The Italian Ministry of Interior published statistics this week showing that arrivals from Libya have dramatically decreased over the summer. Italy has taken further steps to enhance cooperation with Libya on migration control.
Latest data published by the Italian Ministry of Interior this week show that cooperation with Libya has resulted in a strong decline in arrivals from Libya. Numbers dropped compared to the previous year by nearly 50 percent in July and more than 80 percent in August.
Efforts to support the Libyan Coast Guard have also been strengthened this week with the launch of Italy’s naval mission operating in Libyan territorial waters. The mission will, according to Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti provide “logistical, technical and operational support” to Libyan naval vessels. Further, media reported last week that Libya’s Tripoli government has allegedly made a deal backed by Italy with two militia groups implicated in trafficking to prevent crossings to Italy. Libyan security forces and civil society raised concern over the deal, warning that it increases the power of militias. The Italian foreign ministry denied the existence of a deal, while Libyan authorities confirm its existence.
Amnesty International’s Migration Researcher Matteo de Bellis, commented: “Right now there are people who have been taken back to Libya, after being intercepted by the Libyan coastguard, and we don’t know what is going to happen to them. We’re talking about men, women and children who are most likely being detained in the infamous detention centres of Libya, where they are exposed routinely to torture and rape.”
The European Commission’s Fifth Progress Report on the Partnership Framework with third countries published this Wednesday states that managing migration along the Central Mediterranean remains a priority focusing especially on the training of Libyan Coast Guard, capacity building at Libya’s southern border, raising protection standards for migrants and refugees in the country and returns from the country.
For further information:
- Doctors without Borders, Press Conference: European governments are feeding the business of suffering in Libya, 7 September 2017
- The International Crisis Group, How Libya’s Fezzan Became Europe’s New Border, 31 July 2017
- ECRE, Proposed Code of Conduct for Search and Rescue putting lives at risk, 14 July 2017
- ECRE, UK Upper Tribunal: return to Libya is unsafe due to high level of indiscriminate violence, 7 July 2017
- ECRE, Libya: migrants’ “Hell on Earth” – Intervew with Izza Leghtas, Senior Advocate for Europe, Refugees International , 16 June 2017
- ECRE, UN report: Libyan Coast Guard directly involved in human rights violations, 16 June 2017
Photo: (cc) EU2017EE Estonian Presidency, July 2017