The path to the Themis Frontex Operation: Italy and SAR operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea
The path to the Themis Frontex Operation: Italy and SAR operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Summary/Abstract: To challenge the consolidated illegal migration routes, in February 2018, the European Union Frontex Agency launched a new sea border control mission. Named Operation Themis, it aimed to replace the Triton Operation (conducted by Italy since 2014) and support the Italian government with new border surveillance and securitization approach in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The Themis Operation has taken a different mandate from its predecessor: a stronger focus on law enforcement and border security, a reduced mandate of sea patrolling, this time much closer to the Italian territorial waters (circa 30 miles zone closed to the Italian shore). But the most important novelty was that the rescued migrants would have been disembarked in the closest port to the point where the rescue at sea was carried out, instead of bringing them only in the Italian ports, like in the case of Triton. Finally, it is not foreseen to transfer rescued people to third countries, outside the European Union. As a consequence, the Maltese government has rejected being a part of the Themis operation, assuming that this could lead to an increase of migrants disembarking only in Malta. This attitude has reflected the disunity among EU states of how to handle massive migration via the Central Mediterranean. This study presents the main stages that led to the new Frontex operation and how the ‘migration crisis’ has affected Italian immigration politics, particularly during Matteo Salvini's tenure in the Ministry of the Interior. Also, it includes a press review, an analysis of the official information provided by the Frontex Agency, and the most relevant secondary sources on this issue.

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