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November 2023
The Central Mediterranean Route once again tops the chart as the most popular route for migrants leaving Africa and the Middle East to arrive on the shores of Italy. These migrants have in the past traveled almost unchecked through Libya, as its lack of stable governance has allowed people smugglers to flourish. Now, through cooperation with FRONTEX, the Libyan Coast Guard has managed to significantly slow the number of arrivals in Europe. However, while Turkey will have received almost $10 billion euros by 2024 to deter migrants from entering Europe, Libya has received very little to support the hundreds of thousands of migrants languishing within its borders. As such the new unified Libyan government is seeking EU funds to the tune of $2 billion Euros over the next 3 years to improve its border management, conditions for refugees held in Libyan facilities and begin rehoming the 2 million Libyan refugees living in Tunisia, Egypt and Europe, which themselves could cause another destabilising crisis.
Upgrading the Borders
The Libyan Coast Guard - The current Libyan Coast Guard relies heavily on the capabilities of European FRONTEX assets to conduct its missions and as such is looking to improve its ability to conduct autonomous operations in its coastal waters. To do this, the government is seeking funds to purchase 4 Eurocopter Dauphins for sea search and rescue operations, 6 Italian Selex ES Falco UAVs for maritime surveillance, 9 coastal patrol vessels and 12 speed boats for interception of migrant and criminal vessels. Furthermore, EU funds will be used to construct facilities and train an additional 300 Coast Guard personnel. Noting the success of the training assistance pilot program, Libya would like to expand this program, increasing the number of personnel undergoing training in Italy and adding courses in France. We would also like to invite FRONTEX personnel to conduct ride-alongs with Libyan coastal patrols, to ensure that training is being put to use in the field.
The Southern Front - Most refugees along this route do not originate from Libya, they merely use it as a transit point on their way to Europe. As such, preventing them from entering Libya via its porous southern borders is a key part of the overall strategy of reducing immigration flows. The government will use EU funds to increase the presence of security forces along the southern borders, constructing border posts and patrol routes while procuring and maintaining patrol vehicles suited to the harsh desert environment. Furthermore, the government requests the EU send a training mission to assist in professionalising the ragtag militias currently used for securing the border, improving their overall effectiveness. The government will also begin information campaigns in neighbouring countries informing prospective immigrants of the newly hardened borders and legal methods for obtaining asylum abroad, reducing overall load on the border security system.
Those Already in Libya
Processing Centers - The conditions in holding centers for those that do not make it out of Libya are rather unfortunate. Much like the funds allocated to Turkey, Libya will be spending several hundred million of the EU’s contribution on upgrading holding facilities alongside support services like educational and health facilities, possibly creating the conditions for many of these refugees to permanently settle in Libya as the economy improves or failing that, the safe return of these migrants to their country of origin with skills to succeed in their homes.
Bringing Libyans Home - The largest portion of the funds, some $1 billion, will be used to facilitate the return of the 2 million Libyan refugees abroad and the rehoming of the over 100,000 internalling displaced citizens. In the short term, this means improving the conditions in camps through the construction of short term housing and utilities like water and electricity. In the long term, these funds will contribute to the large scale repair and construction of war damaged homes, hospitals and vital infrastructure. Simultaneously the government will support the development of small businesses and the expansion of employment opportunities vital to demobilising Libya’s wartime militias and resettling its people.
TLDR - EU give me $2 billion Euros and I will solve your refugee problems
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