Mare Clausum: Italy and the EU’s undeclared operation to stem migration across the Mediterranean.
Abstract
In an attempt to stem migrant crossings of the Mediterranean into Europe, Italy and the EU have enacted an undeclared operation, which we term Mare Clausum. This operation has deployed two complementary actions: first, rescue NGOs have been criminalised with the intention of limiting their activities so that they do not disembark migrants on European shores; second, Italy and the EU have tasked and enabled the Libyan coast guard to intercept and pull back migrants to Libya through political agreements, the provision of material and technical support, and coordination mechanisms. This report shows that Italy and the EU have come to exercise both strategic and operational control over the Libyan Coast Guard, which has been made to operate refoulement by proxy on behalf of Italy and the EU. This policy has been implemented with full knowledge of the Libyan Coast Guard’s violent behaviour and the detention and inhumane treatment that awaited migrants upon being returned to Libya.
Date Issued
2018
Publication Type
Report
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Additional Credits
Related URL(s)
https://forensic-architecture.org/subdomain/forensic-oceanography
Access(Rights)
restricted