Italy wants to protect itself from migrant departures from Libya

Text by: Anne Le Nir Follow

The summer of 2019 was deeply marked by the anti-migrant policy of Matteo Salvini, leader of the Sovereignist League and former Minister of the Interior, who had closed all Italian ports to NGOs rescuing shipwrecked people at sea. Since September, c is a coalition government between the Democratic Party and the 5-star movement led by Giuseppe Conte. With the return of the heyday, and in the background of the Covid-19, Rome seeks the support of Europe to manage the situation in the event of a massive resumption of landings on its coasts.

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From our correspondent in Rome,

The Italian Minister of the Interior has just sent a letter to Brussels asking for European support in the face of migratory flows from Libya. It is a sign of concern, and not only from Italy since the letter, written by Minister Luciana Lamorgese, a technician very attentive to the integration process, was co-signed by Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus.

In essence, Brussels is asked to guarantee a migration and asylum policy based on fair, automatic and compulsory redistribution between the Member States of the European Union. Whereas up to now, it is rather on a case by case basis that each country has intervened, following rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean. In addition, the five countries are also asking for Brussels support for the repatriation of illegal immigrants.

Resumption of departures

According to Italian intelligence and external security services, quoted by the daily Il Corriere Della Sera , around 20,000 migrants exploited by traffickers in Libya are ready to set sail for the coast of the south of the peninsula. And we note, especially in recent weeks, a resumption of landings by small groups.

Between January 1 and June 7, 5,472 people, mostly from Bangladesh, Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire, disembarked, notably at Lampedusa in Sicily. Against 1,878 at the same period in 2019. And then, the most critical phase of the coronavirus pandemic having passed, NGOs are relaunching their activities in international waters. Among them, the German Sea Watch, one of whose ships headed for northern Libya.

Negotiations with Tripoli

Rome tries to keep the communication channels open with all the parties to the conflict. And resumes negotiations with Tripoli, by proposing means of aid which had already been promised in the past. Namely: the delivery of 99 speedboats and instruments for the control of Libya's internal borders.

Finally, the Italian Minister of the Interior will go to Tunis to try to obtain respect for the repatriation agreements of Tunisians in an irregular situation. It should be recalled that during the months of confinement in Italy, all repatriations by plane of migrants subject to an expulsion order were suspended.

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• Italy
• Libya
• International Migration
• Refugees

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