Some Questions about Italy, the EU and the Migrant/Refugee Crisis

1. Define what kind of immigration we are talking about here. What kind of people are arriving? From where and why? Latest developments (Turkey and Greece)?

2. What is the scale of the problem? Compare figures for new arrivals this year with 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and earlier. Immigration to the EU, and to Italy.

3. How many illegal migrants are there in Italy at the moment? How many have had their application for refugee status processed? How many have had it rejected? What happens to them now? How many have been granted refugee status? What does 'subsidiary protection status' mean? And what are the figures? What does 'authorization'  to stay for humanitarian reasons' mean? And what are the figures?

4. Compare with figures for legal immigration from non- EU countries.

5. Compare with refugee figures for arrivals in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

6. Comment on the levels of internal EU migration and the resulting frictions.

7. What problems has this phenomenon caused for the EU?

1. in responding to the humanitarian crisis

2. in terms of infrastructure, personnel, funds etc…

3. operations on Italy’s coast, on open waters and on the coast of Libya.

4. tensions between EU member states

5. public opinion, sympathy, the rise of anti-immigrant, anti-EU parties

6. current Italian operations and EU plans to deal with the crisis

7. the EU’s agreement with the Turkish government and Italy's (and the EU's) agreement with the Libyan government. The concerns of NGOs about these agreements.

8. The EU's image

8. Comment on possible problems for the future, e.g. the scale of the problem / the integration of new migrants into existing populations / practical problems of repatriation / EU foreign policy concerning countries of origin and transit/ our moral and legal obligations faced with this crisis / the new governments focus and priorities / any other issues or comments?