The Escalating Migrant Struggle near the French-Italian Border

30 Dec, 2023

The Escalating Migrant Struggle near the French-Italian Border

Ventimiglia, situated about eight kilometers from the French border, has grappled with a persistent migration crisis for nearly eight years. France's reimplementation of internal border controls in 2015 transformed Ventimiglia into a bottleneck for migrants aspiring to reach Northern European nations.

Per Schengen regulations, such measures are meant to be "exceptional" and strictly "limited in time." However, the French government cited the "threat of terrorism" as justification for these actions.

The European Court of Justice, in a September ruling, deemed pushbacks illegal, asserting that they contravene the EU's guidelines on migrant returns. The court emphasized the necessity of granting individuals a specific period to voluntarily depart from the territory.

Filippo, a retired builder, assists families rejected by French authorities, chauffeuring them back to Ventimiglia's station once a week. For these individuals, the last stretch of about 15 kilometers represents psychological and moral anguish, reflecting Europe's harsh stance on those who are now stranded. Despite setbacks, these passengers persist in their quest for employment, family reunification, or travel to other Northern countries, with Filippo guiding them toward alternative routes.

Approximately 40,000 migrants have been returned to Italy this year. Advocacy groups highlight that eventually, 90% of migrants find ways to depart, emphasizing that stricter controls only heighten the peril of the crossing. Tragically, since 2015, about 50 migrants have lost their lives attempting to traverse the border.

Jacopo Colomba, a legal advisor for the NGO WeWorld, condemns this ongoing crisis as a "continuous and silent massacre" within the heart of Europe. Though not on the scale of the Mediterranean Sea tragedies, it remains a distressing reality in the continent's core.