No. 024
Β·
Article
The Mediterranean Migration Deal Nobody Talks About
A quiet arrangement with Tunisia has cut crossings by 60%. At what cost?
157,000
Mediterranean crossings 2023
64,000
Mediterranean crossings 2024
β¬1B+
EU partnership funding
340+
Documented pushback incidents
What happens on the ground
Tunisian coast guard vessels, many supplied by Italy, now intercept migrant boats within hours of departure. Those intercepted are returned to Tunisia, where sub-Saharan migrants report being detained without legal process, beaten, and dumped at the Libyan and Algerian borders in desert areas with no food or water.
A UN fact-finding mission in early 2025 documented systematic abuse of migrants by Tunisian authorities, including forced disappearances and sexual violence. The EU has acknowledged the reports but has not conditioned funding on human rights improvements.
Key Takeaways
- The EU-Tunisia deal has cut Mediterranean crossings by more than 60% since 2023
- Human rights groups document systematic abuse of intercepted migrants
- The EU has not conditioned funding on human rights improvements
- The model is being replicated with Egypt and Mauritania
TOPIC THREAD
Society & Migration
NEXT ARTICLE Β· NO. 023
The Quiet Revolution in European Defence Procurement