co-financed by the european commission migration by sea at e.u. southern borders brief overview...

CO-FINANCED BY THEEUROPEAN COMMISSION

Migration by Sea at E.U. Southern Borders

Brief Overview

“On the waterfront: Global migration and port cities”

Round Table

16th Metropolis Conf.

13th Sept 2011

João Ataíde

CO-FINACIADO PELACOMISSÃO EUROPEIA

ALIENS AND BORDER SERVICE

Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) is a central government authority, responsible for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners, and for asylum applications assessment, as well as for technical assistance and implementation of national immigration and asylum policies.

Is also responsible for national representation in the relevant working groups and committees of the EU on migration and asylum.

- SEF is the national contact point for the European Migration Network (EMN);

- SEF also takes part in the FRONTEX activities on a regular basis;


EUROPEAN MIGRATON NETWORK (EMN)

OBJECTIVES

- To meet the information needs of EU institutions and of Member States’ authorities, with a view to supporting policy-making,

by providing up-to-date, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum.

-The EMN also serves to provide the general public with such information.

(Council Decision 2008/381/EC )

.


1. Migration by Sea: Background

- Cost, time and efficiency make air transport the favoured intercontinental means of travelling, including that with migratory purposes.

- Consequently, the vast majority of international migration flows (both legal and illegal) are done by air (or land), rather than by sea.


Air transport can be characterized by:

• Rigorous control of national airspaces;

• Existence of commercial lines, most of which on a regular basis;

• Inability of embarking and disembarking outside of airports under direct and strict control of the relevant authorities;

• Systematic control of passengers.


Conversely, maritime transport can be can be characterized by:

• Freedom of maritime movements;

• Ability to embark and disembark passengers along the cost, outside the spaces specifically designated to that propose;

• A whole range of different vessels (as well as purposes); such as inter-harbour transport lines / Fishing boats / Large vessels for the transport of freight/ Large cruise ships/ Recreational craft / Small vessels (used to transport irregular immigrants: pateras or cayucos).


In the light of migrations, the referred characteristics of maritime transport make it a rather complex, uneven, risky and costly process.

Concerning irregular migration, in addition to the employment of small vessels, other forms of pursuing illegal entry may be identified, namely concealing persons inside larger vessels or ship abandonment by crew members.

Regular migratory flows by sea do not have a significant impact, particularly in the EU.


2. Sea Migration at EU Southern Borders: Characterization

For geographic reasons, the majority of migratory flows by sea to EU arrive from Africa.

In this framework, North African countries (Mauritania, Morocco, Libya Tunisia and Algeria) may be qualified as countries of origin as well as countries of transit in what refers to citizens from sub-Saharan countries.

The migratory pressure arriving from the Mediterranean Sea focuses, particularly, on Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece and Cyprus


In recent years, the African flow of irregular migrants has slowed in the western area (Spain) and has increased dramatically in the eastern area (namely in Italy and Malta).

Due to its geographic position and to the features of the Atlantic, Portugal does not experience a significant migratory pressure by sea. Irregular maritime migration to Portugal is often linked to the existence of clandestine passengers concealed in vessels and ship abandonment by crew members.


Sea irregular immigration causes a lot of pressure in south and south-eastern external border of the EU and consequently in the south countries’ admission resources and asylum systems.

On the other hand, it causes significant social and political alarm and may be considered a humanitarian tragedy.

The recent outbreak of armed conflicts in various Northern African countries has exacerbated this problem. Since January 2011, approximately 35 000 migrants from Tunisia and Libya arrived in the sea-shores of the Italian island of Lampedusa and Malta.

In general, these journeys are under the control of African and/or North African trafficking and smuggling networks.


3. The EU Response

In the framework of the EU common immigration and asylum policies, some aspects of Europe’s strategic response should be highlighted: - Management of EU external borders under the principles of common responsibility, solidarity and practical cooperation between Member States;

- The Global Approach to Migration strategy, aimed to promote a comprehensive and coherent policy approach on migration in partnership and dialogue with third countries, bringing together development, social affairs and employment, external relations and justice and home affairs.


- Relevant role played by FRONTEX, the EU Agency responsible for the operational cooperation between Member States in the field of external border control, including the promotion of joint operations;

- Establishment of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to gather information on this issues and to assist Member States under increased pressure, in particular due to their geographical situation or to the arrival of large number of persons that need international protection;


- In view of the recent political events in North Africa, adoption of a regional protection program (covering Egypt, Libya and Tunisia) for the assistance of refugees in those countries, drafting of legislation, and administrative empowerment.

- Humanitarian and repatriation aid, together with programmes for resettling persons in need of international protection;

- Promotion of a Dialogue on Migration, mobility and security with a view to support reforms and security in those countries, and for expending mobility to the EU member-states.


In summary: Maritime migration flows are an inescapable occurrence in the EU;

• It is a rather complex and volatile phenomenon that results from the evolution of frail political, economic and social balance in the countries of origin and transit;

• Apart from the security issues, this phenomenon represents a humanitarian problem with a relevant geopolitical, social and economic impact.

• In the given context, specific, effective and wide-covering responses within the framework of the EU are needed.

• Still, the majority of irregular migrants in EU are overstayers (and not illegally entered immigrants).


Sources

• Conclusions on borders, migration and asylum - Stocktaking and the way forward – European Council(11 June 2011) – doc 11476/11

• Communication on Dialogue for migration, mobility and security with the Southern Mediterranean countries - European Commission (24 May 2011) - COM(2011)292

• Stockholm Programme: priorities for the area of justice, freedom and security for the period 2010-14 - European Council (December 2009)

• European Pact on Immigration and Asylum - European Council (15- 16 October 2008)

• Hague Programme - JHA programme (2005-10) - European Council (4 -5 November 2004)

• Tampere Programme - European Council (15 -16 October 1999)

• Annual Immigration, Borders and Asylum Reports – SEF (in Portuguese) http://sefstat.sef.pt/Docs/Rifa_2010.pdf


Thank You

http://emn.intrasoft-intl.com

www.sef.pt

http://sefstat.sef.pt/

http://rem.sef.pt

co-financed by the european commission migration by sea at e.u. southern borders brief overview...

Documents

sea migration

irregular migration

global migration

european commission

regular basis slide

joo atade slide

larger vessels

eu southern borders