Migration to Europe: facts and policies you need to know
Migration to Europe: facts and policies you need to know
For many Nigerians, Europe sounds like a promise of wealth, employment and success. What is the reality like? “We thought life in Europe would be better than in Africa, but life here is very hard.” A West African migrant reckoned in Italy. Is this actually true? Find out here the key facts you should know about migration policies and attitudes toward irregular migrants in Europe.
Asylum seeker, migrant, refugee… What it actually means
The term “migrant” covers all those who leave their country of origin, whether to claim asylum out of fear of safety, to join family members and friends or to improve their socio-economic conditions.
Among them, an asylum seeker is a person who has fled from direct persecution or serious harm in their country and is applying for international protection and refugee status in another country. Although asylum seekers arrive in a country illegally, the Refugee Convention states that they must be given access to fair and efficient asylum procedures and measures to ensure they live safely while their claims are processed.
If an asylum application is accepted, a person becomes a refugee. A refugee is a person whose asylum application has been successful and is allowed to stay for a certain amount of time in the country where he/she has been granted this status, because they have proved that they would face persecution or serious harm back home.
Rejected asylum seekers must leave the country that rejected their application and may be expelled in the same way as any other irregular migrant.
An irregular migrant is a person who has entered a country irregularly, does not have the correct travel documents or a valid visa, and therefore lacks legal status in a transit or host country.
Different from a refugee, an economic migrant is a person who voluntarily migrates to another country to improve their quality of life. If an economic migrant arrives in a country irregularly and without a valid work visa, they can be arrested and sent back to their home country.
Border control, irregular migration and asylum seekers
Governments must know who is entering and leaving the country to safeguard public services and protect citizens from terrorists, drugs and crime. Within Europe, increased restrictions and “push backs” have compelled migrants to take alternative and often-dangerous routes to move to their destinations.
European Union (EU) countries have signed the UN Refugee Convention and are interested in protecting refugees who follow the rules. They also need to control their borders and check whether migrants qualify as refugees.
European countries are changing their policies toward irregular migrants
In Europe many countries are passing laws to make it easier to detain and deport migrants.
In May 2018, Italy’s government changed and is now made up of many right-wing ministers from a populist party called the Five Star Movement that have a strong anti-immigration stance. Their election campaign was built around promises to deport 500,000 illegal immigrants. In June 2018, the Minister of Interior told migrants ‘to get ready to pack their bags’. In recent months, Italy has refused to let some migrant boats land on its shores leaving hundreds of migrants stranded out at sea trying to find a place to dock.
In July 2018, the German government agreed on tougher controls on immigration after mounting pressure from within government and the public. Migrant transit processing centres will be replaced by a system in which the police deal directly with transit processes.
In April 2018, France passed a new, much stricter immigration bill which doubles the amount of time that illegal immigrants can be detained. It also introduced a one-year prison sentence for anyone who enters France illegally.
Austria, who elected a government with a stronger anti-immigration stance at the end of 2017, took up EU Presidency in July 2018. The Austrian government has stated that it wants to use its presidency to push for a tougher EU response to irregular migration. The new government also announced plans to cut the number of asylum seekers it accepts, the support they receive and to permit the confiscation of irregular migrants’ belongings such as mobile phones.
Hungary passed a bill to allow the automatic detention of irregular migrants and employed more border security officers. In June 2018, the parliament of Hungary passed laws criminalising individuals or groups helping irregular migrants seeking asylum.
In 2017, Poland and Slovenia, announced measures that would close their borders to asylum seekers.
The Danish government has passed a law that allows police to seize irregular migrants assets when they enter the country.
The United Kingdom (UK) is leaving the EU. Migration was part of the debate leading to Brexit. Border security is likely to become stricter in the UK.
The Netherlands have intensified border security to prevent irregular migrants from going to the UK via their ports.
In March 2016 the EU signed an agreement with Turkey to stop irregular migrants entering Europe. It was agreed that any irregular migrant entering the EU through Turkey would be returned to Turkey.
Transit countries’ policies are changing with European support
Many countries continue to make changes to their policies and laws to make it more difficult for irregular migrants to enter, pass through and settle in Europe. Below are just a few examples.
In 2017, Niger passed anti-smuggling laws and with the help of the EU, which is training their security forces to fight smuggling. In 2016, nearly 300 smugglers were arrested and 170 trucks used to transport migrants were confiscated in Agadez. This has made smugglers increase prices and resulted in more kidnappings. Migrants have to hide away in compounds in Agadez, the migrant transit town, to avoid being arrested and often run out of money, as Agadez is expensive for Nigerian migrants.
The EU is providing training to the Libyan coastguard to enable the country to better intercept migrants that set off from the coast with the help of people smugglers. Migrants intercepted in Libyan waters are sent back to Libya. Libya has also banned NGO rescue operations from entering a stretch of water off its coast. The NGO Doctors Without Borders decided to suspend migrant rescue operations off the coast of Libya because of threats from the coastguard.
Alternatives for Nigerians looking for new opportunities
If you are wondering whether there are interesting opportunities for young, ambitious adults in Nigeria, there are good reasons to stay in the country and also accessible and legal ways to get a visa travel to Europe.
Find out about new opportunities for Nigerians here
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