FIR 14 ReShape Online Papers Series THE MARE NOSTRUM OPERATION AND THE MIGRATION CRISIS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN EXPERT ONLINE SURVEY PREVIEW OF THE SURVEY RESULTS Paper no. 12/1 - November 1 Copyright 1, Jean Monnet Centre, Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Catania, via Vittorio Emanuele 49, 9131 Catania, Italy. ISSN 2281-91X The ReSHAPE Research Project on "EU and the multilateral policies for disaster prevention, relief and reconstruction" was funded by the Lifelong Learning (September 12-August 1).
Presentation This Preview of the survey results is drawn from the responses given to the survey questionnaire items by 1 Italian experts (see the expert categories in the final page of this report). The objective of the research, so far in progress, is to know how much are the Italians aware of the task accomplished by Mare Nostrum, and of the unanticipated consequences the Operation has brought to Italy and the European Union since migration, not an unusual phenomenon in human history, has turned into a momentous crisis. The invitation to participate in the survey was sent to the experts on 21 September. The questionnaire form was uploaded online on 29 September. The form was filled in by the experts from 3 September - October 1. The questionnaire was in Italian. This Preview is the translation of the Italian version of the Preview. The extensive analysis of the survey results, which will be made by the members of the research group in the next months, will be published as chapters in books, scientific journals, and websites. The members of the research group are Fulvio Attinà (PI), Luigi Caranti, Simona Gozzo, Daniela Irrera, Francesca Longo, Stefania Panebianco, Rossana Sampugnaro, and Rosa Rossi. They are affiliated to the Department of Social and Political Sciences. This Project is funded by the University of Catania, Call: FIR 14.
A MIGRATORY AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 1 1 8 6 4 1. The current migration crisis is 1 a temporary, short-middle term phenomenon a phase of the long-term growth trend of the migration ;lows 2. The present Mediterranean migration is 2 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 a case of widespread illegal migration a humanitarian crisis born out of wars, persecutions, and poverty a case of complex crisis generated jointly by illegal economic migration and by asylum-sekeer and dispaced person movements
3. After the current phase in which the European governments proved to be not ready and up to managing the crisis 3 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 Governments will continue to use traditional tools of border and immigration control Governments should use new instruments of border and immigration management 4. The costs of the SAR operations in the Mediterranean should be borne by (multiple answer possible) 4 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 the United Nations and the UNHCR international organisations like IMO regional international organisations like the EU the coastal state responsible for the SAR zone the coastal state and a cricle of friend states
. Who should bear the task of providing settlement to the migrants rescued by SAR operations? (multiple answer possible) 7 6 4 3 1 the UN and UNHRC IMO UN together with regional IGOs coalitions of willing states and international organisations the coastal state responsible for the SAR zone 6. The free participation of non-governmental and non-profit organizations in rescue and reception operations is (multiple answer possible) 7 6 4 3 1 6 useful to supplementing the actions of governments and international organizations essential to carrying out important functions not carried out by the staff of the states appreciable for getting the rescued people closer to the citizens and civil society of the host country super;luous because it performs secondary tasks
7. The European response to the increased migration flows falls short of (maximum 2 choices) 7 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 employing suf;icient human and material resources allocating suf;icient ;inancial resources complying with international law (humanitarian law, human rights law, law of the sea, refugee law, law against human traf;icking) proposing action programmes 8. The economic and financial crisis excuses the European governments for using strict border control against persons though these want to escape war and persecution 7 8 6 4 3 1 2 3 4 Agreement max
9. The crime smuggling organizations increase the size of the migration flows 9 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max 1. Italy and the European countries have to receive immigrants (multiple answer possible) 1 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 to support economic growth to accommodate the aging process of the population for humanitarian reasons to remain an open society to aid the economic and social development of the countries of origin by the remittances of the immigrants should not open
B THE MARE NOSTRUM OPERATION 11. The October 13 decision of the Italian Government to launch the Operation Mare Nostrum is legitimate and fair on the basis of (multiple answer possible) 11 8 7 6 4 3 1 moral duty to rescue persons in distress and at risk of life political responsibility to contain the negative effects of crises beyond the State borders compliance with international legal standards (especially the SAR norms) 12. The decision of the Italian Government to launch the Operation with no public discussion and no parliamentary debate and vote was 12 4 3 3 2 1 1 Very negative Negative Indifferent Positive Very positive
13. Despite the burning opposition by some political parties, newspapers and groups, the prevailing permissive consent of the Italians to the government decision is explained by (multiple answer possible) 1 13 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 trust in government action con;idence in the humanitarian nature of the operation indifference to the crisis 14. What effects on the Italian public had the negative reaction of the European countries to Mare Nostrum? (multiple answer possibile) 14 6 4 3 1 It reduced the con;idence of the Italians in the action of the national Government It strengthened con;idence in the humanitarian goals of the Operation It strengthened the national pride of the Italians It deepened internal divisions about the Operation It raised awareness of the complexity of the crisis
1. How much the negative reaction of the EU and the Member countries to Mare Nostrum influenced the declining Europeanism of the Italians that also the Eurobarometer has detected? 6 1 4 3 1 Very much A lot At all Little Very little I don't know 16. Some reproach Mare Nostrum transferred from the sea to the Italian territory persons in distress without having arranged appropriate reception. How much do you agree with this statement? 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 16 2 3 4 Agreement max
17. Italy has to bear the costs of the reception of such a high number of people with the contribution of (two answers maximum) 1 1 8 6 4 17 a circle of friends the United Nations and UN agencies the European Union private donors 18. The decision about the final destination of the rescued migrants is up (maximum 2 answers) 18 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 Italy the European Union coalitions of willing States the UN and IMO the UN in concert with regional international organizations
19. Fighting the trafficker organisations brings criminals to justice but does not affect the size of the migration flows 4 3 3 2 1 1 19 2 3 4 Agreement max. If the Italian Government had not run Mare Nostrum, illegal immigrants in Italy today would be considerably less 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max
21. If the Italian Government had not run Mare Nostrum, the European Union would still be far from recognizing the humanitarian dimension of the migrant flows 21 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max 22. The EU and Member Governments accuse the Italian Government of not fighting illegal immigration vigorously and of inadequate control of the reception centres (CDA; CARA; CIE). This blame (multiple answer possible) 22 8 7 6 4 3 1 is correct does not take into account does not take into account overload conditions contingent conditions such as the will of the majority of migrants to reach North European countries as their ;inal destination
23. Which public policies are more overloaded by the presence of illegal immigrants? (3 answers maximum) 23 8 7 6 4 3 1 Internal security Healthcare Welfare Employment Education
C EU AND TRITON 24. The EU and the Member Governments refrained from helping Italy and the Operation Mare Nostrum arguing that according to international and EU law border surveillance is the responsibility of the State; rescue at sea is the responsibility of the coastal State; the control of foreigners in the territory of a State is the responsibility of the state Government. Do you agree with this position? 6 4 3 1 24 2 3 4 Agreement max 2. In recent years, and especially since 11 as the Arab uprisings began, the EU has ignored the need for exceptional measures of crisis management; has expected the Member States employ the usual visa and border control measures; and has negotiated agreements with the countries of origin offering economic aid in exchange for readmission. Do you agree on the effectiveness of this response to the crisis? 6 4 3 1 2 2 3 4 Agreement max
26. The response of the European Governments to the immigration and humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean (multiple answer possible) 26 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 1 does not take account of the exceptional causes of the migratory crisis is lacking in Community vision (for example, it fails to use the solidarity clause towards the frontline countries) is the result of the widespread populism of the rulers and the political parties is under pressure from anti-immigration public opinion and mass media is feeding xenophobic sentiments 27. FRONTEX assists the Member States in border control, the SAR actions and the return of the migrants not eligible to asylum. The Member Governments have the task of providing reception and filling the asylum procedures albeit with the assistance of the Union. Does this package improve the migration crisis management in the short to medium term? 27 6 4 3 1 2 3 4 Agreement max
28. According to some observers, the EU agencies like FRONTEX assist the Member States in border control missions but do not take care of the humanitarian dimension of the missions. 28 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max 29. Readmission and capacity-building border control agreements, negotiated by the Commission and the Governments of the countries of origin of the migratory flows, are an effective measure of unauthorized migration management. 29 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max
3. The Commission's proposal to relocate, by the quota system, the migrants eligible to international protection from the frontline states to the EU countries is an appropriate humanitarian measure. 3 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max 31. Outsourcing the reception of migrants and refugees to third countries with the concrete support of the EU is a fair humanitarian measure. 31 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 Agreement max
7 6 4 3 1 32. The EU responsiveness to migration flows has been weak for the following reasons (multiple answer possible) 32 underestimation of the causes of migration lack of leadership in the formulation of appropriate responses and communication with the public the veto of Member Governments to the common policy of asylum and immigration lack of adequate crisis management tools underestimation of the humanitarian obligations under international law
Expert category 6 4 3 1 Academics Civil servant and international civil servant mass-media; think-tanks politics & parliaments Army Volunteers & NGO Catania, 3 November 1