and human dignity is defended only by the commitment of individuals. This is not about numbers. It is about remembrance - as a protest. Dignity even in death - as a right. About stories - as a resistance to forgetting. Read here the German Streiflicht.
Language(s): Deutsch / German
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.
Language(s): Deutsch / German Publisher: borderline-europe
Power play: how Italy government uses migration and judicial reforms to dismantle democratic checks and balances for shaping international law
The article addresses the growing concentration of power within the Italian government, raising significant concerns about democracy, human rights, and international law. Key issues are highlighted regarding the government’s approach to migration and the judiciary. The article also contains a focus on the separation of judicial careers, a technical reform that risks undermining judicial independence and enabling the concentration of power in the hand of the government.
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Disappearance along the migration routes
Diese Broschüre ist das Ergebnis einer Podiumsdiskussion, organisiert von borderline-europe und dem Bildungswerk Berlin der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, in der Expert*innen aus Libyen, Sudan und Niger die tragischen Auswirkungen der europäischen Migrationspolitik und das Phänomen verschwundener Migrant*innen beleuchteten.
Language(s): Englisch / English Publisher: borderline-europe, Bildungswerk Berlin der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
‘Detention, illegalisation and the so-called CEAS reform in southern Italy - monitoring the situation of refugees in the light of the European migration pact’
In September 2024 our new project began, carried out by the organisations borderline-europe and Maldusa, managed by the Forschungsgesellschaft Flucht und Migration, and supported by the Protestant Church in Hessen and Nassau (EKHN), the Protestant Church in the Rhineland (EKIR), LeaveNoOneBehind and Pro Asyl!
Language(s): Deutsch / German Publisher: borderline-europe/Maldusa
Geflüchtete in Italien - Flucht und Migration an den Rändern Europas – ein Ausblick auf das gemeinsame europäische Asylsystem
borderline-europe arbeitet seit 2009 an der Außengrenze in Sizilien. Vielfach werden wir angefragt, auch Vorträge zu unseren Erkenntnissen der Arbeit vor Ort zu halten. Zwei dieser Vorträge, die wir im Mai 2024 in Palermo und online gehalten haben, möchten wir nun auch in diesem einfachen online Format weiteren Interessierten zugänglich machen. In einem Vortrag können natürlich nicht alle Vorgänge im Rahmen der Migrationspolitik ausführlich dargelegt werden, wir möchten aber mit dieser Verschriftlichung zumindest einen grundlegenden Eindruck der Situation in Italien und speziell in Sizilien vermitteln.
Language(s): Deutsch / German Publisher: borderline-europe, Außenstelle Italien
Spotlight Italy - Cosmos Palermo
Die Broschüre „Streiflicht Italien #3 – Kosmos Palermo“ (unfortunately only in German language) beleuchtet die Lebensrealitäten von Migrantinnen in Palermo, einer Stadt, die für viele Geflüchtete ein erster Ankunfts- und Aufenthaltsort in Italien ist. Sie analysiert die Auswirkungen der italienischen Migrationspolitik unter der Regierung Meloni, beschreibt die Herausforderungen, mit denen Migrantinnen konfrontiert sind – von Kriminalisierung und psychischer Belastung bis hin zu Sprachbarrieren und prekären Arbeitsverhältnissen – und stellt solidarische Netzwerke und Organisationen vor, die Unterstützung bieten. Ziel der Broschüre ist es, auf Missstände aufmerksam zu machen und Perspektiven für ein menschenwürdiges Leben in Palermo aufzuzeigen.
Language(s): Deutsch / German Publisher: boderline-europe
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 Publisher: borderline-europe e.V.
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.
- Italian-Libyan Pacts on Migration - How a renovated partnership is negatively impacting the rights of people on the move
- Patti Migratori Itali-Libici - L'impatto negativo di una collaboazione rinnovata sulle persone migranti
Language(s): Englisch / English Publisher: Alice Cazzoli, borderline-europe