An Cosantóir February 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie
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BY PAUL O'BRIEN MA
T
he humanitarian crisis that developed in the Mediter-
ranean in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprising
shocked the world and challenged the leaders of
European states.
The Arab Spring, a series of anti-government protests,
uprisings, and armed rebellions, began in the early 2010s
as a response to oppressive regimes and low standards of
living in several North African countries. It quickly spread
across much of the Islamic world and resulted in an exodus
of refugees.
As the uprising developed into widespread violence and
civil war, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled northwards.
The natural barrier they encountered was the 2.5 million sq
km Mediterranean Sea, which the fleeing refugees saw as a
gateway to Europe and safety.
Suddenly, large numbers of migrants were landing in Spain
after crossing the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, and also arriving
in increasing numbers on Italian and Greek islands.
The growing crisis forced EU states to work together to
reinforce the activities of the European Border and Coast
Guard Agency (Frontex) to save lives at sea, to fairly share
the responsibilities regarding resettlement and relocation
projects within the EU, and implement a range of options
to combat organised crime networks
and human traffickers.
Governments throughout Europe
were taken by surprise at the large
number of migrants that began to
land on their shorelines. Greece, Italy
and Spain struggled to control the
influx and sought assistance from
their European partners.
Italy, where large numbers of
migrants leaving Africa via Libya were
landing, stated that it was a Euro-
pean issue and not just a problem for
countries bordering the Mediterra-
nean. Although strictly under EU law
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LÉ Eithne Mediterranean
Deployment Disembarkation,
Palermo, Italy, 30th May 2015.
LÉ Eithne on operation 560 kilometres North of
Libya on the 28th of May 2015
