CAT/OP/ITA/1/Add.1
6.
From 1 January to 31 July 2016 256,319 migrants reached Europe via sea. In
particular, between April – July 2016, 75,000 migrants reached the Italian shores; monthly
peaks of over 20,000 people have been registered in June-July 2016. In the course of the
third week of July 2016, following SAR operations, 5,243 people, mainly from Nigeria,
Eritrea, and the Sudan, in distress and need of specific help disembarked at Sicily. As of
August 1, 2016, about 140,000 migrants are accommodated in the Italian reception
Centres.
7.
As of 30 June 2016 unaccompanied minors (UAMs) amounted to 12,241 1 - 35 new
ad hoc Centres are to be made available in the coming weeks, in order to respond to their
increasing number. In this context, funding for the year 2016 has been nearly doubled,
compared to the previous year - from 90 million Euros to 170 million Euros.
8.
In the course of the year 2016, the endless arrival of irregular migrants, asylumseekers and refugees in the Italian coasts has been continuing - even at a faster pace, if
comparing it with the previous years.
9.
Migration remains a priority of a specific complexity and urgency. In this regard, we
recall the last relevant UN Secretary-General’s report (UN Doc.A/70/59), which stresses
the need for, “Comprehensive responses and enhanced responsibility-sharing for refugees”.
Relevant normative framework
10.
On April 23, 2015, during an extraordinary European Council meeting, the leaders
of EU Member States, recognizing the humanitarian emergency in the Mediterranean,
adopted a number of initiatives, aimed at dealing more effectively with migration flows, on
the basis of renewed solidarity among EU countries 2.
11.
In line with the European Migration Agenda - setting three main strategies for the
management of migration flows, i.e. relocation and international resettlement, return,
readmission, and cooperation with countries of origin and transit - the European
Commission presented a series of concrete measures, to give an immediate response to the
current crisis.
12.
By EU Decisions No.1523 of 14 September 2015 and No.1601 of 22 September
2015, the EU Council and the European Parliament, on the basis of the emergency response
system provided for by Article 78, para. 3 of the TFEU, adopted a number of temporary
measures in the field of international protection for those countries that, like Italy and
Greece, and, most recently, Hungary, have been facing a growing number of asylumseekers.
13.
In accordance with the above-mentioned EU Decisions, Italy submitted to the
European Commission a “Road-map”, aimed at measures - mostly already adopted - to:
improving the capacity, quality and efficiency of the Italian system in the field of asylum,
first reception, and repatriation; and ensuring adequate measures for the implementation of
the above Decisions. To this end, Italy has put in place a new approach, called “Hotspot”,
aimed at channeling arrivals of nationals from third countries at selected disembarking
harbors.
14.
At hotspot areas, Italian Authorities, supported by EASO, Frontex and Europol
officials, carry out the following operations: health-care screening; identification of those
being most in need of aid; pre-identification; information activities; identification of
1
2
http://www.lavoro.gov.it/notizie/Documents/Report%20MSNA%2030-06-2016.pdf.
Excerpt from « The reception plan – 2016 ».
3