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Johan Leman, 18 June 2020

June 3.   The Council of Europe urged Malta to allow disembarkation of 400 migrants being held on tourist boats just outside Malta’s territorial waters. The Maltese government relies for its policy choice on the corona crisis and the fact that the other EU member states are failing to fulfil their obligations to take in those people. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-malta/europe-rights-body-urges-malta-to-stop-keeping-rescued-migrants-offshore-idUSKBN23B1U9

June 4.   The Maltese Parliament has signed an agreement with Libya to create coordination centres to combat irregular immigration. Malta will request financial support from the European Commission. https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/6/4/malta-to-open-migrant-coordination-centres-in-libya

June 5.  5 Mediterranean countries submit a document to the European Commission with a common proposal for better relocation of migrants between all EU member States, a joint repatriation policy, modification of the Dublin Convention and a better cooperation with the countries of origin. The German Presidency is expected to put this on the agenda. https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/documento-dellitalia-allue-sullimmigrazione-condiviso-cipro-grecia-malta-e-spagna

June 7.  Because of threatening the crew, Malta allowed 425 migrants to disembark the tour group boats kept at sea for 40 days. (source: Corriere della Sera, June 8)

June 8.  Italy is negotiating with Libya to counter the menace by Libya and Turkey where both countries are considering allowing 20 000 migrants to enter Europe. 8 juni. (source: Corriere della Sera, June 8)

June 9.  Shipwreck at Sfax (Tunisia): at least 46 deaths including 23 women and 2 children. Destination of the boat with 53 migrants: Italy. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-migrants/death-toll-in-migrant-ship-disaster-off-tunisia-rises-to-46-idUSKBN23I1OT

June 10.  Italy. To date, only 9 500 applications for regularization of irregularly staying migrants who are actually working have been submitted, because employers are reluctant to pay the amount requested (1 500 euros) for their regularization. (Planned period for submitting applications: June 1 – July 15) https://rep.repubblica.it/pwa/generale/2020/06/09/news/lavoratori_irregolari_la_sanatoria_che_non_funziona-258830184/?ref=RHPPTP-BH-I258835483-C12-P4-S1.8-T1

June 11.  Sacha Petiot, head of mission Libya MSF, telling about the migrants in Libya:

700 000 migrants live in Libya, trapped between the internal war and coronavirus. There are 11 detention centres controlled by Al Sarraj (Tripoli). There are no more humanitarian flights and food prices are rising alarmingly. Petiot’s conclusion: either humanitarian flights are restored (via IOM and UN) or those people can do nothing else but to try to reach Europe. . https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/06/11/news/stallo_migranti_libia_msf-258907595/?ref=RHPPTP-BH-I258907869-C12-P8-S1.8-T1

June 12. The Turkish coast guard saved 42 migrants who had been forced back. http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/it/notizie/rubriche/cronaca/2020/06/12/migranti-42-soccorsi-dalla-turchia-nel-mar-egeo_336e55a5-31a9-4c6e-b8c5-556237a8002e.html

June 12.  IOM accuses Greece of forced collective deportation to Turkey using naval ships and sometimes using great force. http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/it/notizie/rubriche/cronaca/2020/06/11/migranti-oim-da-grecia-espulsioni-forzate-verso-turchia_e1345543-5866-4771-a15f-d0832d7be285.html

June 14.  Greece’s coastguard rescues 36 migrants including 10 women and 10 children all from Iran and Afghanistan. Their boat in distress, was spotted near Lesbos. They were transferred to a temporary settlement. https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/6/14/greece-picks-up-36-more-migrants-off-lesbos

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