Rome, 15 August (Adnkronos) – Migrants landing in Italy from the beginning of 2024 to 31 July have dropped by 62.36%, totalling 33,480: in the same period in 2023, arrivals had been 88,939. These are the data contained in the 2024 Viminale August dossier. In the face of a reduction in migratory flows, equal to 64% in the central Mediterranean and 75% along the Balkan route, there has been a parallel increase in arrivals along the Western and Eastern Mediterranean routes, specifically involving Spain and Greece.
According to Frontex data, 29,196 landings were recorded in the first seven months of the year in Spain, +153% compared to the same period in 2023, and 29,673 landings were recorded in Greece from 1 January to 31 July 2024, equal to +57% compared to the first seven months of 2023. 58,578 departures of irregular migrants were blocked by Libya (12,548) and Tunisia (46,030) while 3,079 migrants were repatriated since the beginning of the year (+19.71%). 1,525 people arrived in Italy, mainly Afghans, Syrians and Eritreans, through legal access channels.
At the same time, repatriations have increased by 20%, also thanks to the recent extraordinary operations conducted by all the Police Headquarters to remove irregular migrants from our country”, said the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi in connection from the Viminale for Ferragosto with the operations rooms of the Police Forces, the Fire Brigade, the Department of Civil Protection, the Port Authorities and the Local Police of Rome Capital.
”This year alone, the departure of almost 60,000 migrants from the coasts of Libya and Tunisia has been prevented, countries from which, with the support of international organizations, over 9,000 migrants in the last 6 months alone have benefited from assisted voluntary repatriations – Piantedosi explained – A 360-degree strategy that this year has led to a reduction in landings on our coasts of over 62% compared to 2023, compared to an increase in arrivals of over 150% along the Western Mediterranean route and 57% on the Eastern one”.
”Particularly significant is what happened in Lampedusa where in the first 7 months of this year 21 thousand migrants arrived, equal to 64% less than in the same period in 2023 when there were 58 thousand,” he said.
Instead, 98,353 asylum requests were submitted between 1 January and 31 July 2024, with an increase of 35.73% compared to the same period in 2023, when 72,460 were registered. The applications examined are 51,797 (+61.30%) and in particular 3,522 (+17.9%) for refugee status, 5,905 (+58.5%) for subsidiary protection, 32,011 (+91.7%) requests were denied, in 3,263 cases (+147.9%) the applicants were untraceable or gave up.
Between 1 January and 31 July 2024, 644 (+65%) decisions were taken regarding international protection: 145 (+104%) for the revocation of international protection, 305 (+952%) for the cessation of international protection, 194 (-33%) for the confirmation of international protection and 1535 (+1625%) initiations of the cessation/revocation procedure.
Residence permits issued from the beginning of the year to July 31 in Italy increased by 11% (1,210,943) compared to the first seven months of 2023 when 1,089,815 were issued. In particular, permits issued for subordinate work are 319,504 (+13%), 48,780 (+7%) for self-employment, 200,735 (+5%) for family reunifications, 641,924 (+12.5%) for other reasons including study permits and special cases.
