Illegal immigration routes across the Mediterranean Sea represent the European Union’s most divisive and controversial challenge, testing its Member States’ cooperation skills and the resilience of its border management. In the past decades, Italy, specifically the island of Lampedusa, has played a significant role in the matter. Lampedusa’s geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean made it a target destination for large numbers of illegal boats that sail from North Africa and the Middle East. To address the pressure that governments with territories on the Mediterranean face, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was ratified by member states in 2024. The latter promises to deliver a more equal and coordinated management of the migrants that enter the Union’s borders. However, can the pact truly aid Italy and uphold its promises of shared responsibility and human dignity, or is it only an ambitious but unachievable plan? In this piece, I will try to answer this question by examining the pact’s strengths and limitations, referencing points of view of European institutions, governments, and local communities.
As described by the European Commission, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum represents an opportunity to address migration in a more organized and fair way (1). Its main goals consist of: efficiently managing arrivals through screening, fairly distributing responsibility across member states, and partnering with third countries (countries outside the EU) to prevent dangerous crossings. The Pact’s solidarity mechanism allows countries to decide how to share management. Member States can choose to welcome portions of asylum seekers and relocate them away from frontline countries like Italy, contribute financially, or supply operational support. Statistics released by the European Commission estimate that over 4,000 individuals have already benefited from voluntary relocation (1).
Why does Lampedusa Matter for Europe?
Lampedusa, geographically closer to Tunisia than to Italy, has become the symbol of migration talks between EU Member States. In 2024 alone, an estimated 66,000 immigrants arrived on the island by sea, still a moderate number if we consider the influx that the island witnessed in the past decade (2). As a result, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened in September 2023 to create a 10-Point Action Plan that aimed at increasing EU funding, Frontex support, and generating faster returns (3). In addition, the European Parliament also expressed its solidarity towards the Italian cause, highlighting that the supranational nature of the Union recognizes migration in Lampedusa as a shared responsibility, and not only of the Italian government (4).
Table I, Number of immigrants Lampedusa has received from 2014 to 2024. Source: Statista
Can the Pact Deliver its Promises?
One year after its ratification, the Pact presents various strengths. Firstly, it is backed up by operational support of European institutions such as the European Asylum Agency, increasing its effectiveness due to the international recognition of the institutions involved. Secondly, the flexible solidarity options allow member states to approach the situation as they see fit. This catalyzes cooperation due to increased liberty to decide the course of action each country wants to take, instead of just imposing political action.
On the other hand, it is exactly this flexibility that challenges the effectiveness of the Pact. Since various measures remain voluntary, member states may decide to withdraw, leaving frontline countries strained. Additionally, first-entry states like Italy still bear the important responsibility of screening and registering individuals, which largely ties the Italian government to the domestic relocation of migrants. Furthermore, in 2024, the Council of Europe also warned that increased border control could paradoxically increase pressure on arrival states like Spain, Greece, and Italy. Lastly, it must be considered that local capacity on islands like Lampedusa is very limited, and therefore, without investment or withdrawal of support, bottlenecks will persist (5)(6).
In conclusion, if the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani considered the ratification of the Pact as a “victory” for European transnational cooperation, its effectiveness in the next years will largely depend on constant solidarity instead of just theoretical promises of member states (7). Due to its geographical proximity to Africa and the Middle East, the phenomenon of illegal migration will likely continue in Europe and the EU in the next century. The matter largely affects European identity—how it balances protection, migration management, and human rights. If implemented effectively, the Pact can signify an important step towards a stronger and more united European Union.