NGOs Face Pushback as Europe Marks 10 Years of Sea Rescues

Earlier this month, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, visited Libya for the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli. During this visit, the search and rescue organization Sea-Watch expressed its strong disapproval of the collaboration between Libya and Italy, calling it ‘dystopian’ and warning that it would likely lead to more deaths among people trying to cross the Mediterranean.

Meloni responded by criticizing Sea-Watch for not addressing the issue of smugglers who she claims are responsible for the deaths of thousands at sea. She stated that her purpose in visiting Libya was to combat human trafficking, illegal immigration, and prevent deaths in the Mediterranean.

This exchange is emblematic of the ongoing tension between European officials and civilian sea rescuers. Despite a decade of successful rescues, the presence of these NGOs in the Mediterranean has become a contentious political issue.

Next month marks a significant milestone—ten years since the first non-governmental rescue group began operations in the central Mediterranean to assist boats in distress. Over this decade, a vast network of solidarity actors has formed, comprising about two dozen organizations and groups dedicated to saving lives.

In addition to the rescue NGOs, there is Alarm Phone, an activist emergency hotline launched in 2014, which has aided more than 7,000 boats in trouble. In 2017, civil aircraft joined the efforts to monitor the waters from above and direct rescue ships to boats in need.

In 2019, a coalition of civil society organizations called the Civil Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre came together to address the failure of state-run Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres to effectively respond to migrant boat emergencies in accordance with maritime laws.

Initially, there were concerns that NGO rescue missions might allow EU member states to decrease their own rescue efforts, effectively ‘outsourcing’ responsibility to these organizations. Civilian rescuers often expressed that they didn’t want to take on the role of state actors.

However, a decade later, it is clear that many EU member states, particularly the Italian government, are not pleased with the continued presence of NGOs in the Mediterranean. Since 2017, these states have made various attempts to criminalize the actions of civilian rescuers, restrict their operations at harbors, and limit rescues.

NGOs have been vilified in the media, accused of functioning as ‘taxi services’ for migrants, and even blamed for migrant deaths, despite their lifesaving efforts. This has led to ongoing confrontations, as rescue NGOs continue to expose serious human rights violations linked to EU actions and their partnerships with North African governments.

The work of these NGOs has brought to light many cases of inaction by states regarding distressed migrant boats, as well as reports of violent pushbacks and dangerous interception practices. This unwanted visibility creates challenges for EU governments, revealing uncomfortable truths about what lies behind Europe’s stringent border policies.

While it is essential to acknowledge the courage and perseverance of rescue teams amid ongoing harassment from state authorities, the upcoming anniversary serves as a stark reminder of Europe’s shortcomings. The fact that Europe still relies heavily on non-state actors to carry out rescue operations is a sign of systemic failure.

Instead of creating safe pathways for migration, the European Union has largely focused on deterrence, leading to a significant number of preventable deaths over the last ten years.

Moreover, despite enhanced efforts to strengthen borders, migration patterns have remained resilient. Over the last decade, more than 2.5 million people have managed to cross sea borders into the EU, underscoring the persistence of migration itself.

Meloni has yet to fulfill her promises regarding migration control. Since taking office, she has vowed to implement a ‘ban’ on Mediterranean crossings. However, in 2023, migrant arrivals in Italy reached their highest levels since the mid-2010s, with over 157,000 individuals landing on Italian shores.

Despite the political pressure and attempts to curb these activities, over 20 rescue assets are still actively searching for boats in distress at sea. The situation suggests that Meloni’s recent trip to Tripoli may not lead to significant changes, and that migration—and the presence of NGO rescuers—will continue along the treacherous routes into Europe.