Sea rescue is not a crime

Recent attempts to criminalise sea rescuers show one thing above all: the entry of migrants should be prevented by all means. In 2020, the Alan Kurdi and the Aita Mari, two civil sea rescue vessels, were confiscated in Palermo, and when the Alan Kukrdi was released, they were threatened that they would be arrested again next time. Italy, like Malta, has closed its ports because of the Corona crisis. But everyone has the right to life! Rescue at sea is not a crime!

Current projects

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The Mediterranean: monitoring, research, identification

borderline-europe is involved in two very different MONITORING projects:

  • "Invisible" is about the situation of refugees in Sicily.
  • In ‘Detention, illegalisation and the so-called CEAS reform in southern Italy’, the focus is on the implementation of the European Pact on Migration at the EU's external border. The project started in September 2024.
  • Mem.Med is a cooperation project between many entities that carefully focus on the people who have not made it through the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. borderline-europe supports the project through volunteers.
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Situation of refugees and migrants in Italy

Here you can find our bi-weekly Update on the situation in Italy "Scirocco - News in Brief" and further information on the situation of refugees and migrants in Italy.

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Central Mediterranean Info

borderline-europe started in March 2019 to put together information about the situation in the Central Mediterranean Sea for internal research reasons. In 2021 we decided to publish parts of the data via Social Media and on our website.

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Criminalization of Migration & Solidarity in Italy

In the course of the collective attempt to shut down its borders, the EU uses numerous means of deterrence to prevent people from seeking safety in Europe. The criminalisation of people on the move and those who are in solidarity with them has been a widespread strategy for years. In Italy, too, people are prosecuted under the charge of "aiding and abetting unauthorised entry".

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Externalisation of EU Migration Policy

Modern border control no longer takes place at the barrier. Externalisation of the EU's external borders means outsourcing control via pushbacks, pullbacks and visa refusals, and is always associated with the use of force and a lot of money for the respective governments.In future, even asylum applications will be processed in closed centres. Here are our articles on restrictions on freedom of movement and border fortifications.

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Between the Millstones: the Situation of Migrant and Refugee Women in Egypt

This report highlights the challenges faced by refugee and migrant women in Egypt. These include discrimination, threats, assault and the lack of resources to enable them to live safely. The research is based on news monitoring of the violations faced by refugee women, as well as documentation and testimonies from migrant women belonging to ethnic minorities in Egypt, activists and lawyers, and journalists reporting on the situation of these people in Egypt.

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