An IMGW News Report
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing Lega Party, Matteo Salvini, has been acquitted by a Sicilian court of charges of kidnapping and dereliction of duty. The charges stemmed from his decision in 2019 to block the humanitarian rescue ship Open Arms from docking in Italy, leaving over 100 migrants stranded at sea for nearly three weeks.
Picture by: Kasa Fue
The Open Arms incident occurred during Salvini’s tenure as Interior Minister, when he championed a hardline stance against immigration. The Spanish NGO’s ship had rescued 147 migrants attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from Libya. Salvini refused the vessel entry to Italian ports, arguing that his actions were necessary to protect Italy’s borders and discourage human traffickers.
While onboard, conditions deteriorated severely, with reports of medical emergencies, mental health crises, and some individuals leaping overboard in despair. After nearly three weeks at sea, Italian prosecutors ordered the vessel’s seizure, and the remaining 89 migrants were allowed to disembark. Salvini defended his actions, claiming he acted with the full backing of then-Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government.
This case comes against the backdrop of ongoing migration pressures at the EU’s borders. In 2023, 123,000 non-EU citizens were refused entry into the EU at its external borders, marking a 13% decrease from 2022. Among these, 58% were stopped at land borders, 39% at air borders, and 3% at sea borders. Most refusals were due to individuals lacking a valid visa or residence permit (23%) or being unable to justify their purpose of stay (22%).
The refusal rates varied across EU nations, with Poland leading in reported cases (15,000), followed by Hungary (13,000) and Croatia (11,000). Ukrainians accounted for the largest number of those turned away (18,000), followed by Albanians (14,000) and Moldovans (9,800).
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stood by Salvini, describing the trial as a misguided attempt to criminalise border protection. Her administration has pursued aggressive anti-migration policies, including deals with North African nations and offshore asylum hubs.
As migration tensions persist, Salvini’s acquittal underscores the polarising debate over Europe’s response to migration and the balance between state sovereignty and human rights.
The Mediterranean and Atlantic Routes to Europe
The maritime routes to Europe are heavily scrutinised. Over the past 15 years, Frontex has recorded 1.37 million intercepted border crossings (IBCs) by African nationals, averaging 91,000 annually. Nationals from Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria account for over half of these IBCs.
In efforts to curb migration, EU-partnered North African countries have enacted harsh measures, including forced deportations to desert regions or neighbouring states without legal review.
Migrant Fatalities
Since 2014, nearly 40,000 migrant deaths or disappearances have been recorded on African routes, though the actual numbers are likely higher. Fatalities have risen, with 4,300 reported in 2023 alone.
According to Statista, in 2023, it was estimated that 3,105 migrants died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea. As of October 2024, 1620 casualties were recorded. However, the accurate number of deaths recorded in the Mediterranean Sea cannot be ascertained.
