The recent sinking of a boat carrying migrants off the Italian island of Lampedusa has highlighted the ongoing problem of illegal migration from North African countries to European nations. This incident occurred on June 24th and involved a boat that had departed from Sfax, a Tunisian city known as the main departure point for undocumented migrants attempting to reach Italy by sea. The issue of illegal migration has gained significant attention, especially with the rise of right-wing parties coming to power in certain European countries and implementing stringent policies in response. Consequently, there is mounting pressure on the European Union to take collective action to address this matter, given its profound impact on European society at present. Additionally, many EU countries are still grappling with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Missing Migrants Project by the International Organization for Migration, the Middle East and North Africa region experienced the highest number of migrant deaths worldwide. On June 14th, the organization reported that approximately 3,789 individuals lost their lives while migrating within and from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe and other regions in 2022. This figure represents an 11% increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this death toll is the highest recorded since 2017, which saw 4,255 fatalities.

Numerous Efforts

Numerous initiatives have been undertaken to tackle the escalating waves of illegal migration originating from the Middle East and North Africa. In the past month, several countries that serve as both sources and destinations of migrants have implemented diverse measures to address this pressing issue, recognizing the mutual concern it poses to all involved parties. Some of the notable measures include:

1. Comprehensive European Partnership with Tunisia: In an effort to combat the issue of illegal migration from North Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, the European Union presented a proposal during the visit of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Tunisia on June 11th. The proposal aims to provide assistance in revitalizing the economy and reducing the influx of illegal migrants. Tunisia serves as a significant gateway for migrants and asylum seekers who embark on perilous journeys in an attempt to reach Europe. The Italian Ministry of Interior revealed on June 10th that over 53,800 migrants had arrived in Italy by sea since the beginning of the year, which is twice the number compared to the previous year’s total of 21,700 individuals, with the majority originating from Tunisia.

The European proposal for a comprehensive partnership with Tunisia comes shortly after European Union member states reached an agreement to distribute the responsibility of caring for refugees and migrants. This agreement requires burden-sharing and opens the path for Italy to repatriate asylum seekers and migrants to countries such as Tunisia. The European Union is tasked with providing funding for the voluntary repatriation of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa through Tunisia to their countries of origin.

2. The demand for an international conference: Prior to the European delegation’s visit to Tunisia, President Kais Saied voiced his opposition to Tunisia assuming the role of “Europe’s border guard,” particularly due to Sfax, a coastal city that serves as a significant departure point for migrants. Instead, he proposed an international conference that would unite North African countries, Mediterranean-bordering nations, and Sahel and Saharan countries to collectively address the issue of illegal migration. On June 2nd, President Saied discussed the Tunisian initiative to convene a high-level conference involving African and European countries. The primary objectives of this conference are to tackle the root causes of the escalating waves of illegal migration from North African nations to Europe and to reach a consensus on measures to effectively address this pressing concern.

3. Thwarting attempts to cross maritime borders: During the Eid al-Adha holiday period from June 27th to June 29th, Tunisia, despite being considered the main source country for the majority of illegal migration waves from Sub-Saharan African nations to Europe due to its proximity (with a distance of only 150 kilometers between Tunisia’s shores and the Italian island of Lampedusa), successfully foiled 65 attempts to cross maritime borders. According to a statement from the General Directorate of National Guard, they also rescued a total of 2,068 migrants, including 210 Tunisians who were attempting to reach European coasts.

In an effort to curb the escalating rate of illegal migration from the northern shores of Lebanon to European countries, Lebanese authorities achieved a significant breakthrough on June 30th. They successfully apprehended a fishing boat suspected of preparing to transport passengers illegally across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, despite the occurrence of a boat sinking incident on April 23rd.

4. Expanding British-Italian Cooperation: The Telegraph newspaper recently unveiled a collaborative effort between Britain and Italy to effectively halt the influx of illegal migrants from North Africa to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. The key objectives of this collaboration include strengthening the exchange of intelligence information on human traffickers, conducting joint operations, and fostering cooperation between the border forces and national crime agencies of both nations. This initiative emerged following a meeting between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on April 27th. During the meeting, they recognized the need to prioritize cooperation in addressing illegal migration by establishing a new “Strategic Migration Partnership” between the two countries.

A Comprehensive Approach

The Middle East and North Africa region, particularly Tunisia and Libya, serve as significant transit routes for illegal migration to Europe. This includes migration from their own citizens as well as citizens of Sub-Saharan African countries, especially those grappling with civil wars, desertification, and drought. These factors not only exacerbate the economic crises faced by the local populations but also underscore the need to address the root causes of illegal migration from the region to Europe. Resolving this issue requires a multifaceted approach that tackles the underlying challenges in the countries of origin. Furthermore, it necessitates comprehensive international cooperation involving multiple parties to address the crises and challenges faced by the Middle East region, which compel its citizens to resort to illegal migration towards European countries. It is crucial to provide concrete solutions for climate-related migration as well. Additionally, European countries should explore innovative avenues for organized migration, rather than solely addressing the symptoms of the problem without tackling its underlying causes.