Case Study → Migrants Crossing the Mediterranean (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

Case Study → Migrants Crossing the Mediterranean

Context	● 2014-2019 → 2 mil illegal migrants and refugees entered Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea ○ Approx 20,000 died/went missing (perilous journey, unsafe rafts) ● Over 1 mil arrived in 2015 alone ● Sending regions: Middle East, parts of Africa, Syria
The Migrants	● Very diverse ○ Mix of both economic migrants and refugees of varying faiths and ethnicities
Issues Arising from the Mass Movement	● Migrant status Many migrants arrive w/ no papers/IS ∴ their origins and travel histories are unclear Most are genuine refugees, but some may be economic migrants ∴ hard for receiving countries to decide who to provide a safe haven for ● Political reaction Most Mediterranean migrants arrive in Greece/Italy where by law all asylum claims must be processed • but neither of the countries want large amounts of migrants to settle there permanently (they want to see the burden of resettlement shared w/ other EU members) ↳ ∴ decision was made to distribute genuine refugees across Europe (eg. Germany) ● Ethical debate No. accepted asylum seekers in 2015 = <0.1% of the EU population. But still remains an emotive issue that divides opinions ↳ 2015 • Dec Paris attacks turned out to be a Syrian refugee who travelled to France via Greece ∴ intensifying the ethical debate

| Influence of
Globalisation | ● Not the only cause
● Factors inc:
○ Global economic disparities
○ Shrinking world
■ Facebook group 2015 • Stations of the forced wanderers helped
100,000 + migrants exchange advice on how to avoid authorities
and find routes across European borders using GPS
|

•                                                 Migrants Crossing the Mediterranean*