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LAMPEDUSA LIBRARY

Italy-Libya agreement: EU-sponsored abuse in Libya and the central Mediterranean.

In February 2017, the Italian government signed an EU-sponsored agreement with the Libyan government: the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration.  Renewed in 2020 for a further three years, the MoU is part of a broader defensive strategy being pursued by European governments, based on a security approach against migrants. Rather than giving migrants protection, it seeks to keep them out. 
Under this agreement, Italy and the EU have been helping the Libyan Coastguard to enhance their maritime surveillance capacity, providing them with financial support and technical assets. Since 2017, Italy has set aside €32.6 million for international missions to support the Libyan Coastguard, with €10.5 million allocated in 2021, the agreement is expected to be renewed in 2023 for another 3 years.
This funding comes at the expense of migrants and refugees’ human rights, as everyone intercepted at sea by the Libyan Coastguard ends up in a Libyan detention centre. The agreement between Italy and Libya supports the system of exploitation, extortion and abuse in which so many migrants find themselves trapped. more here

Animated-mural made for the Lampedusa Library, celebrating their 10th anniversary 🎂.
Grazie di cuore alla Biblioteca di Lampedusa, Deborah, Paola, Anna e tutte le volontarie e volontari dell’Ibby camp 2022 🐠 fishes by Mavi 🐙

here with sound 🠟🠟🠟🠟