EU’s unfair policies to prevent Mediterranean crossings of refugees

A recent article by Al-Jazeera highlights the deliberate strategy employed by Europe to discourage refugee arrivals by implementing delayed rescue responses.

Since 2017, EU member states have further reduced rescue assets, creating a rescue vacuum in the central Mediterranean.

The Civil Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre reported that Maltese authorities regularly abandoned people in distress, with over 20,000 individuals ignored in 2022. Italy has also limited its operational scope, leaving vast stretches of the sea unattended.

European aerial surveillance operations have not effectively reduced the death rate, as Libyan forces, guided by European assets, prioritize intercepting boats while neglecting those in immediate need of help.

These deliberate delays in rescue responses reflect strategic elements built into the current system of European migration governance.

Civil rescuers, such as NGOs, have faced increasing hostility and obstacles, with maritime authorities withholding information and imposing lengthy inspections upon arrival at EU harbors.

Closed harbor policies in Italy and Malta have further hindered their operations.

NGOs have been forced to reduce their time at sea due to prolonged disembarkation processes.

Italian authorities’ systematic policy of assigning distant ports has prompted legal action from NGOs.

The article emphasizes that these incidents, including boat capsizings and loss of life, highlight a systematic European strategy that weaponizes time to deter refugee arrivals at any cost.