Johnny-come-lately’s…..
They could have followed Australia’s lead well over two years ago…..but chose otherwise, and this latest gasp of reality isn’t a done deal either.
EU countries are considering controversial blockade in the Mediterranean to stop migrants
Although both are “extremely complicated” and “controversial” presses Malta’s EU presidency on for a blockade in the Mediterranean by migrants who set sail from Libya. Problems of all kinds is however in line.
With migration on the top of the agenda in almost all European countries, EU countries now have a model with the extremely fragile UN-backed government in Libya’s capital Tripoli, which has some similarities. However, there are numerous problems of practical as well as legal and ethical character with such a “protection line”, which is on the drawing board.
First, Libya’s UN-backed government needs to be persuaded. Second, it does not control the entire coastline and parts of the Libyan Coast Guard is working with the smugglers. Thirdly, the government is so fragile that such a fight against powerful traffickers could cost the government its life. And fourth, the situation of migrants who are put in detention in Libya, is so horrible, that it can be exceedingly difficult for EU countries to convince international organizations like the UN to help and validates such an agreement.