The first quarter of 2023 has been marred by tragedy as migrants face perilous journeys across the Mediterranean, highlighting the urgent need for appropriate and compassionate responses from Europe. In this blog, we provide an update on the Mediterranean migration routes in 2023 and emphasize the importance of establishing safe and legal pathways for migration.
Exploring the Mediterranean Migrant Routes
Migration to Europe through the Mediterranean occurs along three main routes: Western, Central, and Eastern. The popularity of each route is influenced by various factors, including political and economic instability, conflicts, and environmental challenges in the departure regions. Additionally, the perceived level of border security within the European Union also affects the number of crossings. Consequently, the popularity of each route fluctuates from year to year. For example, the Western route was the most frequented in 2018. However, due to the impact of Covid-19, and effective cooperation between the EU, Spain, and Morocco to stop the migration flow, the number of crossings decreased in 2019.
The Eastern route, historically the most popular route, spans from Turkey to Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. In 2015, this route witnessed a massive influx of 1 million migrants into Europe, driven by conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya (UNHCR). This marked the highest number of arrivals in any given year.
The Central route involves migrants departing from Tunisia and Libya, with destinations in Malta or the Italian regions of Sicily and Calabria. Since 2021, this route has gained prominence, providing fertile ground for human trafficking networks and people smugglers to exploit the situation in Libya.
The Western route sees migrants crossing from Algeria and Morocco to Spain, or from Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, and the Gambia to the Canary Islands (European Council). Another entry point is Ceuta, a Spanish enclave bordering Morocco, which offers a legal path to Europe for those seeking refuge.
A Deadly Journey from Turkey to Italy
In recent years, we have witnessed an alarming increase in desperate crossings from Turkey to Italy. This route has been particularly treacherous, capturing headlines when 90 migrants, including 28 children, tragically drowned in a shipwreck off Calabria. Compared to other routes, this journey is exceptionally long and may be partly attributed to migrant pushbacks occurring in Greece (ECRE). Greece has faced criticism from human rights groups and the EU following evidence of illegal pushback by the coastguard.
Migration in Numbers
By late May 2023, the UNHCR recorded over 60,000 crossings along the three routes. However, this number likely underestimates the true extent of arrivals due to numerous unrecorded cases. This figure represents a 26% increase compared to the same period in the previous year (European Council).
Approximately 75% of these arrivals landed on the shores of Italy, which has experienced a surge in small boat arrivals (UNHCR). In the first quarter of 2023, Italy witnessed some of the highest numbers of arrivals since 2016, with 51,215 arriving by sea.
Europe has sadly witnessed the highest number of migrant drownings in the Mediterranean since 2017, with 441 victims recorded between January and March alone. Shockingly, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported 1,090 missing migrants, likely a significant underestimate due to numerous unnoticed shipwrecks. Since 2014, at least 26,848 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, according to the IOM.
This rise in migrant deaths can be attributed, in part, to the unusually high number of crossings observed across different routes. In March, the central route experienced a staggering nine-fold increase compared to the previous year.
A New European Pact on Migration
On June 8th 2023, home affairs ministers from European Union member states concluded a meeting in Luxembourg, discussing a renewed European migration policy designed to share the burden of migration.
The agreed outcome will change how asylum seekers are received at borders and the conditions under which they may be relocated. The agreement aims to both improve the speed at which asylum seekers are processed upon arrival, while also loosening the conditions under which failed asylum applicants may be returned or relocated.
Part of this plan will be achieved by obliging members to pay a fee if they do not accommodate a predetermined number of migrants in a given period.
While we have yet to fully understand the implications of this new European migration pact, we will likely see a shift – for the better or worse – in how migrants are received and processed, in the coming months.
Embracing Safe and Legal Routes
The sheer number of crossings in 2023 has contributed to one of the deadliest years for migrants seeking entry into Europe via the Mediterranean. It is vital to address an underlying factor causing perilous sea journeys: the lack of legal migration pathways.
Migration is a natural phenomenon that has occurred throughout human history, and it should be acknowledged as such. With climate change and its cascading effects leading to mass displacement, the global community must revolutionize its approach to this challenge. Punitive migration policies, as demonstrated by Europe, prove ineffective and inflict unnecessary harm on vulnerable individuals, often driving them to embark on deadly journeys across the Mediterranean and the English Channel.
Final thoughts
MOAS continuously advocates for the establishment of Safe and Legal Routes that enable asylum seekers to reach the EU and UK through secure channels. MOAS proposes a safe and dignified alternative that upholds humanity and centres on protecting the most vulnerable people.
You can learn more about MOAS global advocacy campaign and sign our petition today:
https://www.moas.eu/safe-and-legal-routes/
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