Press Release
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oday, Saturday, December 18, 2021, the unit of the studies and research at the Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue issued a report entitled: (Illegal Immigration Routes to Europe), on the occasion of the International Migration Day.
The report emphasized that due to the frequency and increase of illegal immigration to the European continent, a solid infrastructure for immigration has been established, and there are recognized routes used by smugglers to transport refugees and illegal immigrants. The report focused on the causes of illegal immigration to Europe, as well as the paths from Africa and Asia to Europe, the number of migrants who took each path this year 2021, and how European countries dealt with them.
The report included a number of topics, the most important of which are:
First: The Causes of Illegal Immigration to Europe
The report emphasized that illegal immigration to European countries has several reasons, the most important of which dealt with human rights considerations advocated by European countries, the need to preserve them, and the existence of laws that allow illegal immigrants the opportunity to seek asylum, as asylum seekers are usually required to be physically present in the country of the Union. The European Union at which they wish to seek asylum. In addition to the high cost of legal migration means, armed conflicts and the subsequent forced displacement also affect.
Second: Migration Routes
In this axis, the report monitored the routes taken by illegal immigrants to Europe during 2021, the victims left by each route and the suffering of refugees. The report dealt with six main tracks containing many secondary roads, and the six tracks were, in order:
1- The Central Mediterranean Route
2- The Eastern Mediterranean Route
3- The Western Mediterranean and West Africa Route
4- The Eastern European Route
5- Western Balkan Route
6- The France-England Route
Third: EU immigration policies
The report stated that the European Union, in order to address illegal immigration, had taken some policies, including:
1- Strengthening the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in 2015
2- Creation of the EU Asylum Agency in December 2021
3- Signing bilateral agreements with some transit countries such as Turkey
4- Signing Multilateral agreements such as the Barcelona Agreement 1995.
The report concluded by emphasizing that the Schengen countries’ attempt to limit the phenomenon of immigration places the responsibility of migrants on neighboring countries, which puts these countries in a dilemma, and makes migrants stuck among them in the cold without food or drink. Seizures and policies aimed at preventing people from illegally migrating and diverting illegal migrants to remote crossing points or to another riskier border crossing were also observed.
