Hamza Meddeb Anna Knoll Tasnim Abderrahim Matt Herbert

Leveraging flows: The surge in irregular migration from Tunisia to Europe

A Talk by Tasnim Abderrahim , Dr Matt Herbert , Hamza Meddeb and Anna Knoll

About this Talk

Irregular migration from and through Tunisia has surged since 2020. In addition to growing departures by Tunisian nationals, the country increasingly acts as a launching point for foreign migrants seeking to reach Europe. Since the last quarter of 2022, Tunisia has replaced Libya as the main country of embarkation towards Italy. With growing concerns in Europe about the inflow of migrants from the north African country, migration is increasingly dominating discussions on EU-Tunisia relations.

This event will draw on two publications on the issue: ‘Borders under Pressure: Increased fragility fuels migration surge from Tunisia,’ which will delve into the development of human smuggling from Tunisia to Europe during 2022, and ‘Leveraging Lives: Serbia and illegal Tunisian migration to Europe’ focussing on the post-pandemic surge in Tunisian migration through the Western Balkan route and the growing instrumentalization of migration in external relations.

12 July 2023, 02:00 PM

02:00 PM - 03:30 PM

About The Speakers

Tasnim Abderrahim

Tasnim Abderrahim

Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime


Matt Herbert

Dr Matt Herbert

Senior Expert at the North Africa and Sahel Observatory, GI-TOC

Senior Expert at the North Africa and Sahel Observatory, GI-TOC


Hamza Meddeb

Hamza Meddeb

Fellow, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Hamza Meddeb is a research fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut


Anna Knoll

Anna Knoll

Head of Migration and Mobility Team, European Centre for Development Policy Management

Anna Knoll is the head of ECDPM's migration and mobility team