Border lines - The EU's deal with Tunisia

The EU's deal with Tunisia to combat people smugglers moving migrants to Italy in often life-threatening conditions has been mired in controversy since it was signed.

- Lisa O'Carroll

• 230,000 The number of people who have attempted to enter the EU by “irregular” means so far this year; 114,000 came through the central Mediterranean route 
• 11,000 The number of people who landed on Lampedusa over six days this month, among more than 127,000 people who have arrived in Italy so far this year

Why did the EU want to do a deal with Tunisia?

The journey from Tunisia to Italy has become the most popular route for people smugglers in Africa. So far this year more than 230,000 people have tried to get into the EU through "irregular" means, the highest since the refugee crisis of 2015 and 2016 when more than 1 million people, many from Syria, arrived at Europe's borders. Of those aiming to get into the EU, 114,000 came through the central Mediterranean route between January and August 2023. The top three nationalities are recorded as Ivory Coast, Guinea and Egypt.