How should Italy and the EU respond to the refugee and migrant challenge? How is the situation evolving? A possible essay plan.

 Introduction.

A reference to a recent event or government (or EU) statement that highlights the nature of the humanitarian crisis and/or the intensity of the political debate on migration (e.g. https://www.mediterraneaonline.eu/che-fine-fanno-i-migranti-in-era-covid/). Then explain that in this essay you will first briefly outline the scale and nature of the refugee/migrant challenge for the EU and Italy in particular. Then explain what your line of argument will be.

e.g. In this essay I will argue that the immigration question is more complex than many people realise, so it is unlikely to be fully resolved in the near future. In fact, it will require a long-term, well-funded, well-coordinated strategy at both the national and EU level to be effectively addressed. I will also argue that if the number of new arrivals remains low, the focus of policy and action will shift more and more to dealing with those who are already here, in terms of both repatriation and successful integration.

Body of essay.

   Describe the nature and scale of challenge over the last few years. Provide the relevant facts and figures regarding the causes, routes and rise in migration numbers at the EU and Italian borders. Describe the shift in routes after the EU-Turkey agreement and how Italy then took most of the pressure. Explain the legal (human rights) and moral obligation to assist people in danger and what the terms refugee and migrant mean.

 

(You could make a comparison with the wider picture regarding migration in other parts of the world or inside the EU)

 

Move on to the consequences and challenge for Italy in 2015-16. Huge pressure on limited resources/ physical resources (ships for rescue operations, facilities for reception, status assessment (interview and refugee application processing) temporary and longer-term accommodation, detention centres and other facilities for those waiting for relocation or repatriation/ human resources (personnel for all this)/ economic resources (funding for all this). Italy's call for aid and solidarity from the EU and its EU partners to handle this crisis more effectively and speed up the process. Explain the possible outcomes of an application for refugee status and figures for applicants in Italy. Explain the costs and practical difficulties involved in the repatriation process.

 

Italian and EU initiatives to deal with the crisis from Mare Nostrum to the agreements with the Turkish and Libyan governments. The fall in the number of arrivals. The concerns of NGOs about these agreements. The ongoing gap between promises and lack of solidarity from EU partners.

 

The effect of the migration challenge as an indicator of the chances of effective EU cooperation (on this and other issues) now and in the future and the impact on domestic politics. The reaction of the public in Italy and across Europe, rise of anti-migrant fears and some xenophobia, growing political support for populist and nationalist (and often anti-EU) movements, reaction of Eastern and Central Europe and the temporary suspension of Schengen in other countries. real causes of this phenomenon?

 A further question concerns accusations by NGOs that the EU and Italy are at least partially complicit in human rights violations occurring in detention centres in Turkey and Libya since the agreements reached with those governments involve holding migrants in or returning them to those centres. The Italian government says it is

working with the Libyan authorities to improve the situation.

The effects of the Covid-19 health crisis on migration and migrants in transit and in Italy.

Conclusion.

Challenges for the future and the Italian government's priorities. Short term – more resources (from the EU and EU partners/ Recent EU proposal) to keep the number of new arrivals low.  Repeat that with the fall in the number of arrivals the emphasis now seems to be on dealing with those who are here, speeding up the process of assessing refugee status, for relocation and repatriation and more cooperation and solidarity needed from Italy's EU partners on relocation (and the idea of processing applications for refugee status in other EU states and not the country of arrival?). Long term – agreements, meetings and framework for cooperation with countries of origin to boost their economies and local employment opportunities and discourage illegal migration in favour of applications there for legal migration (give examples), and with countries of transit to counter illegal migration, ensure respect for basic human rights and help run the application process abroad. The need for a coordinated EU strategy for more effective integration and relocation of migrants granted refugee status and better treatment of migrants while they are in Europe. Rebuilding EU solidarity.