1. Inhalt
  2. Navigation
  3. Weitere Inhalte
  4. Metanavigation
  5. Suche
  6. Choose from 30 Languages
  • Gateway to Europe

    Lampedusa Spring

    Gateway to Europe

    Since the early 1980s Lampedusa has been a gateway to Europe for migrants from Africa and the Middle East. The flow has steadily increased during the last decade, reaching overwhelming figures with the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011. During the last year, some 28,000 Tunisian migrants are estimated to have transited through Lampedusa.

  • 'Hill of Shame'

    Lampedusa Spring

    'Hill of Shame'

    The lack of infrastructure to receive the Tunisian immigrants - following the January 2011 ousting of Ben Ali - resulted in a disastrous emergency campground which was set up by the migrants themselves on a cliff overlooking the seaport. Islanders dubbed it the "hill of shame".

  • Indefinite quest

    Lampedusa Spring

    Indefinite quest

    Hundreds of men were crammed on small fishing boats usually at night time to avoid being spotted by the Tunisian coast guard. Most boats were bought off desperate fishermen or stolen when denied by the resilient few. The price for this "indefinite quest" ranged between 1500 and 2000 euros.

  • Endless stopover

    Lampedusa Spring

    Endless stopover

    In the eyes of the migrants, Lampedusa meant Italy and Italy the threshold to Europe. But landing on the island's rocky shores - nearly 200 km from Sicily - came as a bitter disappointment. Disputes between Italy and the EU ended up in a paralysis of standard asylum policy, and this meant that the adventure for most of the migrants was just beginning - with an inordinately long wait.

  • Dreamless nights

    Lampedusa Spring

    Dreamless nights

    By late March 2011, migrants outnumbered the residents on Lampedusa. Though frustrated and angry, the hospitality of the islanders prevailed as they provided the migrants with blankets and food. This was vital, considering that thousands of migrants didn't even have beds during the weeks of emergency.

  • Tragedy within a tragedy

    Lampedusa Spring

    Tragedy within a tragedy

    As the crisis heightened the political game between Italy, Europe and Tunisia was turning into an endless saga. Migrants felt trapped in an open-air cage, without answers as to why they were being held days on end with little food and no shelter. At the same time, with high season approaching on the tourism-dependent island, hotel and restaurant owners were reporting booking cancellations.

  • Over their heads

    Lampedusa Spring

    Over their heads

    In early April, the interior ministers of Italy and Tunisia reached a deal to end the migration of Tunisians to Lampedusa. Italy gained the right to forcibly repatriate a number of the illegal migrants, which meant that the young men who had paid a high price and risked their lives to flee Tunisia would be flown back.

  • Lost souls

    Lampedusa Spring

    Lost souls

    The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia in early 2011 is often referred to as the spark that triggered the popular uprisings known as the Arab Spring. Well over 60,000 people back then faced uncertainty and oftentimes death along the Mediterranean route towards Europe through Lampedusa. To this day, thousands are still departing from the coasts of Libya and Tunisia.

  • Moving out

    Lampedusa Spring

    Moving out

    At the end of March 2011, the first Italian navy ship was sent to Lampedusa to finally begin the transfer of thousands of stranded Tunisians. They were sent to centers around Italy and given short-term migrant passports, which infuriated the French and German governments. Migrants who could not prove they had family abroad or the means to support themselves were flown back to Tunisia.

  • Dark side of the Arab Spring

    Lampedusa Spring

    Dark side of the Arab Spring

    After the initial influx of migrants, word soon spread that Italian and Tunisian coastal guard fleets would block traffic towards Lampedusa. But soon after the Libyan revolution in February 2011, Lampedusa saw no end to the flow of migrants and refugees. Of the 60,000 people estimated to have crossed the Sicilian Channel, over 2,000 lost their lives at sea or have been declared missing.

  • Closed

    Lampedusa Spring

    Closed

    In September 2011, a group of migrants set Lampedusa's reception center on fire. The episode brought back memories of the initial situation on the island. Italy called for a definite closure of the center, a decision that had immediate repercussions for local authorities and the economy. To this day, the center remains closed.

  • The extreme edge

    Lampedusa Spring

    The extreme edge

    Italy has now declared Lampedusa an unsafe port for migrants, which has drastically reduced the flow of migrants and refugees to the island. But there have been reports of abuse. One such complaint came from an Italian documentary director who said he saw Italian authorities mistreating two migrants onboard an Alitalia flight. Italian authorities dismissed the accusation.


    Author: Gaia Anderson | Editor: Gabriel Borrud

Inside Europe

Zoomed picture shows plastic dices with European colors before a first working session during the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Bremen, northern Germany, Friday March 30, 2007. European Union foreign ministers voiced solidarity with Britain on Friday over the week-old detention of 15 British navy personnel captured by Iran but were reluctant to freeze business with Tehran over the row.  (AP Photo/Christian Charisius,Pool)

Click on the links below to listen to reports from this week's edition of Inside Europe, DW's award-winning radio program with features from around the continent.