Category Archives: News

by | 20 May 2010 · 05:41

Large Drop in Irregular Algerian Migrants Arriving in Italy in 2009

Italy’s Ambassador to Algeria, Giampaolo Cantini, held a press conference this week and said that the number of harragas, irregular migrants, who were found attempting to enter Italy from Algeria dropped from 1599 in 2008 to 804 in 2009.  The press coverage described the reduction as a 70% reduction, but given the cited numbers, it seems the drop is about 50%.  Cantini noted that not a single migrant departing Algeria for Italy has been detected since 30 April 2010.

Cantini attributed the reduction to the increased level of bilateral cooperation between Italy and Algeria on the migration issue and the increased surveillance of the Algerian coast by Algerian authorities.

Click here and here for articles (both FR).

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by | 19 May 2010 · 04:28

UNHCR to Frontex: Information on Operational Activities at Sea Are Limited

UNHCR has had a liaison officer assigned to work with Frontex since 2007.  The current UNHCR senior liaison officer is Michele Simone.  In a Q&A interview posted on the UNHCR web site Mr Simone expressed some concerns about Frontex operations at sea (in addition to speaking on other topics):

“It remains difficult to evaluate the impact of [UNHCR’s asylum and protection] training [of border officials] while information on operational activities at the borders, especially at sea, remains rather limited.”

“Frontex operations should ensure disembarkation of those intercepted at sea to a place where they are not only safe physically, but where their basic rights – including the rights to seek asylum and receive protection – are respected. This is spelled out in the recently adopted European Union guidelines for maritime border operations. In any event, the operations should anticipate that some of those intercepted at sea will be particularly vulnerable, notably unaccompanied children, women and torture victims. At this time, we believe there are not enough qualified staff at sea or land entry points to identify and support such vulnerable cases. To assist border guards in this identification process, UNHCR is currently discussing with Frontex the elaboration of ad hoc protection guidelines for some selected joint operations.”

Click here for full interview.

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by | 19 May 2010 · 04:04

Canary Island Trial of 3 Accused in Deaths of 25 Drowned Migrant Children

The trial of 3 Moroccan men (YF, MSB and BJ) accused of murder of 25 young African migrants began on 18 May in Gran Canaria before the Sixth Section of Audiencia Provincial de Las Palmas.  The migrants who died were all between the ages of 8 and 16.  The young migrants drowned when their boat sank 20 meters from the shore in Lanzarote, Canary Islands on 15 February 2009.  The boat had departed from Guelmin, Morocco on 13 February.  The migrants reportedly paid between 500 and 1000 euros to be transported to the Canary Islands.  The prosecution has asserted that the boat was designed for use as a small fishing boat close to shore and was not designed for travel on the open sea.  Six persons on the boat survived, several of them were rescued by a local surfer.

Click here, here, here, and here for articles (all ES).

Click here for video – Antena 3 Canarias televisión de difusión de noticias 17 May with video of rescue operation.

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by | 15 May 2010 · 16:15

1 Year Anniversary of Italy’s Push-Back Practice

This month marks the first anniversary of the implementation of Italy’s push-back practice with Libya.  The practice is based primarily on the Italy-Libya Treaty of Friendship, August 2008, and the Supplementary Protocol of 4 February 2009.

The first push-back operation occurred on 6 May.  As a reminder, here is the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture’s (CPT) description of the first operation:

Operation of 6 May 2009

According to data provided by the Italian authorities, 231 migrants (191 men and 40 women) were aboard three vessels in distress. The information collected from other sources indicates that among the migrants there were unaccompanied minors and four pregnant women. Following the interception of the boats by two Coast Guard vessels and one vessel of the Guardia di Finanza, the migrants were transferred onto the three Italian vessels and returned to Libya. The CISOM [Order of Malta Italian Relief Corps] personnel and a journalist, who was aboard the vessel of the Guardia di Finanza, indicated that they were not aware that the migrants would be pushed back to Libya, and that the captains of the Italian vessels only received an order to do so in the course of the operation.

The delegation was unable to interview the migrants pushed back to Libya or, given the authorities’ refusal to provide their names, the captains of the Italian vessels involved in the operation. However, reliable information collected by the delegation would indicate that, during the operation, which lasted around 12 hours, the 74 persons on the Guardia di Finanza vessel were provided insufficient water and no food or blankets; further, physical violence, in particular with kicks, punches and blows with an oar, was allegedly used against a number of migrants by Libyan police at the harbour in Tripoli, to force them to disembark from the two Coast Guard vessels.

Click here (IT) for article and podcast from AMISnet: “Un anno di respingimenti.”

Click here for earlier post.

Click here for the full CPT Report.

Click here for the Response of the Italian Government.

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by | 15 May 2010 · 04:48

Greek – Turkish Migration Agreement

Greece and Turkey signed a series of agreements on 14 May, including a new agreement on immigration.  Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Athens to sign the agreements.

The immigration agreement will facilitate Greece’s ability to return irregular migrants who enter Greece from Turkey.  Pursuant to the agreement Turkey will designate a port in or near Izmir within three months as the location to which irregular migrants may be returned by Greece.  Turkey also agreed to accept up to 1,000 readmission requests per year.

Click here (EL) for Press Release from Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection.

Click here (EN) for article.

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by | 13 May 2010 · 04:14

EU-Libya Association Agreement Negotiations

A Reuters article from 11 May reports that the EU and Libya may sign a cooperation pact known as an Association Agreement before the end of the year and that the pact would address matters such as trade and the control illegal immigration.   An EU mission will likely be opened in Libya before the end of the year according to Reuters.

Commissioner Cecilia Malmström during an interview with the Times of Malta several weeks ago referred to her efforts to begin immigration discussions with Libya:

“Libya is not exactly the easiest government to cooperate with and you know that much better being neighbours. It’s a complicated but important country and we will try to move forward. I’ve already written a letter to the Libyan Foreign Minister suggesting that we should sit together and identify areas where we can cooperate more in the field of migration.”

And Frontex’s 2009 General Report states that one of Frontex’s “overriding priorit[ies]” for 2010 is the development of “structured operational co-operation with neighbouring Mediterranean countries.”  Presumably Frontex desires such an agreement with Libya.

Click here and here for articles.

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by | 12 May 2010 · 15:53

LIBE Votes to Refer Frontex Sea Border Rules to JURI

At its meeting on 10 May, the LIBE committee voted to send a request to the JURI committee regarding the Council Decision pertaining to the procedures to be applied during Frontex surveillance and interdiction operations at sea.  The request asks the JURI committee to refer the Council Decision to the European Court of Justice on the procedural ground that the Council Decision should not have been dealt with as a comitology measure but instead should be grounded on a legal basis.

I have not yet been able to find a copy of the LIBE committee’s letter to JURI, but a video of the LIBE committee meeting can be found on the EP Multimedia Library here or here.  The vote and the brief discussion occurs at approximately 16:44 in the video.

Click here for an earlier post.

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by | 12 May 2010 · 04:44

Mass Human Trafficking Trial in Libya

Over 450 defendants are being criminally tried in Libya, charged with human trafficking and facilitating illegal immigration.  The defendants are reportedly being jointly tried in groups of 30.  Among the defendants are members of the armed forces, public security, and Navy.  The trials are being conducted in special security courts.  ANSA reports that the special court proceedings are being used because the conduct has endangered Libyan national security.

According to an article in the Italian magazine Panorama (owned by Silvio Berlusconi (?)), this is the first such trial of its kind in Libya.  Apparently, only Oea, a Libyan newspaper (described by Panorama as a non-governmental paper) is being permitted to be present at the trials. An article in Oea describes a comment from a lawyer for one defendant saying that the case was difficult given the large number of defendants and the lack of adequate information.

Panorama describes the trials as a possible signal from Gaddafi and one which reveals what has always been suspected, that there has been complicity between traffickers and Libyan police.  Panorama concludes its article by asking whether the trials are genuine or merely propaganda.

Click here (IT) and here (Arabic) for articles.

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by | 11 May 2010 · 14:29

Maroni: Migration Agreement with Libya is a Success

During an interview yesterday, Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni again described the bi-lateral migration agreement between Italy and Libya as effective saying that 850 migrants were successfully intercepted and returned last year.  He contrasted the 850 intercepted migrants with the 37,000 migrants who reached Italian shores in the previous year.  He said that the thousands of would be migrants who have been prevented from reaching Italy have been stopped by Libyan authorities in Libya.  He described this as the “fruit of the cooperation agreement with Libya.” (E’ il frutto dell’accordo di cooperazione fra Italia e Libia.”)

Click here (IT) for article.

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by | 11 May 2010 · 04:38

Italy Will Try to Convince Malta to Resume Frontex Patrols

A bi-lateral meeting between Italy and Malta is scheduled for Thursday, 13 May.  Italy’s Interior Minister Roberto Maroni reportedly has said that he will try to convince Malta to recommit to the Frontex sea patrols.  Maroni expressed concern that the lack of participation by Malta in the patrols will have negative consequences because it will create a break in what was a united front in the Mediterranean.

Click here (EN) and here (IT) for articles.

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by | 08 May 2010 · 15:52

Icelandic Coast Guard-Frontex Ship Delivers Charity Supplies to Senegal

The Icelandic Coast Guard ship Ægir will be participating in Frontex patrols off the Senegalese coast from May to October.  Iceland will also provide at least one surveillance plane, a TF-SIF, to the Frontex mission. While not an EU member (at least not yet), Iceland is a Schengen country.  The Coast Guard will reportedly use funds paid by Frontex for the mission to also partially fund helicopter rescue services in Iceland.

Before starting its Frontex patrols, the ship delivered charitable donations from Iceland for ABC Children’s Aid, an Icelandic charity with programmes in Dakar.

Click here, here, and here for articles.

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by | 08 May 2010 · 14:26

LIBE Vote Scheduled for 10 May re Challenge to Frontex Sea Border Surveillance Rule

LIBE members are scheduled to vote on Monday, 10 May, regarding a request to the JURI committee to approve an ECJ challenge to the new Frontex sea border surveillance rules.  Draft Agenda item 4: “Comitology measure on sea border surveillance (FRONTEX): Request to JURI concerning referral to European Court of Justice.”  The vote is scheduled to follow a report by Commissioner Cecilia Malmström to LIBE regarding the Commission’s work since its entry into office.

Click here for draft agenda.

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by | 07 May 2010 · 05:17

Publication of Council Decision re Rules for Sea Border Operations Coordinated by Frontex

The Council decision on the surveillance of  sea external borders has been published in the EU Official Journal: “COUNCIL DECISION of 26 April 2010 supplementing the Schengen Borders Code as regards the surveillance of the sea external borders in the context of operational cooperation coordinated by the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union.”

Malta has strenuously objected to certain provisions within the new rule and has said that its decision not to host Frontex’s Central Mediterranean enforcement operation, Operation Chronos, was due to the disembarkation provisions contained in the new Frontex rule.  It should be noted that Malta has more recently said that its decision not to participate in Operation Chronos was due to the lack of need for the operation given the “success” of Italy’s push-back practice.

Malta’s objection to the guidelines is largely focused on the following provision in the rule for sea border operations:

“2. Disembarkation

2.1. The operational plan should spell out the modalities for the disembarkation of the persons intercepted or rescued, in accordance with international law and any applicable bilateral agreements. The operational plan shall not have the effect of imposing obligations on Member States not participating in the operation.  Without prejudice to the responsibility of the Rescue Coordination Centre, and unless otherwise specified in the operational plan, priority should be given to disembarkation in the third country from where the ship carrying the persons departed or through the territorial waters or search and rescue region of which that ship transited and if this is not possible, priority should be given to disembarkation in the host Member State unless it is necessary to act otherwise to ensure the safety of these persons.”

Commissioner Cecilia Malmström pointed out during her recent official visit to Malta that the rule could be interpreted by the member states participating in an operation so as to provide for disembarkation of migrants at a location other than the host state.

(HT to Steve Peers (Univ. of Essex) via Bernard Ryan on Migration and Law Network list serve.)

Click here for the Council Decision.

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by | 07 May 2010 · 04:41

Spanish Parliamentary Delegation Visits Senegal to Discuss Immigration

A Spanish parliamentary delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee has completed an official visit to Senegal where they visited the Spanish-Frontex mission based in Dakar and met with Senegalese government officials.  The Spanish delegation included Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Congress of Deputies, and Jorge Moragas, coordinator of the Presidency and International Relations for the Partido Popular.

Duran i Lleida noted that no boat has succeeded in reaching the Canary Islands in recent months and that this is due to the Spanish presence in Senegal in the form of the National Police and Civil Guard.  The Spanish presence in Senegal along with support from Frontex carries out ongoing surveillance and patrols known as Operation Hera.

Duran i Lleida is quoted as saying that “Thanks to the work of the Spanish National Police and Civil Guard and collaboration with security forces, Senegal has managed to curb illegal immigration.”  He writes on his blog (in Catalan) that “for many years, Senegal is a country that has exported more illegal immigration. … Spanish authorities decided to negotiate with Senegal the conditions for ending illegal immigration. … Here in Dakar there is a unit of the Guardia Civil and [Spanish] police force with naval and air means that control, in collaboration with the Senegalese, the possible departures of illegal immigrants.”

Click here (ES), here (ES), and here (ES) for articles.

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by | 05 May 2010 · 04:43

Maltese MEP Appointed EP Rapporteur on Review of the Frontex Regulation

The Malta Independent reports that Maltese MEP Simon Busuttil has been appointed the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the review of the law establishing the Frontex agency.  “As a rapporteur, Dr Busuttil will draw up the position of the European Parliament, including amendments to the proposal of the European Commission to change the agency’s legal framework. The changes must be agreed by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.”

MEP Busuttil is quoted as saying: “If we want an internal EU area without borders then we should share the responsibility of protecting our external borders. Co-ordination of our air, land and sea borders must improve.”  “In Malta we know that Frontex has not performed up to our expectations and I am keen to use the Maltese experience in order to improve the agency where it did not work well.” “Nevertheless, I am mindful of the fact that this agency is not there just for the Mediterranean but for all of Europe and for all of Europe’s borders, including its air and land borders. I will therefore be taking a holistic approach.”

Click here for article.

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