Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, our next events in Brussels, but also an overview of current developments, including stories of injustice and resistance at Europe’s borders.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

📢 LATEST ON MIGRATION & MISSION UPDATES: from the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum to our missions in the Mediterranean, Ukraine and Palestine.

📝 INSIDE CALAIS: a special contribution from Federica Tessari from the Channel route.

The final section of this edition includes a snapshot of our upcoming and recent events.

✍🏻 Giulia, Stefano, Ludovica, Jora, Samia, Serena, Liliana, Simone, Angela, Maria, Alice, Alessandro, Gianmarco

📣LATEST ON MIGRATION & MISSION UPDATES

Since the last edition of this newsletter in May, much has happened. In truth, the time that has passed feels even longer when measured against the tragic developments we have witnessed at Europe’s borders and beyond. Violence against people on the move has continued unabated, while the steady erosion of human rights has become increasingly institutionalised.

Last month, on 12 June, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force, further transforming the right to asylum into a concession granted only to a few. Its entrance into force came amid the disgraceful chants of “Send them back” heard in the European Parliament plenary chamber during the vote on the approval of the Returns (aka Deportations) Regulation on 17 June (here you can find how each Member of the European Parliament voted).

At the same time, violence against migrants continues both at borders and within our society. In the United States, ICE operations caused further deaths, including that of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, while in Italy, Abderrahim Fakir was killed by police officers in Bologna. At the same time, at sea, rescue operations continue to be criminalised: on 9 July, after rescuing 25 people in distress, the rescue vessel Trotamar III was sanctioned with a 10,000 EUR fine and placed under a 45-day detention order.

Last but not least, what we’ve seen in Ceuta in the past few days is not happening by chance. This is exactly the type of chaos and violence that the EU Pact and years of border externalisation create and feed. We join ECRE’s call for SAFE ROUTES NOW! and invite to support No Name Kitchen’s humanitarian activities on the ground.

Yet even in this difficult context, important signs of resistance and humanity continue to emerge. Sixteen people in distress in the south of Malta were rescued by a fishing vessel that had departed from Acireale, Sicily, reminding us of the principle that at sea, those in danger must be rescued.

Important legal victories have also been achieved. An Italian court ruled that the detention of the Humanity 1 vessel was unlawful, reaffirming search and rescue operations are not illegal acts. At the international level, the International Criminal Court confirmed the charges against Khaled Mohammed Ali El Hishri: for the first time, a suspect will stand trial before the ICC for crimes committed within Libya’s detention system, a historic step toward accountability for abuses that have remained unpunished for far too long.

With summer approaching, Mediterranea is working to return to the sea as soon as possible, despite the many challenges we face. While our sailing vessel Safira continues its monitoring activities around Lampedusa, our ship MEDITERRANEA is currently undergoing major maintenance works in Naples. In the coming weeks, all onboard systems and equipment will be inspected and renewed to ensure that the ship is ready to operate safely in the years ahead. Every civil mission at sea begins long before departure. It starts with the collective support of those who believe that no one should be left to die at sea. For this reason, we have launched a new fundraising campaign: bringing MEDITERRANEA back to sea depends on all of us.

Our commitment, however, does not stop at sea. In June, Mediterranea returned to Lviv, where our dear Emanuela joined other land crews delivering humanitarian assistance in the refugee camp of Sykhiv and supporting medical activities on the ground (you can read and see more in this post we recently published). One quarter of internally displaced people in Ukraine are over sixty years old, reminding us that elderly and vulnerable people continue to endure first-hand the consequences of Russia’s invasion. At the end of June, we also published our report “Masafer Yatta: an Ethnic Cleansing Lab“, documenting in detail the continuing suffering of Palestinian communities and the ongoing violations of international law affecting residents of the area.

All of this takes place in a year marked by a significant anniversary: the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. At a time when international humanitarian law is increasingly disregarded, its principles remain more necessary than ever. The Geneva Conventions continue to represent a commitment to our shared humanity, just as solidarity remains a concrete act of resistance against indifference and violence.

📣INSIDE CALAIS

This edition’s special contribution

The English Channel remains one of Europe’s most politically contested migration routes. Even more since Brexit, UK governments have increasingly framed migration as a security threat, pushing for even harsher deterrence measures, while France has expanded policing and border enforcement along the northern coast. Despite intensified UK-France cooperation, including the recent three-year agreement on border enforcement and the implementation of the “one in, one out” returns mechanism, crossings continue and access to asylum remains at the centre of the political debate. Early assessments of the bilateral agreement suggest that, despite enhanced operational cooperation, its impact on reducing departures has so far been limited.

As seen elsewhere in Europe, tougher border controls do not stop migration but rather redirect it. Recent reporting by Brussels Times and El País indicates that a growing number of people are now attempting crossings from the Belgian coast, illustrating once again how migration routes adapt to restrictive and violent policies.

Against this backdrop, this special edition features a field report from Calais by freelance journalist Federica Tessari and her colleague Veronica Gennari, based on reporting conducted in late July. Their reportage documents how migration dynamics are evolving along the northern French coast and examines the humanitarian consequences of French and British border management policies, where increasing securitisation and deterrence continue to push people seeking safety into even more precarious conditions.

Disclaimer: The text below, together with the accompanying photographs, were kindly shared with us by Federica Tessari. The views, observations expressed and photo credits belong to the author. A longer version of this reportage will soon be published by Altreconomia.

“Although it has largely disappeared from the broader European media agenda, remaining primarily covered by French and British outlets, the English Channel continues to be one of Europe’s busiest migration routes. During our reporting trip to Calais on 23 July, around 170 people attempted to cross the Channel. According to several NGOs operating in the area, this was far above the average number of people typically travelling in a single small boat, which usually ranges between 15 and 50. The scale of that crossing illustrates that the route remains active, operational, and highly permeable.

One of the most notable developments concerns the geography of departures. Crossings no longer originate predominantly from Calais, the point on the French coast closest to Dover in Kent. Instead, departure points have become increasingly dispersed along the coastline, extending towards Normandy and the Flemish coast. This shift is largely a consequence of increasingly restrictive policies jointly implemented by France and the United Kingdom.

Among these measures, the French “no fixation” policy has played a particularly significant role. The policy authorises French authorities to prevent people on the move from establishing even temporary settlements by repeatedly dismantling informal camps. Introduced following the dismantling of the so-called “Calais Jungle”, the largest informal migrant camp in the area, the policy has effectively prevented the emergence of any stable encampments. Instead, small, precarious settlements are now scattered across the coastline, including around Dunkirk, Grande-Synthe and Boulogne-sur-Mer, often in direct connection with departure points.

The “no fixation” policy also permits police officers to confiscate or deliberately damage tents, leaving people without shelter or personal belongings. Evictions are systematically followed by municipal cleaning teams that immediately clear the area, leaving no trace of previous encampments.

On the British side of the Channel, relatively few boats reach the shoreline without first being intercepted at sea by the UK’s Border Force. Those intercepted are transferred to Dover before being taken to various facilities across Kent. Some are formal detention centres, while others function as less visible accommodation sites for people in an irregular situation.

The violence experienced by people on the move remains severe and systemic. Three photographs accompanying this reporting help illustrate the current reality in Calais.

This August marks one year since the migration agreement concluded between the former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, introducing the so-called “one in, one out” mechanism. So far, however, the agreement has shown little evidence of acting as an effective deterrent, as crossings continue on a regular basis.

The reasons why people continue to attempt the journey remain largely unchanged. Many are drawn by the prospect of living in an English-speaking country, where they can rely on language skills they already possess rather than learning a new language. Others seek family reunification or are attracted by well-established diaspora communities in the United Kingdom that can provide social support upon arrival.”

📣PAST EVENTS

On 14 June, Brasserie Illegaal generously hosted us for the second edition of RADAR. It was a day filled with rhythm, magic, and people coming together with open hearts, turning collective action into solidarity. We would like to warmly thank everyone who joined us, as well as the artists and performers, our dear cook Gizem, the photographers, and the entire Brasserie Illegaal team for making this beautiful day possible.

On 10 June, we were invited to the European Parliament for the event “Towards a New Internationalism in an Age of War”, which brought together activists, researchers, and campaigners to discuss the relationship between increasing militarisation, the erosion of international law, and the shrinking of democratic space. During the discussion, we shared our experience of border militarisation, the criminalisation of migration and solidarity, and the judicial proceedings our activists are facing simply for saving lives at sea.

For World Refugee Day, on 20 June, we joined the action organised by House of Compassion, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, BelRefugees, Umbrella Refugee Committee, and Vriendschap Zonder Grenzen. Together, we formed a human chain outside the Klein Kasteeltje reception centre in Brussels, reaffirming that solidarity with refugees and people on the move must remain at the centre of our society.

In recent weeks, we also took part in the “Beyond All Limits” demonstrations on 19 June and 15 July. Organised by a broad coalition of associations, trade unions, and political organisations, these mobilisations denounced the violence of borders and the deadly consequences of Europe’s migration regime. We paid tribute to the four migrant workers recently killed in Italy and called attention to a system that exploits, excludes, and kills. Together, we raised our voices against the securitarian approach that increasingly shapes EU migration policies and in defence of freedom of movement, dignity, and human rights for all.

📣FUTURE EVENTS

After the summer break, Mediterranea will once again be present at Forest Sounds Festival on 28 and 29 August: our activists will welcome you at a merchandise stand where you can learn more about our missions at sea and on land, discover our activities, and support our work.

Moreover, SAVE THE DATE for the first Mediterranea event after the summer break! On Sunday 27 September, Brasserie Illegaal will host The Door of Life, a theatre play by actor Alessandro Ienzi.

The play is based on a text by journalist Francesco Viviano, whose work has long been focused on documenting migration routes from Africa to Italy, and has been adapted for the stage by Ienzi himself. The performance will be followed by a panel discussion and an association village featuring the organisations involved in the initiative.

*****

We will be back at the end of August at Forest Sounds, and in September with our meetings and assemblies.

Thanks for reading until here. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or comments you’d like to share with us - feel free to write us at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com.

Fair winds always,

Mediterranea Bruxelles

SUNDAY 14 JUNE 2026 - 15:00-23:00 | BRASSERIE ILLEGAAL

Welcome to the second Radar Special Edition of the Mediterranea Bruxelles Newsletter.

This edition is entirely dedicated to our next big event:

Mediterranea Brussels presents RADAR Saving Humans x Brasserie Illegaal, happening this this Sunday, 14th June.

You can get your ticket here (more info below).

Why it matters to be there

After one year, RADAR is back.

Radar is more than a party.

It’s a living space of community, resistance and solidarity, an invitation to come together and resist through rhythm and music.

Come early to join a dance workshop inspired by minimal house, and enjoy a Mediterranean food banquet. Then get ready for a powerful night with a line-up of five outstanding artists bringing pure energy to the dancefloor.

And yes, the timing couldn’t be better: after a week of grey, typical Brussels skies, the sun is finally coming out this Sunday.

Why now

Since the beginning of 2026 (June 2026, ECHOES):

• 8,972 people arrived in Italy and Malta by sea, many autonomously

• 1,367 people were rescued by the Civil fleet from 34 boats in distress

• 6,811 people were pushed back to Libya after interception by the EU-supported so-called Libyan Coast Guard

• 822 people have been reported dead or missing on the Central Mediterranean Route

Behind these numbers are lives, people trapped in cycles of violence, including those returned to Libya, where many endure arbitrary detention, abuse, and inhumane conditions.

Violence at Europe’s borders continues. It is not accidental - is the result of political choices. At the same time, solidarity is being criminalised more than ever: our own activists are facing trial simply for having saved lives at sea.

This week, a new set of deadly rules will become fully operational at Europe’s borders. The Pact on Migration and Asylum will further enable deportations, intensify border violence, and deepen the criminalisation of people on the move and those who stand in solidarity with them.

This new Pact is not a rupture. It marks the coup de grâce of years of policies that have made Europe’s borders increasingly deadly.

Why we gather

Coming together is not trivial. It is necessary.

RADAR is a space where another vision becomes tangible: one where solidarity is not a crime, where borders are not walls of exclusion, and where community becomes a form of resistance.

Dancing is not an escape. It is an act. An act of presence, of connection, of refusal.

A fortress Europe is neither inevitable nor complete.

Another reality already exists, every time we build it together.

The day will unfold gradually, inviting everyone to arrive, settle in, and move together. Fossette will open the floor at 15:00, setting the tone for the afternoon, followed by our own activist Spirellie at 16:30. At that moment, Raquel Suarez Dueñas will lead a House dance workshop, an open invitation to connect through movement.

From 17:00, you can start enjoying the food lovingly prepared by Gizem, join the long-awaited (and legendary) pétanque tournament, and let yourself be carried by Tori Ann’s housy vibes from 17:30. The evening will continue with two drag intermezzos with Zizi Leurre et Lalla Shams, framing Bo Meng’s set (19:15–21:00), before Emu closes the night, taking us all the way to 23:00.

Throughout the day and night, what we share goes beyond music and gathering: all proceeds will support our search & rescue missions at sea, and our projects on land, including in Ukraine and Palestine.

Tickets are available online to support our work, and will also be available at the door. At the entrance, solidarity contributions (pay-what-you-can) will also be possible to ensure everyone can join.

A warm thank you to all the artists and performers who are joining us, and especially to Brasserie Illegaal for making this second edition possible once again.

We can’t wait to see you on the dancefloor.

Fair winds always,

Mediterranea Brussels

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Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, our next events in Brussels, but also a brief overview of current developments, including stories of injustice and resistance at Europe’s borders.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

📢 Mediterranea’s missions updates: The latest from Mediterranea’s crews

Hot topics:

⚖️The International Criminal Court is suffering, but still breathing

📝 EU invites Taliban to Brussels for discussing about returns

🧾Norwegian court blocks extradition of migrant rights activist

Our Next & Past Events

✍🏻 Giulia, Stefano, Ludovica, Jora, Samia, Serena, Liliana, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Alice, Alessandro, Gianmarco

📣Missions Update

With summer approaching, Mediterranea is working on getting back at sea as soon as possible - despite all the difficulties. Violence at borders and criminalisation of solidarity continues, as we have recently seen with our sister organisation Sea-Watch being attacked by the Libyan “coastguard” after rescuing 90 people, and with Italian authorities opening investigations against their captain.

While the technical preparations are in full force to see our ship setting sail soon, on May 12 the third judicial hearing on the trial against six of our activists took place as part of the Maersk case. We are being put under trial and criminalised for rescuing 27 people on the move, left stranded for 38 days under the indifference of Maltese and Italian authorities. The next judicial hearing will take place in October. Meanwhile, if you wish to dive into the previous steps, Radio Radicale has published the recordings.

On 19-21 May Mediterranea was in the Hague at the International Criminal Court with our comrades from Refugees in Libya, but also in many other squares across Italy and Europe, where mobilisation took place to bear witness, condemn and shed light on the crimes happening in Libya, with the complicity of European institutions. We got more on this in our hot topics section.

While the resistance at sea doesn’t end, Mediterranea keeps being active also with its missions on land. We will soon publish and present our 2025 report on our mission in Masafer Yatta, where the suffering of Palestinians and violations of international law from Israel authorities continue. We will also get back soon to Ukraine, where civilians keep suffering from the terrorist attacks of Russia - with the last one hitting Kyiv last Saturday night with 900 drones and 90 missiles. We're currently raising funds to make our 25th humanitarian mission possible, bringing critical and medical supplies to partner organisations on the ground in Lviv. If you wish to support us, you can do so through this link.

📣Hot topics

ICC judges are called to decide if there is sufficient evidence for a trial against Libyan militia charged with war crimes and crimes against humanities over abuses of refugees trying to reach Europe.

In a rule-of-law-based order, nothing is more important than to see justice take its course. This week, it may finally do so, at least in part.

On 19-21 May 2026, the International Criminal Court concluded a landmark “confirmation of charges” hearing in the case of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a Libyan official accused of overseeing one of the most notorious detention facilities in Libya. He faces 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes - including torture, rape, murder, enslavement and persecution. German authorities arrested El Hishri in July 2025 and surrendered him to The Hague in December.

Judges must now decide whether sufficient evidence exists to send the case to trial. If confirmed, El Hishri will become the first person ever tried by the ICC for atrocities in Libya, 15 years after the UN Security Council referred the situation to the court.

The contrast with Italy is stark and damning. In January 2025, Rome arrested El Hishri’s alleged co-perpetrator at Mitiga Prison, Osama Elmasry Njeem (known as Almasri), then released him on a technicality and returned him to Libya. In October 2025, ICC judges formally found that Italy had breached its cooperation obligations; in January 2026, the case was referred to the Assembly of States Parties for further action. That an EU member state should obstruct justice at the ICC is not a footnote. It is central to understanding how impunity is sustained.

The ICC proceedings cast an uncomfortable light on European policy choices that go well beyond Italy. For years, the EU has financed the Libyan Coast Guard - the very apparatus that intercepts migrants at sea and returns them to detention facilities like Mitiga Prison. This has continued despite repeated findings and documentation of systematic torture, sexual violence and extortion in Libyan detention centres, also showcased in the recent reports presented at the European Parliament on Human State trafficking between Tunisia and Libya.

A fair trial is fundamental: for victims whose suffering must be acknowledged; for perpetrators to face consequences; and for communities to regain trust that justice exists. The confirmation of charges hearing is a first step, not a verdict. But after 15 years of impunity, it matters enormously.

The ICC is under strain, politically, financially, and in terms of state cooperation. Yet the El Hishri case shows that accountability is achievable when political will exists.

The harder question is: will the European Union finally look at what its own funding has enabled - and act accordingly?

EU Invites Taliban to Brussels for discussing about returns

The European Commission has invited Taliban officials to Brussels for “technical” talks on returning Afghan migrants who have been denied asylum or are considered security risks in the EU. The move, coordinated with Sweden, marks the first known migration-focused meeting between EU officials and Taliban representatives in Europe since the group returned to power in 2021. Hypocritically, EU officials insist the discussions do not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban government.

Engaging with the Taliban legitimises a regime accused of severe human rights abuses, especially against women. Deporting Afghans back to Afghanistan represents a violation of international law and protection for refugees.

Dialogue with Talibans should address the deep humanitarian crisis that Afghanistan and its people are facing, with millions facing food insecurity and widespread poverty following years of conflict and international isolation. Neither with Afghanistan nor with other countries should returns be subject of talks, which risk normalising more and more the illegal execution of deportations.

Norwegian Court Blocks Extradition of Migrant Rights Activist

A Norwegian appeals court has blocked the extradition of migrant rights activist Tommy Olsen to Greece, in a decision widely welcomed by human rights organizations across Europe. Olsen, founder of the NGO Aegean Boat Report, was accused by Greek authorities of facilitating irregular migration through his work documenting migrant arrivals and alleged pushbacks in the Aegean.

The court ruled that the actions described by Greece do not constitute criminal offences under Norwegian law and warned that extradition could violate Olsen’s right to freedom of expression. The case has reignited concerns over the growing criminalization of solidarity and humanitarian work at Europe’s borders. Activists, journalists, and NGOs documenting abuses against migrants are increasingly facing legal intimidation and prosecution across the EU.

The decision reflects a wider concern about the shrinking space for organizations and individuals supporting people on the move, with protection of human rights being violated for the sake of alleged border protection and control.

📣Future events

RADAR SAVING HUMANS, Sun Jun 14

SAVE THE DATE, Mediterranea Bruxelles x Brasserie Illegaal

Join us for the second edition of our party at the iconic Brasserie Illegaal: every day is a good day to fight against the violence of Fortress Europe.

For this new gathering of beats, solidarity and resistance, Brussels-based artists DJ Fossette, Spirellie, Tori Ann, Emu and Bo Meng will take over the decks with a selection ranging from groovy minimal house rhythms to high-energy dancefloor moments.

Come early to join our dance workshop inspired by minimal house, an invitation to move together, let loose and connect through sound before the night unfolds.

Expect collective energy and a space to celebrate movement, community and solidarity together.

Book your tickets here and spread it around!

Drinks for Ukraine, 26 May

In a couple of weeks, on June 6, Mediterranea Saving Humans will head back to Ukraine for its 25th humanitarian mission.

In case you have missed it, you can support us, you can do so through this link: https://donate.mediterranearescue.it/25_med4ukr/~my-donation?_cv=1

Next Tuesday, 26 May, we’re meeting up at Parc Royal to grab a drink and share stories about our mission in Ukraine! 🍻🇺🇦

Come and join us!

Catch Mediterranea at our June stands!

Pass by our stand and say hi!

• 7 June - Caccia au trésor, subscriptions still open

• 13 June - Festa Italiana, you will find us there with our friends from Cultura contro Camorra

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. More details will follow on our social media.

📣Past events

“Porti (in)sicuri - When the State is the Trafficker”

On Tuesday, April 21st, Mediterranea Bxl and CASI-UO hosted an evening of reflection and discussion on migration policies and their implications.

The evening event started with a documentary screening (“Les Aventuriers” by Michele Cinque), followed by a discussion with the director, then a presentation and testimony readings from a report on trafficking and gender-based violence against Black migrant women in Tunisia/Libya, wrapping up with a fundraising dinner.

You can read here the new report from RRX researchers: Women State Trafficking.

“Avril Antifasciste 2026 - Resistance everywhere”

On Saturday April 25, Mediterranea Bxl together with many other Brussels-based associations shared a lovely day of events (debates, concerts, ateliers, bars, kids activities) celebrating the italian and portuguese liberation days.

Global Justice class in Antwerp, with Refugees in Libya

On April 28, we were invited at the University of Antwerp to participate in a Global Justice class, sharing our floor with Koyrom and Dieu from Refugees in Libya. Resisting “Fortress Europe”: Civil Action, Migration and Search & Rescue was the theme, and we presented the two organisations, Mediterranea and Refugees in Libya, debating with students over the importance of civil action and resistance.

1st of May - Labour day celebrations

Mediterranea BXL took part in the FGTB Brussels Labour Day celebration with a stand at the vibrant village associatif at Mont des Arts. Together with around fifty other organisations, we shared our mission, connected with the public, and celebrated solidarity and social justice.

Thanks for reading until here.

If you have any suggestion, thought or comment you’d like to share with us - you can contact us at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com.

Fair winds always,

Mediterranea BXL

Land crew of Mediterranea Saving Humans in Brussels

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We are dedicating this newsletter’s edition to Mediterranea’s next humanitarian mission in Ukraine. As the war continues to affect millions of civilians, Mediterranea is preparing to bring concrete support to communities living under constant attacks, displacement, and growing humanitarian hardship.

But this convoy can only leave with your support.

Humanitarian supplies, medical aid, transport, and logistics all depend on collective solidarity. Support this mission by donating through the channels listed below:

🔗 https://donate.mediterranearescue.it/25_med4ukr/~my-donation?_cv=1

Every donation, regardless of its size, will directly help us bring concrete support to local communities in the Lviv region and continue building networks of solidarity beyond borders.

In this special edition, you will find:

🚩 4 Years After: War Still Shapes Everyday Life in Ukraine

📢 Mediterranea Returns to Ukraine: Our 25th Humanitarian Mission

🤲 Call for Support: Stand with Ukraine

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on in this special edition:

4 Years After: War Still Shapes Everyday Life in Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched what it initially described as a “special military operation”, an expression that quickly revealed itself for what it truly was: a full-scale military invasion.

Four years later, the consequences for civilians remain devastating. According to the United Nations, more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and over 41,000 injured since the beginning of the invasion.

As a result of the largest refugee emergency in Europe since World War II, 3.7 million people have been forced from their homes and remain internally displaced, while 5.9 million people have crossed into neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary, and Moldova, or sought refuge elsewhere around the world.

Behind these numbers are cities under constant bombardment, destroyed infrastructure, and communities trying to survive under the daily reality of war. More than 2.5 million homes across the country have been damaged or destroyed, leaving many people living in unsafe conditions or in buildings ill-prepared for freezing winter temperatures. As the war continues, humanitarian needs are multiplying and spreading across the country.

Today, as international attention slowly fades, solidarity with Ukraine is no longer only an emergency response, it is a long-term commitment.

Mediterranea Returns to Ukraine: Our 25th Humanitarian Mission

At the beginning of June 2026, Mediterranea will launch its 25th humanitarian mission to Ukraine. Activists from the land crews of Alcamo, Bruxelles, Bologna, Cesena, and Turin will travel to the Lviv region to bring concrete support to local communities: not only essential supplies, but also medical care, solidarity, and human presence as forms of resistance and resilience.

This will also mark the second participation of the Bruxelles land crew in a humanitarian mission to Ukraine. Our volunteers Emanuela and Simone already took part in Mediterranea’s 21st humanitarian convoy to Lviv in September 2025, helping deliver supplies and strengthen connections with local organisations on the ground. This year, the Bruxelles crew will once again contribute directly to the mission, with Emanuela joining the convoy once again.

Since establishing a continuous presence in Lviv in February 2022, Mediterranea has built long-term relationships with local communities, volunteers, and grassroots organisations working daily to support civilians affected by the war. Mission after mission, these connections have become a vital network of mutual aid and solidarity that goes beyond emergency response alone.

Today, while attention to the war is decreasing across Europe, the commitment of civil society actors standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people carries an even stronger political and moral significance. Remaining present means refusing indifference and continuing to affirm that solidarity does not end when media attention fades.

Call for Support: Stand with Ukraine

In the coming weeks, Mediterranea will return to Ukraine with its 25th humanitarian mission. But this convoy can only leave with your support.

Humanitarian supplies, medical aid, transport, and logistics all depend on collective solidarity. Support this mission by donating through the channels listed below:

🔗 https://donate.mediterranearescue.it/25_med4ukr/~my-donation?_cv=1

Every donation, regardless of its size, will directly help us bring concrete support to local communities in the Lviv region and continue building networks of solidarity beyond borders.

Solidarity is our way of refusing indifference.

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👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, along with a brief overview of the most pressing migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

📢 Mediterranea’s missions updates: The latest from Mediterranea’s crews

Hot topics:

⚖️ Italian Authorities Probe Doctors Accused of Falsely Declaring Detainees Unfit for CPR Detention

📝The Court of Justice Reaffirms Frontex’s Obligation to Respect Fundamental Rights

🧾Detention and sanction of Mediterranea’s Mare Jonio ship in October 2023 declared illegitimate

✍🏻 Giulia, Stefano, Ludovica, Jora, Samia, Serena, Liliana, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Alice, Alessandro

📣Missions Update

Mission 24: 111 Lives Rescued as Mediterranean Death Toll Reaches Record High

On 8 April, as Mediterranea’s Mission #24 was coming to an end, the vessel Safira carried out a final rescue while en route from Lampedusa to Trapani, having spotted a boat in distress. The crew rescued 71 people, including several minors, who were later disembarked in Lampedusa by the authorities. Earlier in the mission, on 29 March, the Safira had rescued another 40 people and brought them to safety in Lampedusa. These two operations brought the total number of lives saved during Mission 24 to 111 in one month. The mission once again highlighted the crucial role of civil search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean. The first three months of 2026 were the deadliest ever recorded in the Mediterranean since 2014, with over 900 people reported dead or missing. This tragic toll is not the result of a single fatal incident, but rather the consequence of policies that obstruct safe routes and fail to ensure timely rescue at sea.

Mediterranea Bruxelles General Assembly: A Year of Collective Action and Shared Momentum

On 29 March, Mediterranea Bruxelles held its annual general assembly, bringing together volunteers from across the organisation for a day of reflection, celebration, and planning ahead. The Brussels crew looked back on a year marked by meaningful activities, strong engagement, and important achievements, while also sharing ideas and energy for the months to come.

The assembly was also an important moment for the future of the Mediterranea Bruxelles. Volunteers elected a new Steering Board and enthusiastically approved a new co-presidency model. From now on, Mediterranea Bruxelles will be supported by two co-presidents: Costanza Celoria and Ludovica Longo.

📣Hot topics

Italian Authorities Probe Doctors Accused of Falsely Declaring Detainees Unfit for CPR Detention

On the 12th of February, 6 Italian doctors from the Infectious Diseases Department of the Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital (Ravenna) were formally investigated following the issuing of medical certificates declaring a number of undocumented individuals unfit for detention in CPRs (from Italian: Centri di Permanenza e Rimpatrio, or Repatriation Detention Centres).

According to Italian legislation, prior to administrative detention for the purpose of deportation in CPRs, individuals are required to undergo a medical assessment, aimed at establishing their suitability for detention. The authorities alleged that the doctors under inquiry in this case may have produced certificates based on ideological considerations rather than medical evidence. A large body of evidence describes CPRs as places of a deeply pathogenic character, where unsanitary living conditions, lack of support and the lengthy terms of detention contribute to a de facto suspension of fundamental rights and often coincide with the development of illnesses.

In this context, the investigation sparked widespread concern. The Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM), in a public appeal signed by several NGOs (including Mediterranea), has described the investigation as a serious attack on autonomy in the exercise of the medical profession and to the medical code of ethics, whose main priority is to safeguard the health of people. On behalf of Mediterranea Bruxelles, we would like to express our full solidarity with the doctors under investigation, as well as with all healthcare professionals who carry out their work with integrity, independence and respect for human rights.

European Parliament Adopts its Mandate on the Return Regulation

The European Parliament’s vote on 26 March adopting its position on the “Return Regulation” marks a significant and concerning step in the evolution of EU migration policy. Building on amendments introduced earlier in the LIBE Committee, the final text moves beyond the already restrictive proposal put forward by the European Commission, further tightening deportation procedures and expanding the scope of enforcement measures.

At its core, the Regulation aims to increase return rates through a more uniform EU framework. Yet the way this objective is pursued raises serious concerns. Several provisions point to a clear weakening of human rights safeguards: people could be deported to countries with which they have no meaningful connection, access to effective appeals may be curtailed, and detention could be extended to longer periods, including for families and children. At the same time, individuals may face increased obligations to cooperate with deportation procedures, even in situations where removal is not realistically possible, leaving them stuck in prolonged legal uncertainty.

What makes this development particularly troubling is not only the content of the measures, but the broader signal it sends. Despite repeated warnings from civil society, legal experts and international bodies, the final position leans more heavily into a punitive enforcement-driven model. This risks normalising an approach where fundamental rights safeguards are gradually treated as secondary to deterrence objectives.

There is also a deeper tension running through the file. By focusing so strongly on “return” as the primary solution, the Regulation largely overlooks how irregular administrative status is often a result of rigid legal frameworks and changing life circumstances, rather than deliberate non-compliance. Without addressing these underlying dynamics, stricter enforcement is unlikely to produce more sustainable outcomes.

Detention and sanction of Mediterranea’s Mare Jonio ship in October 2023 declared illegitimate

On April 3, the Court of Trapani ruled that the detention and fining of our rescue ship Mare Jonio in October 2023 were unlawful, overturning a 20-day vessel detention and €3,000+ fine imposed under the “Piantedosi Decree Law”. The Ministry of the Interior was ordered to pay legal costs.

The case stemmed from a rescue of 69 people (mostly Sudanese families) from a rubber boat in distress. This was the first case in which the Piantedosi Decree Law was applied to the Mare Jonio, on the grounds that the vessel had not submitted to the “coordination of the Libyan authorities” and had not requested them to “assign a port of disembarkation”. The court rejected this, ruling that Libya cannot legally be considered a “safe port” given its failure to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its well-documented abuses against migrants.

The ruling is one of several Italian court decisions striking down the Piantedosi Decree as an instrument used to obstruct NGO rescue operations.This illegitimate and instrumental use of the Piantedosi Decree Law is all the more serious in light of the situation in North Africa and the Central Mediterranean: arbitrary detention, deportations, violence and torture in Libya, Tunisia and Morocco.

The full statement of Mediterranea Saving Humans on the ruling is available here.

📣Future events

“Porti (in)sicuri - When the State is the Trafficker”

On Tuesday, April 21st, Mediterranea Bxl and CASI-UO invite you to an evening of reflection and discussion on migration policies and their implications.

The evening event will start with a documentary screening (“Les Aventuriers” by Michele Cinque), followed by a discussion with the director, then a presentation and testimony readings from a report on trafficking and gender-based violence against Black migrant women in Tunisia/Libya, wrapping up with a fundraising dinner.

Between Tunisia and Libya, from 2023 to the present, partly thanks to EU funds for border enforcement, state agencies and militias have been selling and buying human beings: black migrants, including many women and children. Victims of state trafficking have shared their experiences with RRX researchers, identifying detention sites and the authorities responsible for these crimes. RRX’s new report, Women State Trafficking, details how this business specifically operates against women. As Mediterranea Bruxelles, we call for an immediate humanitarian corridor for all the witnesses of the report still in Libya and Tunisia: their voices must be heard before EU and international courts.

The event will be in French with English translation.

Practical Info: Tuesday 21 April 2026, doors open at 6 PM, *CFS*, Rue de la Victoire 26, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

*Dinner from €10* (suggested price: €15) – seats are limited, remember to book! All funds raised will go to organisations that support migrants against deportation and trafficking.

“Avril Antifasciste 2026 - Resistance everywhere”

On Saturday April 25th, Mediterranea Bxl together with many other Brussels-based associations invite you to a full day of events (debates, concerts, ateliers, bars, kids activities) to celebrate the italian and portuguese liberation days.

Times are challenging but hope is stronger. Now more than ever, it is important to remind ourselves that a different world is still possible. When people stay united, act in solidarity and mobilise, change is only one step away. We saw it with the massive turnout in the Italian referendum against Meloni’s push to change the constitution to undermine the independence of the judiciary, we saw it again in Hungary with the historical democratic defeat of Orban, we see it in the Global Sumud Flotilla setting sail again in response to the direct call from Palestinians in Gaza, and we keep on seeing it in the daily resistance of the Ukrainian people. This is what the spirit of the liberation day is all about, remembering where our freedom comes from and acting to ensure that fascism will never take power again, nowhere. The wind of change is still whispering, we just need to allow ourselves to believe in it.

Practical Info: Saturday 25 April 2026, from 13h to 22h, Place Bethlehem (Saint-Gilles), Bruxelles. Full programme here.

Radar 2026: Our Summer Gathering Returns to Brasserie Illegaal

The second edition of our beloved summer party, Radar, is getting closer! Free your agenda for Sunday 14 June, and be ready to meet us again in Brasserie Illegaal! Lineup, activities and tickets will be out soon.

Catch Mediterranea at Our April and May Stands!

Pass by our stand and say hi!

• 24 April - Zen Circus at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 1st of May - Labour day celebrations: Mediterranea BXL will take part in the FGTB Brussels Labour Day celebration with a stand at the vibrantvillage associatif at Mont des Arts. Together with around fifty other organisations, we’ll be there to share our mission, connect with the public, and celebrate solidarity and social justice. Pass by our stand for good food, drinks, and activities.

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. Don’t miss it!

FTGB - ABVV

Bruxelles - Brussel

📣Past events

“50 years of Sahrawi Republic: Occupation, exile and resistance”

On February 27th, the Sahrawi Republic celebrated 50 years of its existence under occupation, exile and resistance. In the face of violence, erasure, and injustice, we took this opportunity to celebrate Sahrawi culture and peaceful resistance.

Together, we watched “Life Is Waiting: Referendum and Resistance in Western Sahara”, a powerful reflection on Sahrawi people’s struggle for self-determination.

The panel discussion was led by Emma Lehbib, spokesperson of the Sahrawi diaspora in Germany, and Mahjoub Maliha, head of External Relations at Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA), who shed light on the systemic “resource grab”. We learned how the illegal exploitation of phosphate, energy, and maritime resources by foreign companies fuels the occupation, turning Sahrawi land into a profit centre for others while its rightful owners remain in exile.

Beyond the panel, we also shared a moment of collective creation through the workshop inspired by “For Every Mine, a Flower”, the artistic resistance project led by Mohamed Yeslem. By crafting paper flowers, we echoed a powerful message: transforming spaces marked by violence, such as the landmines scattered along the 2,700 km Moroccan-built sand wall, into symbols of life, dignity and hope.

A huge thanks to everyone who participated and to Metarage for hosting us.

Community Lunch at Bosch Tanneur

On Sunday 22 March, Mediterranea Bruxelles held a community lunch at Bosch Tanneur, by chef Rasmina Cook. We shared this day with other associations and friends we collaborate with. The afternoon continued with a screening of short films and documentaries, with some directors joining to share and discuss their work.

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Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, along with a brief overview of the most pressing migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

📢 Mediterranea’s missions updates: The latest from Mediterranea’s crews

🫧 MedBreak #6

📣Hot topics:

📃 Border Control as Clickbait: The Rise of Short-Form Anti-immigration Propaganda in the UK

📚 Belgium urges EU to use aid as bargaining chip to increase migrant returns

🇬🇷 Rescue, Solidarity, and the Struggle for Justice in Greek Seas

✍🏻 Giulia, Ludovica, Iseult, Stefano, Liliana, Angela, Maria, Marco, Alice, Alessandro.

MedBreak #6

Before This MedBreak Edition: We Want to Hear From You

We need your feedback on MedBreak, our interview series spotlighting volunteers and associations supporting people on the move in Brussels.

Has it helped you discover new perspectives on migration? Does it spark dialogue and connection?

Please fill out this short survey before reading on. Your responses are crucial for shaping our future work.

Survey here

Thank you for your help. 😊

Mediterranea Warns: New Italian and European Rules Threaten Lives at Sea

On 12 February, Mediterranea Saving Humans, together with Alarm Phone, EMERGENCY, Medici Senza Frontiere, Open Arms, ResQ – People Saving People, Sea-Watch, SOS Humanity, and SOS Mediterranee, issued a joint statement on recent legislative proposals in Italy that threaten the safety and rights of people seeking asylum at sea.

The proposed measures include the designation of “safe countries of origin,” accelerated border procedures, forced returns, and the potential suspension of NGO rescue vessels from Italian waters for up to six months. These changes would significantly restrict access to asylum procedures and drastically limit the ability of civil search-and-rescue operations to save lives in the central Mediterranean.

At the European level, the picture is equally concerning. An updated EU list of so-called safe countries and the forthcoming EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, coming into force in June, indicate a clear shift toward border externalization and tighter restrictions on protection safeguards, including the fundamental right to seek asylum.

These developments follow a recent alert by Mediterranea Saving Humans, reporting that during Cyclone Harry, up to 1,000 people may be missing at sea, according to testimonies from refugees in Libya and Tunisia. The urgency of protecting lives at sea has never been clearer.

Mediterranea and its co-signatories reaffirm their commitment to operate in full compliance with international law and maritime rescue conventions, continuing to assist people in distress at sea, no matter the obstacles.

More information about the mission and the sanction can be found here.

MedBreak #6

Before This MedBreak Edition: We Want to Hear From You

We need your feedback on MedBreak, our interview series spotlighting volunteers and associations supporting people on the move in Brussels.

Has it helped you discover new perspectives on migration? Does it spark dialogue and connection?

Please fill out this short survey before reading on. Your responses are crucial for shaping our future work.

Survey here

Thank you for your help. 😊

📣Hot topics

Border Control as Clickbait: The Rise of Short-Form Anti-immigration Propaganda in the UK

The UK government’s decision to launch a @SecureBordersUK TikTok account this January signals a troubling shift, as state border enforcement joins a growing trend of governments using social media to package anti-immigration policies as viral content.

While the Home Office’s official line claims the account is designed to counter smugglers who use social media to advertise their services and protect people from exploitation in illegal work, the account instead resembles a stream of hyper-violent, emotion-driven enforcement clips. In its first posts, dramatic music underscores footage of raids, handcuffed faceless individuals being led onto planes, and enforcement teams bursting into workplaces, alongside the slogan “Restoring order and control to our borders.” This is not genuine public information, but rather performative brutality turned into social-media clickbait.

To note, the Home Office has touted record-high enforcement figures, with more than 17,400 raids and over 12,300 arrests targeting illegal working since mid-2024.

Much like the short-form content used by the US’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which sensationalises arrests without explaining policy context, these videos emphasise spectacle over substance. Rather than deepening public understanding of border policy, they stoke anxiety and division, reducing complex migration issues to viral clips. This approach risks reinforcing fear and misunderstanding, especially without broader media literacy.

Meanwhile, French authorities have issued OQTFs (Obligations to leave French territory) against British far-right activists who travelled across borders to harass migrants in Calais. A reminder of how freely some cross national boundaries in order to criminalise others for doing the same.

Belgium urges EU to use aid as bargaining chip to increase migrant returns

Belgium has called on the European Union to use development aid and visa policy as leverage to increase the number of migrant deportations, arguing that financial support should be tied to cooperation on returns. In an interview with Euronews, Belgium’s Minister for Migration and Asylum said that countries unwilling to readmit their nationals who have been ordered to leave the EU should face consequences, including potential reductions in aid or stricter visa conditions. Brussels already applies this approach in some bilateral negotiations, but the Belgian government believes the strategy would be far more effective if implemented collectively at EU level, where the bloc’s economic weight could strengthen its bargaining power.

The proposal comes amid persistent concerns over low return rates across the EU: only around one in five migrants issued a return order actually leaves European territory. As the EU prepares negotiations for its next long-term budget (2028–2034), the European Commission is considering mechanisms that would allow the suspension of certain funds — excluding humanitarian assistance — for countries that fail to cooperate on readmissions. However, the idea has drawn criticism from human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, which warn that conditioning development aid on migration control risks undermining poverty-reduction goals and damaging the EU’s credibility as a reliable global partner.

Rescue, Solidarity, and the Struggle for Justice in Greek Seas

Acquittal After a Vindictive and Baseless Prosecution

After nearly eight years, on January 15, 2026, the 24 humanitarians who had been accused of forming a criminal organization and of smuggling were unanimously acquitted by the Felony Court of the North Aegean on the island of Lesvos, Greece. Their case had begun as a farce back in 2018, during the major humanitarian crisis and the numerous waves of migration from Syria to Europe.

The acquitted individuals, members of NGOs and volunteers who took part in rescue operations on the island of Lesvos, faced charges carrying the threat of extremely severe prison sentences. Despite the obvious lack of foundation for the accusations and the absence of substantial evidence of guilt, the case was not dismissed at an earlier stage but instead proceeded all the way through trial, where the acquittal was finally issued.

Throughout this entire period, the humanitarians held hostage by a process that was used punitively against them. It is, of course, not the first time that a criminal case file has been instrumentalized to target the work of the solidarity movement. However, this is one of the few instances in which the authorities’ message was so clearly a display of power. The unfounded evidence, the logical leaps, and the reliance on assumptions rather than indications could not have led to a conviction; nevertheless, the case remained pending for many years, creating a series of harmful consequences.

As often happens in such cases, the individuals directly involved are neutralized, either through detention or restrictive conditions imposed on them, while at the same time being subjected to psychological and financial exhaustion. Meanwhile, organizations’ operational equipment is confiscated, and their overall activities can be suspended through financial sanctions and other forms of pressure. Added to this are the defamation of the movement, intimidation, and the discouragement of people from supporting its work.

Shipwrecks with Migrant and Refugee Victims and the Stance of the Authorities

While the 24 humanitarians were acquitted, attention now turns to new challenges concerning the relationship between the Greek justice system and shipwrecks involving migrants and refugees in Greek territorial waters.

Just a few days after this significant decision, on February 7, 2026, another deadly shipwreck occurred in Eastern Aegean Sea. Off the coast of Chios, 15 people lost their lives when the inflatable boat they were traveling in sank. The circumstances of the shipwreck remain unclear; however, the narrative presented by the Coast Guard has been met with strong criticism. Many are comparing this new migrant shipwreck to the 2014 Farmakonisi case, for which Greece was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights because — among other violations — the national authorities had not carried out a thorough and effective investigation capable of shedding light on the circumstances in which the boat had sunk.

At the same time, the case of the shipwreck that claimed the lives of more than 600 refugees and migrants on June 14, 2023, around Pylos in southern Peloponnese, is still pending before the Greek courts. Despite the apparent inaction of the Greek coast guard in carrying out rescue operations, it took the lawyers of the survivors and the victims’ families, supported by the solidarity movement, exercising every available legal right, for charges to be brought against coast guard officials.

📣Future events

Event “50 years of Sahrawi Republic: Occupation, exile and resistance”

On February 27th, the Sahrawi republic celebrates 50 years of its existence under occupation, exile and resistence.

In the face of violence, erasure, and injustice, we want to take this opportunity to celebrate Sahrawi’s culture and peaceful resistance. Come and join us on February 27, from 6 to 11pm, for a community night dedicated to Western Sahara and its people. The event will start with the screening of the documentary “Life Is Waiting: Referendum and Resistance in Western Sahara”, followed by a panel discussion led by Sahrawi diaspora spokesperson Emma Lehbib and Mahjoub Maliha, head of External Relations at Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA). We will then enjoy the rest of evening between art, with an art exhibition and participatory workshop, music, tea and food. We are looking forward to welcoming you in many (and don’t forget your pillow!)

Practical Info: 27 February 2026, 18:00 - 23.00, Metarage, 32 Rue du Métal, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

Catch Mediterranea at Our February and March Stands!

Pass by our stand and say hi!

• 28 of February - Andrea Laszlo de Simone’s screening “Una Lunghissima Ombra, at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 7 of March - I Patagarri at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 21 of March - I Ministri at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. Don’t miss it!

📣Past events

APEREAU – Mediterranea breaks the bubble

On February 6, our traditional Apereau event took place. This edition presented Mediterranea Breaks the Bubble, our project co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps, which focused on migration awareness and building stronger connections between organizations in Brussels. In particular, we hosted a panel discussion with:

• Vriendschap Zonder Grenzen - Amitié Sans Frontières (VZG-ASF)

• SINGA Bruxelles

• BelRefugees

• Sanad Latifa, Gazawi photo-journalist and activist

• Luca Casarini, activist and cofounder of Mediterranea Saving Humans.

Best thanks to everyone who joined us and contributed to make this evening so interesting and amazing!

For the last edition of our MedBreak newsletter, we had the privilege of sitting down with Gazawi photojournalist Sanad Latifa who talked us through his long journey from Khan Younis, Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, to Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo: Sanad Latifa

Could you please tell us about yourself, and a bit about your story?

I am from Gaza, Khan Younis. I lived on the border between my country and the Israeli occupied territories. I am a photojournalist working freelance with international organisations and TVs.

I worked with Aljazeera English, BBC and New York Times and various NGOs. I finished my university journalism degree in Palestine university. I grew up in a beautiful village with my parents. I documented many human and powerful stories about strong people in my country.

People here don’t understand and don’t know what I went through, they think i got on a plane in Gaza and got to Belgium directly. People don’t know anything about the life of refugees.

How did you develop a passion for photography? How has your perspective changed over time?

I have a really good relationship with my art, my camera and my pictures. Photography means everything to me, my life, a message for poor people, a message for humanity, a message of resilience, for my country, my family and myself.

When I take pictures I think about the stories behind the subject, as everybody has one. As I listen to their story and their message I try to put this feeling inside my picture, be it a portrait or another kind of picture. I want the message to appear inside my eyes and I want to put it in my lens.

My feeling in taking pictures didn’t change when I moved, but my context changed. In Palestine, I felt like I was helping. Here it’s difficult, people have not felt a lot of pain in their lives, when I take a picture, I get a colder feeling. I feel like I should do something more important. In Gaza, people have a lot of suffering in their lives, more pain, and you would meet people every day with human and powerful stories.

To be honest, one day I would love to go back to my country to continue this work. I love to be here but I don’t just want to take pictures of things that don’t feel as important. Even if it is not in my country, I want to go to places where I can make a difference. I would like to show how people on the move go through deadly journeys as I am myself a refugee. I applied to go with several organisations but I have not heard back yet, there are long waiting times. I would even go as a volunteer to help.

My camera for me is my weapon, without my camera I am nothing, I am just someone who goes to work, school, sits around, who does not care. But with my camera, I feel like I can really help people through my eyes.

What do you hope that those who view your work will do after seeing and internalising it?

I really enjoyed being able to showcase my pictures at the event organised by Mediterranea in Brussels (Art of Resistance, 17 October 2025). It was beautiful to see people genuinely interested in my work.

Sometimes they pair these exhibitions with other events or parties, and people totally ignore the pictures and it makes me mad. It is not about the fact that they are ignoring my work, but also that they do not care about the stories. Then on Instagram they act as if they are sad about refugees, after ignoring a whole exhibition about it. Many people are fake in their interest. It makes me angry and sad.

Would you like to speak to us about how it has been since your arrival in Belgium?

When I arrived, I had to sleep in the street for two months before having a proper accomodation. In other places, when you apply for asylum they give you a place to stay. Here you go to the streets. People suffer to come here; some people walk across countries, they give them nothing, and they are left alone in the cold streets of Brussels. Also this makes me sad and angry.

Organisations use the refugee voice, but when you ask for help, they cannot help you. When I tried doing things with them, there was never a chance. I wonder if these organisations really want refugees to stop suffering, because they make money out of the pain of people on the move.

I tried to look for work and to help other refugees, but I was not given an opportunity. If you support refugees, let them work with you, let them do something. I looked for one year. One day, I went to work for an organisation as a photographer and after one day they brought in a white photographer. They then posted on their Instagram my pictures, showing off that they had “helped a refugee”. Organisations here do a lot of initiatives that often make little sense to me. If you want to help refugees, let them work!

Photo: Sanad Latifa

This final interview brings the Medbreak project to an end, a journey of discussion and valuable testimonies. Our heartfelt thanks go to Sanad, who chose to openly share his story with us, joining the solidarity community we are building in our small way. But the dialogue does not end here. Our intention is to continue giving space to the marginalised voices of those who wish to tell their stories, share their experiences, and speak out about the issues that Mediterranea addresses every day.

Mediterranea Bruxelles wishes all our subscribers a very happy and inspiring new year, full of connection, solidarity, and community.

Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, along with a brief overview of the most pressing migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

🫧 MedBreak #5

📢 Mediterranea’s missions updates: The latest from Mediterranea’s crews

Hot topics:

📜 EU Asylum Reform: Expanding “Safe” Countries, Narrowing Access to Protection

📝 The Court of Justice Reaffirms Frontex’s Obligation to Respect Fundamental Rights

✍🏻 Giulia, Ludovica, Giovanni, Luigi, Jora, Samia, Liliana, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Alice, Alessandro

MedBreak #5

Before This MedBreak Edition: We Want to Hear From You

We need your feedback on MedBreak, our interview series spotlighting volunteers and associations supporting people on the move in Brussels.

Has it helped you discover new perspectives on migration? Does it spark dialogue and connection?

Please fill out this short survey before reading on. Your responses are crucial for shaping our future work.

Survey here

Thank you for your help. 😊

📣 Missions Update

Court Blocks Detention of Rescue Ship Mediterranea

The Agrigento Court has suspended the detention of the rescue ship Mediterranea, ruling that the measure imposed by local authorities on November 12 was unlawful. The ship had been held for 60 days and fined after rescuing 92 people, including many children, in the central Mediterranean.

Authorities claimed that the Mediterranea Saving Humans’ crew failed to follow instructions to sail to a distant port. However, judges confirmed that prosecutors had ordered the rescued people to disembark in Sicily.

The court acted urgently, without a full hearing, showing serious concerns about how the law was applied. The decision highlights ongoing legal challenges to the use of the Piantedosi Decree-Law, which has been used to restrict civil rescue operations in the central Mediterranean.

More information about the mission and the sanction can be found here.

Mediterranea’s 23 mission to Ukraine

On 30 December, the 23rd mission of Mediterranea Saving Humans reached Lviv with land crews from Trento, Bolzano, Belluno, and volunteers from Officina 31021. Alongside the delivery of humanitarian aid, volunteers have expanded their activities to include art as a tool for connection and collective expression. In addition to the music therapy programme run by Music and Resilience, Mediterranea has launched a screen-printing project in refugee camps in collaboration with Beeink Serigrafia.

In opposition to narratives of hatred, militarisation, and war propaganda, Mediterranea stands with an exhausted population that simply wants the war to end as soon as possible. We believe that dialogue, agreements, and peace processes must go beyond empty words and short-sighted rhetoric. Mediterreana’s work is also a form of resistance against arbitrary border policies and passport privileges that continue to cost lives.

More information about the mission can be found here.

📣 Hot topics

EU Asylum Reform: Expanding “Safe” Countries, Narrowing Access to Protection

In mid-December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional political agreement to revise the EU’s STC framework, a key piece of the broader Migration and Asylum Pact. Under the updated rules, Member States will gain broader discretion to deem asylum claims inadmissible if an applicant could have received protection in a designated safe third country, even without a direct personal connection - including through transit or formal agreements guaranteeing asylum processing outside the EU. This change is intended to speed up asylum procedures and reduce pressures on national systems when irregular arrivals are high. The agreement enshrined that an appeal against a decision to declare an asylum application inadmissible would not automatically suspend a return decision to a safe third country. The rules will apply once the Asylum Procedure Regulation enters into force in June 2026.

Alongside these changes, EU co-legislators also agreed on the bloc’s first common list of safe countries of origin, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia - with EU accession candidates presumed safe unless exceptional circumstances apply. Applicants from these countries will face accelerated procedures and bear a heavier burden to rebut the presumption that they do not need international protection. This marks a political milestone in harmonising asylum standards across the Union, but critics warn it risks undermining protection norms by presuming safety in states where human rights conditions vary and serious abuses persist.

The Court of Justice Reaffirms Frontex’s Obligation to Respect Fundamental Rights

On International Migrants Day, 18 December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered two landmark judgments in cases involving Frontex. In both rulings, the Court overturned decisions of the General Court and sent the cases back for a fresh examination, placing a strong emphasis on effective judicial protection and Frontex’s duty to respect fundamental rights in its operations.

The first case, Hamoudi v Frontex (C-136/24 P), concerns allegations of an illegal pushback at sea. The Court of Justice affirmed that victims of alleged pushbacks cannot reasonably be required to provide conclusive proof that the events took place or that they were personally present. To ensure the right to effective judicial protection, the Court held that the burden of proof must be adapted in such cases. This is the first time the Court has explicitly acknowledged the evidentiary disadvantage faced by victims in cases involving Frontex.

The second case, WS and Others v Frontex (C-679/23 P), concerns a joint return operation in which a family sought compensation from Frontex for alleged unlawful refoulement and violations of their fundamental rights. The Court of Justice confirmed that EU law imposes concrete obligations on Frontex during joint return operations and that violations of fundamental rights can lead to Frontex’s liability.

These two rulings represent an important turning point in the judicial scrutiny of Frontex’s actions, at a time when pushbacks have become increasingly normalised at the EU’s external borders. They confirm that when Frontex exercises powers with direct consequences for individuals at the borders, it is bound to respect fundamental rights and may be held accountable when it fails to do so.

📣 Future events

We’re gearing up for our first event of 2026, and exciting news is just around the corner! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss the details of the next highlight of the season.

Catch Mediterranea at Our January Stands!

Pass by our stand and say hi!

• 17 of January - Pop X at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 31 of January - Murubutu at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. Don’t miss it!

📣 Past events

5 December - Light of Winter: An evening of music and solidarity with Mediterranea Bruxelles & Crescendo Collective Choir

On 5 December, Mediterranea Bruxelles joined forces with the Crescendo Collective Choir for a memorable evening of music and solidarity. Guests were treated to a stunning choir performance and had the opportunity to take part in a solidarity tombola, supporting the important work of Mediterranea Bruxelles.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and made the evening so special!

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👋 - Until next time

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Every Friday morning, as Brussels awakens, a group of volunteers gathers near the asylum registration office with coffee, tea, and small breakfasts. Every Friday at noon, they're at the Humanitarian Hub, distributing food. Rain or shine, political crisis or calm, for nearly a decade, Amitiés Sans Frontières has been there. This is their story, told through the voice of Gil, their coordinator, who began as a volunteer during the first lockdown and has witnessed both the heartwarming resilience of civil society and the alarming deterioration of refugee rights in Belgium.

When volunteers fill the gap government leaves behind

Gil’s journey with Amitiés Sans Frontières (ASF) began in 2020, but the organisation’s roots stretch back to 2015, during what many called the “asylum crisis.” Gil prefers different terminology: “It was not an asylum crisis. It was a crisis of welcoming, of finding places for people to sleep.” That distinction matters. When Maximilian Park filled with people sleeping rough because the system had failed them, a group of volunteers decided to act. They started at five in the morning, three times a week, bringing coffee and solidarity to those waiting to register their asylum claims.

What began as an emergency response became a permanent fixture. Recent figures indicate that nearly 10,000 people are currently without housing in Brussels. Different organisations coordinated their efforts, dividing up the days of the week. Friday became ASF’s day, and they’ve honoured that commitment ever since. Last summer, they celebrated their tenth birthday, a milestone that speaks to both their dedication and the persistence of the problem they’re addressing.

The work is simple in concept but profound in impact: coffee, tea, breakfast, and most importantly, human contact. “When you go to distribute coffee, there’s a lot of human contact,” Gil explains. In a system designed to process people as numbers, ASF insists on treating them as individuals with names, faces, and stories worth knowing.

From the streets to the classroom

Witnessing the human reality of asylum seekers sparked another initiative. In 2015, far-right propaganda painted refugees as an anonymous threatening mass. ASF decided to counter these narratives by bringing actual stories into schools. They visit secondary schools, typically with students aged sixteen and seventeen, accompanied by refugees willing to share their experiences.

The format is collaborative. Teachers work with ASF to prepare students, encouraging them to think about their questions beforehand. Sometimes the visits combine education with action, like when students helped with food distribution.

The Arizona Coalition: When disregard becomes policy

The current Belgian government, known as the Arizona coalition, represents something new and alarming in Gil’s experience. There’s continuity with the past, the persistent gap between what people on the move need and what the government provides has existed for decades. Belgium’s migration and asylum laws have long served certain purposes, including maintaining a pool of undocumented workers who can be exploited with wages as low as 2-4 euros per hour. Most of Brussels metro, for instance, was famously built by undocumented migrants, so called “guest workers”, working 12-14 hour days with very few health and safety protections.

Previous governments, even those including green and social democratic parties, were condemned by Belgian courts over 9,000 times for rights violations, letting people who deserved shelter sleep on the streets. But they at least maintained the pretense of caring, claiming they would help “those who really deserve it,” the refugees fleeing war and persecution.

The Arizona government has abandoned even this pretense. One of their recent proposals would strip recognised refugees of social security rights for their first five years in Belgium, a direct violation of the Geneva Convention. “It just shows the complete disregard for human rights,” Gil states. “It’s an extremely dangerous precedent.”

The strategy, as Gil sees it, is to attack the rule of law itself by first targeting unpopular groups like migrants, then expanding these attacks to other categories. The parallels with ICE operations in the United States are not difficult to draw. “They’re not denying it anymore, and they’re organising the attack on the state of law. They’re not just acting as if it doesn’t exist, they’re actively attacking it, and that’s something new. And it’s scary to see.”

The power of showing up

Despite this grim political reality, Gil radiates optimism. The reason is simple: the group of volunteers keeps growing. People come for the first time, return two weeks later with friends, and become regular participants. The volunteer base is remarkably diverse, crossing Belgium’s linguistic divide that typically separates Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. Students work alongside retirees. People from all backgrounds share a common determination.

This micro-level impact connects to macro-level resistance. In 2025 alone, Belgium has seen four marches with over 100,000 people each and two general strikes, more than Gil can remember in his 24 years of life. The October 14th demonstration drew 140,000 people, one of the largest in recent years, and forced the government into a month-and-half stalemate over their measures.

The country’s two largest unions have been central to these mobilisations, and crucially, they’ve explicitly connected workers’ rights with refugee rights. The General Secretary of the FGTB stated that refugee rights should not be bargaining chips traded for better socioeconomic conditions for non-refugees. This solidarity across categories of struggle represents a powerful form of resistance.

“I’ve never seen as many representatives of the government explaining on TV how protests don’t work,” Gil notes with a smile, “which shows that they do work.”

Do you want to volounteer with Amitiés Sans Frontières?

Get in touch with them at contact@amitiesansfrontieres.be.

Do you want to know more about Mediterranea Bruxelles?

Get in touch with Mediterranea Bruxelles (mediterraneabxl@gmail.com).

MedBreak is a Mediterranea Bruxelles project co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, along with a brief overview of the most pressing migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

🫧 MedBreak #4

📢 Mediterranea’s missions updates: The latest from Mediterranea’s crews

Hot topics:

📜 Belgium: a permanent crisis in reception conditions

📝 Greece’s Asylum Ban Three Months Later: Defying Courts and International Law

✍🏻 Giulia, Ludovica, Giovanni, Luigi, Jora, Samia, Liliana, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Alice

MedBreak #4

Check out the interview with BelRefugees, a Brussels based organization dedicated to supporting people on the move.

📣 Missions Update

Mediterranea Fined €10,000 and Detained 60 Days After Rescuing 92 People

On 6 November, the crew of the rescue ship Mediterranea was accused by Italian authorities of failing to sail to the distant port of Livorno after rescuing 92 people, including 31 unaccompanied minors. This came after the ship’s medical staff and the official maritime telemedicine service certified that the survivors were not fit for several more days at sea, and two Public Prosecutors’ offices ordered their immediate disembarkation at the closer port of Porto Empedocle.

Despite this, on 15 November, the authorities issued a €10,000 fine and a 60-day detention of the ship under the Piantedosi Decree. This is the second identical sanction imposed for the two missions carried out by Mediterranea Saving Humans’ new ship. These measures ignore facts, evidence, and fundamental human rights, and even binding decisions from the competent judicial authority. As happened with the disembarkation in Trapani in August, where the Civil Court already suspended a similar punitive measure previously imposed, Mediterranea will immediately appeal against this detention and fine.

More information about the mission and the sanction can be found here.

Belgium: a permanent crisis in reception conditions

Throughout 2025, Belgium has faced a deepening crisis in its asylum reception system, marked by systemic failures and political inaction. Amnesty International in its report Unhoused and Unheard revealed that since 2021, thousands of asylum seekers have been denied their legal right to reception, forcing over 2,500 individuals (which included primarily single men applying for asylum) into homelessness. Despite more than 12,000 Belgian court rulings ordering the state to provide shelter, Belgium has persistently ignored these judgments, creating what Amnesty calls a “rule of law crisis” alongside a humanitarian emergency. This deliberate non-compliance undermines access to international protection: without an official address, asylum seekers cannot access healthcare, education, or employment, leaving them in extreme precarity and violating EU and Belgian law.

The situation is compounded by deteriorating conditions in existing facilities. A recent audit shows that half of Fedasil (the Belgian agency responsible for ensuring reception conditions) centres fail to meet their own minimum standards for space, privacy, and hygiene, with overcrowding and outdated infrastructure widespread. Families often share rooms, and unaccompanied minors are not adequately separated from adults, raising serious safety concerns. Belgium’s reception crisis is not a matter of resources but of political will. Its persistence threatens fundamental rights, erodes the rule of law, and places the country under sustained migratory pressure within the EU framework.

Greece’s Asylum Ban Three Months Later: Defying Courts and International Law

A riot on 12 November at a Greek detention center holding 750 migrants drew attention to Greece’s increasingly strict migration policies. The unrest, resulting in 30 arrests, followed new laws criminalizing irregular stay, enforcing detention for rejected asylum seekers, and imposing harsh penalties on unauthorized entry or residence.

Photo: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Panagiotu. Source: InfoMigrants.

These measures were complemented by an amendment arbitrarily suspending access to asylum for all refugees arriving in the country from North Africa, via the Libyan route, in the three months after July the 14th. This measure - the Greek government claimed - was prompted by a rise in registered arrivals of migrant people from Libya to Crete and neighbouring island of Gavdos.

Greek Migration Minister Plevris defended such policies, maintaining that Greek citizens’ rights to protect their country outweigh those of rejected asylum seekers.

However, both international institutions and the national judiciary expressed dissent. In July, the UN agency for refugees - supported by the Conference of International NGOs of the Council of Europe - expressed “serious concerns”, emphasizing that the right to seek asylum is fundamental and must be guaranteed by states. Moreover, paralleling the clash between the Italian government and its judiciary on detention centres in Albania, the Greek Administrative Court of First Instance deemed the Greek suspension of asylum processing unlawful.

Despite such verdicts, however, other measures making irregular stay a severely punished criminal felony remain in place, with the Greek government portraying arrival numbers below historic peaks as national security concerns justifying ever stricter laws. In such a context, human rights groups keep warning that the human cost of such hardline stance is likely to rise - inside detention centers, at borders and at sea.

📣 Future events

We’re already working on our 2026 events! Starting in January, exciting updates are coming. Follow our page and subscribe to our newsletter for any news. See you next year as we continue our commitment and our actions!

Catch Mediterranea at Our December and January Stands!

Pass by our stand and say hi!

• 13 of December - Modena City Ramblers & Lennon Kelly at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 17 of January - Pop X at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 31 of January - Murubutu at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. Don’t miss it!

📣 Past events

21 November - Queer Migration Evening

On 21 November, Mediterranea Bruxelles hosted an evening on queer migration at Les Grands Carmes, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us. The event opened with a screening of Sultan: It’s Drag Habibi, followed by a powerful live drag performance by Sultan, the documentary’s main protagonist.

A three-part panel discussion explored Sultan’s journey as an LGBTIQ+ migrant, the barriers queer migrants face, and how to build spaces of solidarity and visibility. Speakers included Sultan, Julia Kundler (Rainbow Refugee Committee), Mohamed Youjil Chaouki & Kira Krachten (CADAL), Zakaria El-Haddany (Corne de Gazelle), and filmmaker Việt Vũ.

This event was part of our ongoing project, MedBreak, co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps. Thank you to all attendees and to our inspiring panelists for their openness and energy.

6 & 27 November - Mediterranea Bruxelles x Serve the City Joint Workshop

Last week, we concluded our joint workshop series with Serve the City, held on 6 and 27 November. The first session, Migration Unwrapped, offered an introduction to EU migration and asylum policy, led by Mediterranea Bxl with guest speaker Eleonora Testi, Senior Legal Officer at ECRE.

The second session, Step Into the Shoes of a Project Creator, hosted by Serve the City, guided participants through designing their own volunteering initiatives and learning from experienced volunteers.

The workshop was part of Mediterranea Bruxelles’s MedBreak project - co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps - which aims to strengthen connections among organizations supporting migrant integration in Belgium and Europe. Both sessions gathered an engaged a broad group of participants, and we’re thankful for this meaningful collaboration with Serve the City.

5 December - Winter Light: An Evening of Music and Solidarity

On 5 December, Mediterranea Bxl and the Crescendo Collective Choir hosted Winter Light at Coin Culture, an evening of music and solidarity that brought our community together. The choir performed a mix of winter pop pieces and festive classics, creating a very warm start to the season.

After the concert, the evening continued with a solidarity tombola, food, drinks, and extended conversations. This lovely event took part in the context of Mediterranea Bruxelles ongoing project, MedBreak. Thank you to everyone who joined and supported us!

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If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

For nearly a decade, BelRefugees has played a key role in shaping a more humane and citizen-driven approach to welcoming people on the move in Belgium. Emerging from spontaneous acts of solidarity during the 2015 reception crisis, it has grown into a structured ecosystem centred on dignity, autonomy, and inclusion. This interview explores the values behind its creation, the practices that support its mission, and the systemic gaps it seeks to address.

A mission rooted in dignity and solidarity

BelRefugees emerged in response to urgent needs. In 2015, many people arriving in Belgium had no access to shelter or basic support, and citizens responded with housing, meals, and practical assistance. From the start, the guiding principle was clear: every person has the right to dignity, access to information, training, and assistance, regardless of administrative status or origin.

Over time, the initial wave of solidarity developed into a more organised network, capable of addressing a variety of needs while staying true to its core commitment: respect for each individual’s situation and autonomy.

Building Community and Belonging

Belonging, BelRefugees reports, goes beyond meeting basic needs. Reception centres, language courses, cultural activities, and community events provide spaces where newcomers can regain confidence and connect with others.

The organisation encourages interactions between residents and local community members, helping to strengthen social ties and support integration in Brussels and beyond.

Navigating Rights and Support Services

A key part of BelRefugees’ work is the Social & Legal Support service (SISA), which helps people in migration understand their rights and navigate complex procedures in Belgium. The team brings together Social Workers (SW), Interpreters (ICM), and Legal Aids (LA) to provide guidance and accompaniment, support informed decisions on health, social services, and asylum processes, while connecting individuals to other organisations for additional needs such as housing or regularisation.

Amna Shaddad, General Coordinator of SISA, explains that the service strives to fill gaps left by the state, offering clear information and personalised support that empowers people to assert their rights and manage their situations more confidently.

Citizen Engagement at the Core

Volunteers remain central to the work of BelRefugees. They support daily operations in centres, assist with distributions, facilitate activities, and contribute to creating welcoming spaces.

Their engagement illustrates how practical support, guidance, and everyday interactions help newcomers feel included in their communities.

Do you want to volunteer?

Get in touch with Mediterranea Bruxelles (mediterraneabxl@gmail.com) or BelRefugees (www.belrefugees.be).

MedBreak is a Mediterranea Bruxelles project co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, both on land and at sea, along with a brief overview of the most pressing migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

📢 Mediterranea’s activities updates: The latest from Mediterranea’s crews

Hot topics:

📜 Maersk Etienne Case: Trial Against Mediterranea’s Activits Begins

📝 Lampedusa, 12 Years On: Refusing to Stay Indifferent

⚖️ Italy Renews Deal with Libya as Migrants’ and NGOs’ Protests Go Unheeded

✍🏻 Giulia, Luigi, Liliana, Emanuela, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco

📣Mediterranea Activities’ Updates

Mediterranea’s 21st Humanitarian Supply to Ukraine

Between 28 September and 5 October 2025, Mediterranea carried out its 21st humanitarian supply to Lviv. Among the ten members of the team were two volunteers from our Brussels group, Emanuela and Simone, who helped with driving, loading and unloading supplies, and taking part in recreational activities with children and wellness exercises with the elderly.

Since establishing a continuous presence in Lviv since February 2022, Mediterranea has nurtured long-term relationships with local communities. At a time when international, EU, and state humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people is being drastically reduced, the commitment of civil society actors standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people carries an even stronger political and moral significance.

MEDITERRANEA’s 2nd Mission at Sea

On 29 October 2025, Mediterranea’s ship set sail on its second Search and Rescue mission. Within days, the crew rescued 92 people, including 31 unaccompanied minors and a pregnant woman, from multiple boats in distress. Many bore signs of violence from Libyan detention camps. On 4 November, Mediterranea arrived in Porto Empedocle to disembark the survivors but was ordered to release minors only and continue to Livorno with the others, despite medical certifications that the rescued people were unfit for further travel.

Police and port authorities accused the captain and shipowner of violating the Piantedosi Decree for allegedly delaying arrival at the assigned port. Once again, the ship now faces administrative detention in Porto Empedocle, leaving the crew unable to continue their lifesaving work.

In light of these new violations, Mediterranea decided to join the Justice Fleet. Supported by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and Refugees in Libya, the network links 13 search and rescue organisations that decided to stop operational communications with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Tripoli, as required by the Piantedosi Decree.

More information about the mission can be found here.

📣Hot topics

Maersk Etienne Case: Trial Against Mediterranea’s Activists Begins

On October 21 in Ragusa, the trial against six Mediterranea’s activists opened. They are accused of “aggravated facilitation of illegal immigration” for their role in the 2020 rescue of 27 people abandoned for 38 days on the Danish tanker Maersk Etienne. On that occasion, European authorities, including Malta and Denmark, failed to provide a safe port.

Our Mare Jonio crew intervened, providing urgent medical care and safely transferring the rescued people to Italy. Three months later, the shipping company that owned the vessel, Maersk Tankers, made a transparent donation in support of civilian sea rescue operations. Despite this, the charges, based on a misleading claim of a “profit motive”, aim to criminalize solidarity.

This trial is a chance to defend the truth: helping people in danger at sea is an act of humanity, not a crime.

Mediterranea’s official statement on the opening of the trial can be found here.

Lampedusa, 12 Years On: Refusing to Stay Indifferent

On October 3, 2013, just a few hundred meters off the coast of Lampedusa, 368 people - mostly young Eritrean women and men - lost their lives while trying to reach freedom. Twelve years later, in 2025, that tragedy remains an open wound.

After the Lampedusa shipwreck, Italy launched Mare Nostrum, a naval mission that saved tens of thousands of people. But it was soon dismantled, replaced by policies of deterrence and agreements with authoritarian regimes - outsourcing Europe’s borders.

Around 7:00 a.m., some civilian boats and local fishing vessels noticed the shipwreck survivors and raised the alarm, taking most of the survivors on board. Following eyewitness reports, doubts arose regarding the Coast Guard’s response time, as it apparently took about an hour to reach the site of the shipwreck.

Mediterranea Bxl official statement marking 12 years since the Lampedusa shipwreck can be read here.

Italy Renews Deal with Libya as Migrants’ and NGOs’ Protests Go Unheeded

Not even the videos showing patrol boats of the Libyan coastguards shooting at the SOS Mediterranée’s rescue ship were enough to induce a change in policy.
Nor the infamous Al Masri case, which saw the Italian government failing to hand over the high-ranking Libyan official indicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court - finally arrested by Libyan authorities.

Three days earlier, in fact, despite all this and amidst the Italian government’s silence, the deadline to rediscuss - and possibly not renew - the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Italy and Libya expired. The MoU “on the cooperation in the field of development, contrasting illegal migration, human trafficking, smuggling and on strengthening border security” will thus be renewed for three more years, with its charge of human suffering - from violent interceptions at sea to abuses during arbitrary imprisonment.

However, not all of society acted as passive spectator to such turn of events.
In the past month, NGOs and associations denouncing the inhuman agreements criminalising undocumented people’s mobility to Europe staged protests in Rome and Brussels to oppose the MoU renewal.

Photo source: Domani editoriale | author: Clara Marnette

First, spearheaded by the “Refugees from Libya” collective constituted by Libyan detention centers’ survivors, a press conference was held in Rome, demanding the immediate interruption of the “bloody and illegal” MoU. A demonstration in front of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers followed, where migrant collectives called out Italy’s complicity in Libyan atrocities which “turned the [Mediterranean] sea into a gigantic graveyard”.

Later, in Brussels, the same network of associations enacted a “refugees tribunal” to “hold accountable EU politicians and bureaucrats responsible for funding violence against migrants and refugees in Libya”. Civil society demands, however, seemed to fall on deaf ears in both European capitals.

📣Future events

21 November, Screening of “Sultan - It’s Drag, Habibi”

Mediterranea Bruxelles invites you to an evening on queer migration on 21 November at Les Grands Carmes in Brussels. The night begins with the screening of “Sultan: It’s Drag, Habibi”, followed by a live drag performance by Sultan and a panel discussion on migration, identity, and queer resilience. Speakers from Brussels-based organizations will share insights on creating spaces of solidarity and visibility for queer migrants. The night will close with drinks and a chance to connect and share ideas.

Practical Info: 21 November 2025, 18:00 - 20.30, Les Grands Carmes, Rue des Grands Carmes 22, Bruxelles

Tickets info: Tickets are €5 at the door (community tickets available), and all proceeds support Mediterranea’s activities.

5 of December, Light of Winter - An evening of music and solidarity with Mediterranea Bruxelles & Crescendo Collective Choir

Experience the magic of the Christmas season on 5 December at Coin Culture, featuring a live performance by the Crescendo Collective, a joyful amateur choir ready to light up the stage. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, along with exclusive Mediterranea merchandise. Let’s come together this winter in the spirit of music and solidarity. More information coming soon on Mediterranea Bruxelles’ Instagram, don’t miss it!

Practical Info: 5 December 2025, from 19:30, ULB Coin Culture, Avenue Paul Héger, Bruxelles. Please note that the Christmas concert starts at 20:00.

Catch Mediterranea at Our November and December Stands!

Pass by our stand and say hi!

• 15 of November - Populous at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 28 and 29 of November – CinemaMed at Cinema Palace, Boulevard Anspach 85, Bruxelles

• 13 of December - Modena City Ramblers & Lennon Kelly at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. Don’t miss it!

📣Past events

4 November - “10 Years of Search and Rescue on the Frontline: Saving Lives, Defending Rights”

On 4 November, Mediterranea Bruxelles’ volunteers took part in an event at the European Parliament organized by MEPs Cecilia Strada and Estrella Galán to mark ten years of civil search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. The gathering brought together NGOs, survivors, and human rights defenders to reflect on a decade of solidarity at sea and to call for urgent political change in Europe’s migration policies.

Speakers from Sea-Watch, SOS MEDITERRANEE, MSF, and other organizations shared their frontline experiences, while discussions on externalization policies and strategic litigation underlined the need to protect humanitarian action and human dignity across Europe.

Mediterranea Saving Humans’ president, Laura Marmorale, also contributed as a speaker, reflecting on the criminalization of sea rescue under Italian law, the human rights impact of the Italy–Libya Memorandum, the complicity of European border policies, and the repression of civil society. She reaffirmed Mediterranea’s commitment to “act in solidarity, dismantle the legal apparatus that builds walls around and within Europe, and practice disobedience to unjust laws in order to obey international and humanitarian ones.”

Ten years on, our collective struggle reminds us that saving lives is not a crime — it is our shared responsibility.

4 November - Standing in Solidarity with Refugees in Libya

On 4 November, Mediterranea Bruxelles’ volunteers stood in solidarity with Refugees in Libya in Brussels at an event condemning the EU and its institutions for funding suffering and atrocities in Libya. The gathering offered a platform for refugees to share their testimonies and demand justice. Mediterranea’s presence was key, demonstrating unwavering support for those whose voices are often silenced and reaffirming our commitment to defending human rights across the Mediterranean and beyond.

3 November - Mediterranea Bruxelles at the Intersections for Impact Forum

On 3 November, Mediterranea Bruxelles joined the Intersections for Impact Forum in Brussels, connecting with youth-led organizations working on health, environment, and social impact. We shared our mission and story, presenting information and merchandise available for purchase. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness, engage with a diverse audience, and highlight our work rescuing lives and defending human rights in the Mediterranean.

17 October - The Art of Resistance

On 17 October, La Fabriek filled with art, music, and solidarity for The Art of Resistance, and it was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who joined and donated - your incredible support will fuel Mediterranea’s ongoing activities, including in the West Bank.
From the RESISTERE x ESISTERE exhibition to the vibrant DJ sets, the night was pure collective energy. A special thanks to our amazing volunteers, whose dedication made it all possible. Together, we showed once again how resistance and community can truly make a difference.

Photo: Alessio Misseri

If you find this email useful, please consider to forward it to other interested human beings.

Share Mediterranea BXL

If this email was forwarded to you, don’t forget to subscribe.

👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

Each month, we bring you updates on Mediterranea’s ongoing missions, both on land and at sea, along with a brief overview of the most pressing migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

📝 Italy Rewards Pakistan’s Migration Crackdown Despite Afghan Deportation Plan

🗞️ Italian Government Aligned Libyan Militia Who Throws Migrants Into the Sea

⛴️ From Sea Blockade to Ceasefire

✍🏻 Giulia, Giovanni, Luigi, Liliana, Alessandro, Francesca, Emanuela, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Clara & Ludovica

📣 Hot topics

Italy Rewards Pakistan’s Migration Crackdown Despite Afghan Deportation Plan

Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, and his Pakistani counterpart, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, met in Rome on 17 September to renew their cooperation on migration initiatives. Following the signing of a Memorandum on Migration and Mobility in May, Piantedosi announced that the two countries would develop it into a broader framework to “stop” human smugglers and promote “training courses” to disincentivise departures. They also discussed raising entry quotas for Pakistanis.

Piantedosi’s intention to “reward supplementary quotas for those countries that […] are making an effort to contrast irregular migration” fully reflects the government’s selective migration approach to accommodate Italian labour needs: criminalising undocumented people on the move while offering visa liberalisation to partner countries, often to attract high-skilled workers to Europe.

In the case of Pakistan, however, this raises further concerns. While treating unauthorised border crossing as a crime that justifies repressive policies, Italy is strengthening ties with authorities pursuing a mass deportation plan against Afghan residents - some of them long-settled.

The “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” - which foresees cancelling 800,000 Afghan nationals’ IDs and deporting them to the Pakistani border - has drawn strong criticism from the UN human rights office. While UN experts warn that millions of Afghans - including refugees - risk being pushed back into a country in humanitarian collapse, the UNHCR has denounced Islamabad’s expulsion of 8,000 people in a week, target of demonising efforts to depict them as criminals and terrorists.

Instead of condemning these abuses, Piantedosi praised Pakistan’s “numerous initiatives” against “illegal” migration, signalling Rome’s willingness to overlook rights violations in exchange for tighter border control.

Italian Government Allied with Libyan Militia Who Throws Migrants Into the Sea

A shocking video has surfaced from the last mission of Mediterranea Saving Humans last August, taken by Alessia Candito, the Italian journalist who joined the mission as a reporter. The footage shows Libyan coast guard officers dumping migrants into the sea, some of whom had just been released from detention camps. The scene is harrowing: uniformed men forcibly ejecting terrified individuals into open water, with reports saying that those who resisted were shot.

This is not just a tragic anomaly. It’s part of a broader pattern of abuse tied to European countries and the practice of outsourcing migration policies. The Libyan forces involved had previously threatened the rescuers, warning them not to intervene. Despite this, the journalist managed to document the incident, and the evidence is now in the hands of Italian prosecutors and the International Criminal Court.

What’s even more disturbing? Some days after the event, The Italian government welcomed the Libyan commander allegedly responsible. This move has sparked outrage among human rights groups, who argue that EU funding is enabling such brutality. NGOs have long warned that Europe’s deals with Libya are fueling a cycle of violence and impunity.

Mediterranea Bruxelles and other civil society organisations continue to call for urgent action through protests, policy changes, and a complete reassessment of how Europe handles migration from third countries in which several human rights violations take place.

Last but not least… Mediterranea Bruxelles attended the recent Final Conference of the MIrreM (Measuring Irregular Migration) Project and shared some considerations regarding the notion of “Irregular Migrants”,the prioritization of security and control against the use of systematic regularisation tools.

Check out the full article here 👉 Gaps in EU migration pact raise human rights concerns

From Sea Blockade to Ceasefire

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail for Gaza with hundreds of passengers and humanitarian aid, aiming to break the isolation of the besieged Strip.

Under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, unarmed civilian ships enjoy the right of “innocent passage”. Despite this, Israeli naval forces intercepted all flotilla vessels in international waters, towing them to Ashdod port.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the flotilla necessary because Israel blocks UNRWA from delivering aid through official channels, while both Spain and Italy urged participants to stand down.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have said that Israel’s maritime blockade remains illegal under international law, and that the interception demonstrates Israel’s determination to deliberately starve Gaza’s population in violation of its international obligations.

The operation took place just days before a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect. On October 13, the Israeli army declared that “there are no remaining Israeli hostages alive in Hamas captivity”. As the ceasefire holds, the fate of Gaza’s civilians remains uncertain.

📅 Future events

17th of October: THE ART OF RESISTANCE - Exhibition and Music for a Free Palestine

Join us for our next big event at La Fabriek on 17 October, from 7:30 pm to 2 am: THE ART OF RESISTANCE, a night of art, music, and collective solidarity. Explore the RESISTERE x ESISTERE exhibition featuring diverse artists and the special participation of Gaza-based photographer Sanad Latifaa. Move to an energizing DJ set, share delicious food, and take home postcards or artworks to support the cause. Every 10 € ticket at the door helps Mediterranea continue its missions, including in the West Bank, and your presence makes the evening even more meaningful. Art speaks truth, dance defies violence - sharing food and voices as acts of unbreakable resistance.

Learn more about the Mediterranea with Palestine Mission 👉 Mediterranea with Palestine

Practical Info: 17 October 2025, La Fabriek, Rue de la petite île 1A, Anderlecht

Catch Mediterranea at Our October Stands!

Pass by our stand at this month’s events and say hi!

• 18 October - 99 Posse at Pilar, Triomflaan, VUB (Entrance 6, Building Y), Ixelles

• 23 October - Giorgia Fumo at Espace Lumen, Chaussée de Boondael 36, Ixelles

We’ll have our amazing merch available for sale - perfect for supporting our mission while grabbing something special for yourself. Don’t miss it!

📅 Past events

A Summer of Action with Mediterranea Bruxelles

This summer, our Mediterranea Bruxelles crew was right at the heart of Mediterranea Saving Humans’ work both at sea and on land. Last July and August, two of our volunteers, Emanuela and Simone, joined the preparation of Mediterranea’s newly acquired rescue ship, a vessel that left for its first mission in August and was then detained by the Italian government.

From painting and cleaning to stocking supplies, cooking for the crew, and managing logistics, our volunteers gave a hand wherever needed. They also trained in first aid and spent time with the maritime and humanitarian teams who dedicate their lives to sea rescue, an unforgettable learning experience and a true act of solidarity.

In September, their journey continued on land with Mediterranea’s 21st humanitarian mission in Ukraine. Together with crews from across Italy, they traveled to Lviv to deliver essential goods and medical supplies to hospitals, facilities, and families in need, while supporting prevention activities with a medical team. These missions show how much can be done when people come together.

Want to get involved? Come at our next event or join our next plenary meeting, follow us on social media, share this newsletter, or support us with a donation.

Every gesture counts, and together we can make an even bigger impact.

29 & 30 of August: Mediterranea Bruxelles at Forest Sounds Festival

As summer came to a close, Mediterranea Bruxelles was once again present at the Forest Sounds Festival. For two unforgettable days, our stand welcomed festival-goers of all ages with children’s games, informative materials, and merchandising.

Beyond the festive atmosphere, our participation was rooted in activism—using culture and community as tools to spark reflection, foster connections, and inspire collective action.

A big thank you to everyone who joined, engaged, and helped make this shared experience possible.

12 of September : Sosteniamo la Global Sumud Flotilla

On 12 September, Mediterranea Bruxelles, together with solidarity networks including Casi U.O., Incendiarie, and many others, organized a powerful evening of information, support, and mobilization in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla. Once again, the flotilla set sail to challenge the siege and bring concrete solidarity to the people of Gaza, who continue to face relentless repression and violence.

Through live connections, updates, and video testimonies, the evening shed light on the daily reality of Gaza and the determination of those who resist isolation and injustice across the Mediterranean and beyond.

We thank all who joined us, listened, and raised their voices alongside ours. At a time when silence enables oppression, we stand together to transform solidarity into action.

If you find this email useful, please consider to forward it to other interested human beings.

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👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

In this monthly newsletter, we’ll fill you in on Mediterranea's ongoing missions - both on land and at sea - along with a quick rundown of the most important migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

MedBreak 🫧 #3

📝 “Occupying a Land to Erase Its People” - Mediterranea with Palestine’s Mid-Year Report Is Out

📄 Almasri case: Italy defends itself, but judicial pressure mounts

⚖️ Italy: Palermo prosecutors appeal Salvini Open Arms acquittal

✍🏻 Simone, Giulia, Giovanni, Liliana, Alessandro, Francesca, Emanuela, Angela, Maria, Marco, Clara & Ludovica

MedBreak #3

Check out the interview with SINGA Bruxelles, a Brussels based organization involved in the connection between newcomers and locals.

📣 Hot topics

“Occupying a Land to Erase Its People” - Mediterranea with Palestine’s Mid-Year Report Is Out

The mid-year report from the Mediterranea with Palestine project has just been released, based on direct monitoring in the villages of Masafer Yatta region in the southern West Bank. Since January 2025, Mediterranea’s activists have been on the ground, documenting human rights violations committed by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian communities. During 129 days - from 23 January to 31 May - we recorded 838 violations across 27 villages. One of the most common abuses documented was the invasion of Palestinian property by settlers, often as a form of harassment.

The violations documented are not isolated cases, but part of a deliberate strategy of ethnic cleansing targeting Palestinians.

Yet despite everything, Palestinian communities continue to resist by remaining rooted in their land. This report is about more than data - it’s about lives, like that of Awda Hathaleen, a 31-year-old Palestinian activist blatantly shot and killed on 28 July by Yinon Levy, a settler known for repeated acts of aggression against Palestinians.

We are sharing the evidence collected in this report to push for justice and accountability. Mediterranea will not stop - we remain committed to continue denouncing the reality on the ground in Massafer Yatta.

The full EN version of the mid-year report is available at the following link.

Almasri case: Italy defends itself, but judicial pressure mounts

The Italian government has once again defended its conduct in the controversial Almasri affair, asserting in a 15-page document sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) that it has not violated its cooperation obligations. The document reiterates claims previously made by Justice Minister Carlo Nordio in Parliament, arguing that the ICC arrest warrant contained “uncertainties” and that Italy acted “in good faith.”

The case centres on Nijeem Osama Almasri, the head of Libya’s judicial police. He was arrested in Turin on 19 January 2025, but was released just two days later and flown back to Tripoli on an Italian Air Force plane. Almasri is wanted by the ICC on charges of murder, torture and rape relating to serious human rights abuses allegedly committed at the Mitiga detention centre in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Despite Italy’s legal and diplomatic defense, the Italian Court of Ministers has formally requested parliamentary authorization to proceed with legal action against Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio. At the same time, the Court of Ministers has closed its investigation into Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, effectively removing her from the case. Nevertheless, Meloni recently admitted to being directly involved in the decision to release Almasri, stating on social media that she fully supported the move.

Italy: Palermo prosecutors appeal Salvini Open Arms acquittal

Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation is expected to rule in the Open Arms case involving Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. The case centers on Salvini’s 2019 decision, while serving as Interior Minister, to block the disembarkation of 147 migrants rescued by the Spanish NGO Open Arms off the coast of Lampedusa as part of his government’s closed-ports policy.

In December 2024, a court of first instance in Palermo acquitted Salvini of charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform public acts, determining he had no case to answer. However, prosecutors, who had initially sought a six-year prison sentence, filed a per saltum appeal, allowing the case to bypass the appellate court and move directly to the Court of Cassation, Italy's highest court.

According to the State attorneys, Salvini’s actions breached both national and international laws and exceeded the limits of his ministerial authority, particularly as there was no immediate threat to national security. The outcome of the Cassation Court's review could set an important precedent for how executive powers are interpreted in the context of migration policy.

📅 Future Events

29 & 30 August: Mediterranea Bruxelles at the Forest Sound Festival

Get ready to celebrate the summer with us at the Forest Sound Festival! Also this year, Mediterranea Brussels will participate in the event with a stand full of games, information and merchandising.

Activism is not confined to the streets: it resonates through art, culture, and community. In a time marked by brutal repression and systemic silence, we join the festival to amplify the voices of those unheard, to share the truth about ongoing atrocities, and to create space for reflection, connection, and action.

Practical Info: 29 & 30 August 2025, Forest Abbey, 1190 Forest, main entrance to the festival will be via Place Saint Denis.

More information here: https://forestsounds.be/en/

The Mediterranea Newsletter Takes a Summer Break - See You in September!

As the summer unfolds, the Mediterranea BXL newsletter will be taking a short break. We’ll pause our monthly updates through August, returning in September 2025 with renewed energy, fresh stories from the ground, and new opportunities to take action.

In the meantime, our work continues - in the streets, at festivals, and wherever solidarity calls.

Thank you for walking with us, reading, sharing, and standing for justice✊🏽. See you in September!

If you find this email useful, please consider to forward it to other interested human beings.

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👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

When it comes to newcomers - whether asylum seekers, refugees, or undocumented people - one common misconception is that they are only in need: of help, guidance, or resources. Of course, support is important, especially early on, but this perspective often overlooks the resilience, talents, and contributions that newcomers bring along with them. They are not just passive recipients of aid; they are entrepreneurs, artists, volunteers, and leaders in their own right. We spoke with Bénédicte Losdyck, Community Manager at SINGA Bruxelles, to explore how simple connections can dismantle stereotypes, how language shapes relationships, and why collaboration is essential in building inclusive communities.

How SINGA Was Born: Breaking Down Barriers

Back in 2016, a group of local citizens in Brussels realized how difficult it was for newcomers to meet and connect with locals. This lack of contact deeply affected newcomers’ ability to learn languages, access job opportunities, find housing, and feel fully part of the city/ local society . But it also affected locals, narrowing their social circles and reinforcing prejudice and fear.

This is how SINGA Bruxelles was born: to create spaces where these connections could happen. From the very first meetups and pairings, the “magic” started to unfold - friendships blossomed, people helped one another navigate the city, and meaningful exchanges of ideas, traditions, knowledge and languages took place.

“It was clear from the beginning that these simple connections were powerful - and that creating those spaces was both necessary and transformative,” Bénédicte recalls.

The Power of Language

Much of SINGA’s work is rooted in shifting the way we talk about - and therefore think about - newcomers. The words we choose shape perception. At SINGA, terms like “inclusion” are preferred over “integration”, because they suggest mutual transformation and shared belonging, rather than placing the responsibility solely on the newcomer.

“When we shift our vocabulary, we shift our mindset,” says Bénédicte. “For instance, locals who start using the word ‘newcomer’ rather than ‘refugee’ or ‘migrant’ tend to focus more on the individual and their potential, rather than their legal status or past.”

Even small changes in language open the door to more balanced, human relationships - built not on pity, but on curiosity, equality, and mutual respect.

How locals change: from empathy to connection

One of the most encouraging outcomes of SINGA’s work is how it impacts the local citizens in Brussels. In fact 76% percent of participants in SINGA’s activities or pairings report having a better understanding of the lived realities of newcomers, and 62% percent feel more capable of raising awareness and speaking to others - friends, family, or the wider public - about migration issues in Belgium.

Beyond the statistics, what speaks even louder are the personal experiences.

One participant described how they felt after attending a SINGA Bazar - a weekly community event in Brussels featuring games, music, and snacks:

“I was surprised by how easy it was to connect with others during a Bazar, especially through games. I was even surprised at myself - how easily I could bond with people. Sometimes we just laughed and played, other times I spent the whole evening in deep conversations. Listening to someone talk about the realities of their country helped me deconstruct the image I had built from media narratives. I feel like I need to keep going with this process to go even further.”

From the other side of the exchange, a newcomer reflected on what stood out to them during these moments of connection:

“What I really liked about the Bazar and activities is that we just spend time together without getting stuck in small talk that doesn’t really mean anything. Our country of origin doesn’t define us. Our strategy in board games, our sense of humor, those say more about who we are as people.”

For Bénédicte, it’s exactly this mix of fun, curiosity, and reflection that changes people. Locals don’t just learn about migration - they experience meaningful contact. It’s about shifting the focus away from identity labels or backstories, and placing it on the shared experiences that reveal who people truly are.

A collective mission

As working in the field of migration can sometimes be an isolating experience, Bénédicte argues that collaboration is not only essential to counteract this sense of loneliness, but also to have a lasting impact. SINGA works closely with volunteers, partner organisations, and international networks to co-create a wide range of projects. For instance in Brussels, the Collectif TWOgether, was created to amplify the impact of organisations working through duos/pairs models. At a broader level, being part of the SINGA Global network strengthens their efforts across borders and reminds them they are part of a shared movement - one grounded in solidarity, not competition.

Do you want to volunteer?

Get in touch with Mediterranea Bruxelles (mediterraneabxl@gmail.com) or SINGA Bruxelles (join an info session)

MedBreak is a Mediterranea Bruxelles project co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

In this monthly newsletter, we’ll fill you in on Mediterranea's ongoing missions—both on land and at sea - along with a quick rundown of the most important migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

⚖️ICC Prosecutor challenges Italy over release of Libyan official accused of war crimes

🚢Supreme Court Challenges Italy-Albania Return Protocol

📑Italy Passes Controversial Security Bill Despite Supreme Court Concerns and Global Criticism

✍🏻 Giulia, Giovanni, Liliana, Alessandro, Francesca, Emanuela, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Lavinia, Clara & Ludovica

📣 Hot topics

ICC Prosecutor challenges Italy over release of Libyan official accused of war crimes

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally requested the judges to declare Italy in breach of its duties under the Rome Statute, following Italy’s disputed release of a Libyan official. Nijeem Osama Almasri, the head of Libya’s judicial police, was detained in Turin on January 19 but was released just two days later and flown back to Tripoli on an Italian air force aircraft. Almasri is accused of human rights violations, including murder, torture, and rape carried out in the Mitiga detention centre in Tripoli.

This request follows Italy’s submission of an official explanation, a procedural requirement that allows countries to justify their actions before the Court decides whether there has been non-cooperation. In a 14-page filing, Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan asserted that Italy had breached its legal responsibilities, hindered the pursuit of justice, and blocked the Court from fulfilling its role.

Italy justified releasing Almasri by pointing to a decision by the Rome Court of Appeal, which found procedural errors in his arrest. However, ICC Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan strongly questioned this reasoning. She noted that Italy only mentioned the supposed Libyan extradition request more than three months after Almasri’s release, without providing any evidence. Khan argued that instead of freeing Almasri outright, Italy should have formally consulted with the ICC to resolve the situation. Instead, Almasri was returned to Libya as a free man and welcomed by supporters.

The Prosecutor is now asking the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber to find Italy in violation of its obligations and to refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties or the UN Security Council.

Supreme Court Challenges Italy-Albania Return Protocol

According to Italy’s Supreme Court, the recent protocol concerning the Gjader facility in Albania is in direct violation of the EU Returns Directive, which defines common rules for returning third-country nationals residing irregularly in Member States.

This pivotal ruling from the Court of Cassation marks a turning point for Italy’s controversial policy -which the Italian government has consistently highlighted within European discussions- to utilize the Gjader center as a detention and repatriation facility (Cpr).

The discrepancies between the Albania protocol and higher-level regulations (both national and European) highlighted by the Court's report are significantly more extensive than previously assessed by courts. The clash between executive authority’s claims and the judiciary’s insistence on safeguarding fundamental rights is just beginning. Beyond conflicts with EU law, the report indicates possible constitutional concerns. Following earlier critiques of the government’s Security Decree, this latest evaluation casts further doubt on the cornerstone policies of the Meloni administration.

Italy Passes Controversial Security Bill Despite Supreme Court Concerns and Global Criticism

On 4 June, the Italian Senate passed a controversial security law that expands police powers and imposes harsher penalties for protest-related offenses. Under the new law, protests in prisons and migrant detention centres (CPRs) can result in sentences of up to 20 years. The “Security Decree” also introduces the new crime of “rioting” in migrant detention centres, punishable by up to four years in prison for any acts of violence or resistance - including passive resistance.

In fact, the government treats detention centres as prisons and seeks to suppress any form of dissent with severe punishments. Forms of passive resistance, such as hunger strikes, are often the only means through which detained migrants can exercise their limited freedom of expression.

Such measures risk violating migrants’ human rights and clash with EU law, specifically the “Return Directive” which requires Member States to use the least coercive measures possible, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which demands penalties be proportionate to the conduct, especially when the actions are non-violent.

In a recent report (No. 33/2025), the Supreme Court of Cassation rejected the reform, citing significant content and procedural flaws. The Court highlighted that the decree excessively criminalizes dissent through disproportionate aggravating factors, worsens the crisis in the prison system, and misuses emergency decree powers without proving extraordinary necessity.

📅 Past Events

Protesting for Gaza

This month was marked by powerful mobilisations in solidarity with Gaza, and Mediterranea Bruxelles did not look away.

On 7 June, we joined the protest held in front of the Italian Embassy, in support of the larger demonstration taking place the same day in Rome. Organised by PD, Movimento 5 Stelle, and Alleanza Verdi-Sinistra, the protest aimed to raise awareness and denounce the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli government.

On 15 June, Mediterranea Bruxelles also took part in the “Draw the Red Line for Gaza” march. Alongside tens of thousands of people, we filled the streets of Brussels with a red sea, walking together to resist an unfolding genocide and to reject the shameless impunity surrounding it.

Mediterranea Bruxelles will continue to walk. We will continue to stand, speak out, and act for those living under unjust occupation, for those silenced and rendered invisible by the European Union. We will walk until this genocide ends, and justice prevails.

Mediterranea Bruxelles Fundraising Dinner

On 12 June, Mediterranea Bruxelles hosted its first charity dinner at Kamilou, in the heart of Brussels.

This unforgettable evening was brought to life by the vibrant performances of two talented emerging bands, who generously donated their music and filled the space with magical sounds. A delicious three-course vegetarian menu, thoughtfully prepared by Kamilou’s dedicated team, helped create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The strong turnout added a beautiful mix of energy, warmth, and generosity, making the event a resounding success.

The dinner was not only a celebration of community and shared values but also a meaningful opportunity to raise vital support for Mediterranea’s life-saving missions. As President Gianmarco Riolo reminded us, “Solidarity can never be a crime”.

RADAR - Mediterranea Bruxelles x Brasserie Illegaal

Over 480 tickets were sold for the first-ever Mediterranea Bruxelles Techno Party - RADAR! More than just a huge success, RADAR was a bold and vibrant declaration of our mission: Save first, discuss later.

The dedication and energy of our volunteers were truly extraordinary. From managing the entrance and ticketing to running a vibrant merch stand—where all RADAR t-shirts sold out within the first two hours—they made it all happen. The food stand served over 300 delicious meals, thanks to an amazing chef who brought flavor and care to every dish. The pétanque corner brought laughs and connection, even under the heat, while the care and medical teams ensured a safe space for all, providing vital support when needed. The DJs kept the rhythm alive throughout the afternoon, building the energy that culminated in two spectacular drag shows that enchanted the crowd. Meanwhile, volunteer photographers captured the joy and spirit of the day, gifting us lasting memories.

Every single person-artists, volunteers, participants- played a part in making RADAR a truly unforgettable experience.

We danced with anger at Europe’s racist and restrictive migration policies staining our collective conscience, but we danced with hope too. Hope that together, in solidarity, we can push back.

We stand with migrants, whatever their path, and with people resisting injustice and occupation. During RADAR, Mediterranea Bruxelles raised its voice, and it was loud.

We deeply thank the chef Limon by Gizem, drag queens Zi’Amanda Leurre and Twiga, DJs Laryssa Kim, Rrita Hashari, Vera Moro, NOTCLOUD, Spirellie, and the entire Brasserie Illegaal team for their incredible talent and dedication, which were key to making this event such a success.

If you find this email useful, please consider to forward it to other interested human beings.

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👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

In this monthly newsletter, we’ll fill you in on Mediterranea's ongoing missions—both on land and at sea—along with a quick rundown of the most important migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

🚢 Tragedy at Sea Highlights Gaps in European Migration Policies

Death by Detention: The Human Cost of Italy’s Detention Centres

⛔ As six rescuers face criminal charges, Mediterranea expands civil rescue efforts and launches Sea-Eye 4

✍🏻 Giulia, Giovanni, Liliana, Alessandro, Francesca, Emanuela, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Lavinia, Clara & Ludovica

MedBreak

📣 Hot topics

Tragedy at Sea Highlights Gaps in European Migration Policies

On 11 May, the German NGO Sea-Watch reported the deaths of two young children, aged 3 and 4, likely due to thirst after their rubber dinghy drifted in the Mediterranean. The boat, carrying refugees from Libya to Italy, suffered engine failure shortly after departing the port of Zawiya on 7 May, leaving passengers exposed to harsh conditions.

During the journey, one migrant drowned and another one died despite resuscitation efforts, while many of the 59 migrants rescued suffered serious injuries, including chemical burns from salt water and fuel. Rescue came from the sailing boat Nadir, operated by the NGOResqship. The boat is part of the Civil Fleet that often fills the void left by European authorities. Although Frontex was aware of the distress signal, no European agency intervened.

Since the 2017 EU-Libya agreements, rescue operations have been delegated to the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, which acts more as a border police than a rescuer—often detaining migrants or leaving them at sea. This policy ignores UN reports exposing Libyan entities’ involvement in human trafficking. This tragedy underscores the consequences of failed migration policies focused on pushbacks rather than prioritising human life and dignity.

Death by Detention: The Human Cost of Italy’s Detention Centres

On May 19, Hamid Badoui took his own life in the Italian CPR (centro di permanenza per l rimpatri - pre-removal detention centre) of Turin. In recent months, he had been caught in the machinery of Italy’s detention and deportation system. Initially held in the Bari CPR, he was later transferred to the Gjadër CPR in Albania, following amendments to the controversial Italy-Albania agreement. These recent amendments turned the Gjadër facility into the eleventh operational CPR, despite being located outside of Italy.

The detention in CPRs, originally presented as a temporary and exceptional measure, has now evolved into a structural system of administrative detention: over the past twenty years, the maximum detention period has increased from 30 days to 18 months.

This shift reflects a clear political intent: to normalise detention in migration management. The recent approval by the Italian Senate of the “Albania Decree” on 21 May indicates the Italian government’s commitment to this approach, raising serious concerns about migrants’ basic human rights.

As six rescuers face criminal charges, Mediterranea expands civil rescue efforts and launches Sea-Eye 4

A judge at the Court of Ragusa has ordered six of Mediterranea’s crew members from the Mare Jonio to stand trial on charges of aiding illegal immigration. This marks the first time in Italy that crew members of a civil rescue ship face such accusations.

The case concerns a 2020 operation in which 27 people, stranded for 38 days aboard the Danish tanker Maersk Etienne in serious physical and psychological condition, with no state authorizing their disembarkation, were taken aboard the Mare Jonio and later disembarked in Pozzallo (Ragusa).

Three months after the rescue, Maersk Tankers, the operator of Maersk Etienne. made a €125,000 donation to Idra Social Shipping, the company that operates the Mare Jonio, in support of civil rescue activities. Prosecutors now allege that this donation constitutes an aggravating factor as they allege the rescue was financially motivated.

In response to this attempt to criminalize solidarity, Mediterranea continues its commitment to saving lives at sea through a new partnership with the German NGO Sea-Eye and the acquisition of a new, larger rescue vessel, the Sea-Eye 4, which is ready to set sail.

📅 Past events

Marking 80 Years of Liberation - A Weekend of Memory, Resistance & Solidarity

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Italian Liberation Day, Mediterranea Bruxelles joined forces with several associations for a powerful weekend of reflection and mobilisation.

On Saturday 26 April, we gathered at Le DK for an afternoon of lively debates, readings, live music, and participatory workshop, moments that sparked both dialogue and connection. The following day, Sunday 27 April, we continued at GC Kontakt, carrying the spirit of 25 April forward and transforming remembrance into renewed collective energy by sharing a “pastasciutta antifascista” all together.

This was more than a commemoration, it was a call to action. A time to honor those who fought for freedom, to reignite our shared commitment to antifascism, and to stand together in solidarity for the struggles still ahead.

Mediterranea at 2025 Labour Day

On 1 May, Mediterranea Bruxelles proudly took part in the FGTB Brussels Labour Day celebration, joining the vibrant village associatif at Mont des Arts. Alongside nearly fifty other organisations, we came together to celebrate the values that unite us - solidarity, social justice, and collective action.

Labour Day is more than a celebration—it’s a powerful reminder of the historic and ongoing struggles for workers’ rights, dignity, and justice. As voices filled the village associatif with music, speeches, and demands for change, we were proud to take part in a collective call to defend hard-won rights and push back against social and economic inequalities.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to connect, reflect, and stand with us.

Grenades in Maqluba - Film Screening & Conversation

On 4 May, Mediterranea Bruxelles hosted a powerful screening of “Grenades in Maqluba” at Elzenhof, a documentary that offers an unflinching look at life under occupation in the southern West Bank, where daily oppression shapes every aspect of Palestinian existence.

We were honoured to welcome director Jana Weissteiner, whose presence brought a deeper layer of insight and reflection during the post-screening discussion.

This event was not just about watching a film - it was an invitation to witness, to question, and to stand in solidarity with those resisting systemic injustice. Thank you to everyone who joined us in amplifying these urgent calls.

📅 Future Events

12th of June: Join Us for a Night of Solidarity, Flavor, and Music

On 12 June, join us for a special solidarity dinner at Kamilou, in the heart of Brussels, in support of Mediterranea and its ongoing missions. Step into a lively night of meaningful connection, conversation, and action.

Enjoy a delicious three-course vegetarian menu crafted with care, while live performances from two bands fill the air with rhythm and energy. It’s more than a dinner - it’s a celebration of shared values, a space to connect with like-minded people, and a chance to support life-saving missions in the central Mediterranean and beyond.

Let’s gather in the spirit of resistance, hope, and human dignity. Your presence makes a difference!

Practical Info: 12 June 2025 at 6:30 pm (dinner served at 7:30 pm), Kamilou, Rue Joseph II 36, Brussels.

Booking Info: Voluntary contribution from €50,00 - to reserve your place, write an email to mediterraneabxl@gmail.com with the name of the attendees.

22nd of June: RADAR - Mediterranea Bruxelles x Brasserie Illegaal

Get ready - on 22 June, Mediterranea Bruxelles launches RADAR, its very first party, in collaboration with Brasserie Illegaal in Brussels. From 3 pm this unique venue will pulse with energy, featuring electrifying DJ sets from Laryssa Kim, Vera Moro, and Rrita Jashari, opening acts by NOTCLOUD and Spirellie, and fierce drag performances by Zi’Amanda and Twiga.

But RADAR is more than a party—it’s a celebration of resistance, visibility, and collective power. Come dance, connect, and take a stand.

🎟️ All proceeds go directly to Mediterranea’s search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea.

Practical Info: 22 June 2025 from 03:00 to 05:00 pm, Brasserie Illegaal, Rue Bollinckx 300, Forest.

Tickets Info: Tickets : RADAR. Saving Humans - Billetweb

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👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

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Brussels, often referred to as the capital of Europe, is a city of contrasts. While it hosts major international institutions and symbolizes cooperation on a global scale, it is also a place where many go without a place to call home. Migrants, asylum seekers, and long-term homeless individuals are part of the city’s reality, though they are often overlooked. Along the canal, in metro stations, and throughout the city centre, signs of life on the margins are quietly present. Behind the image of a thriving European capital lies a persistent challenge: ensuring dignity and support for those living in vulnerability. What if instead of walking by these injustices, you would decide to stop?

Teika’s story: volunteering to break the bubble

This is the story of Teika, a young woman who moved from Germany to Brussels in February 2024, and who decided to stop. She arrived in the city to work as an intern for the European Commission, and quickly realised the meaning of “bubble”. She bravely decided to break it, becoming a volunteer with Serve the City and providing practical support to her new community.

Her story starts from the feeling of frustration linked to the lack of governmental response to social injustice and the awareness that waiting for a radical change would have taken too long. She decided to search for volunteering opportunities, and quickly found Serve the City, a global movement of volunteers supporting in practical ways people in need.

Serve the City: small actions can create big change

Joining their activities and becoming part of the group was very easy: after downloading the Serve Now application on her phone, she accessed information on the available projects, and signed up to volunteering shifts. Willing to work with migrants while combining her passion for cooking, she joined two initiatives. With “Community Kitchen” she spent countless weekends making food for hundreds of people. After preparing the meal, new volunteers were assigned to portion it in small boxes, while volunteers of other organizations picked them up with a van, and finally others distributed them in the humanitarian hub located close to Tour and Taxi. Aware that support was needed also during the week, Teika decided to also join “Solidarity Breakfast”, where she distributed tea, coffee and sandwiches close to the immigration office before going to work.

While volunteering, she created her community in Brussels. She met different people, got to know a wide variety of walks of life. What she enjoyed the most, was to finally find the time to get to know the reality beyond her office desk. She had the chance to talk to people while distributing drinks, listening to their stories and the reasons that brought them to the streets. She realised that some spoke German or had spent some time in Germany, and that she could relate to a part of their journeys and struggles. Her volunteering experience moved quickly beyond food distribution: she could recognise faces and remember names. While being with the people she met, she realised that life is not linear, but continuously changes direction, and that anyone can fall into a difficult situation. By getting to know others in the project, she fought stereotypes and ignorance, gaining new awareness and giving back to society.

The incredible work of Serve the City cannot be efficient without its connection with multiple organisations across the country. Network and collaboration is what makes this incredible machine work, unifying volunteers and active citizens that offer their support in the countless initiatives in the city. By reinforcing each other's work, organisations multiply their efforts and create space for innovation and creativity. This is the reason why everyone can volunteer.

“In every project people can bring their skills and knowledge, interests and talents; and it can be very useful. You just need to be interested in learning, and willing to challenge yourself in new environments”.

Your community, your choice

In Brussels, there is something for everyone. Every hand is needed and every skill is welcomed. Sometimes, the only thing missing is the courage to send the first message or join the first activity.

Today, nearly 50,000 homeless people live in Belgium, and hundreds of transmigrants still try their fortune towards the UK. 34,000 people are asylum seekers, one third of whom are minors. Since 2021, the lack of available accommodation forced to create a ‘waiting list’ to access reception spaces, where over 3,000 people are registered. We can read those as numbers, or we can see the hundreds of broken lives that are waiting to have their right to house, to family, to a dignified life recognised. The ultimate response to these societal challenges should undoubtedly come from governmental action. While we wait for it, the lives of people in need are becoming increasingly difficult. We cannot afford to stand by anymore. Everyone holds a responsibility in shaping a just society, and empowering its people. When those who receive support become volunteers themselves, we, as a society, win.

“Ending up in certain situations is easier than people think. Some privileges are temporary, they change quicker than imagined. It is important to be aware of your beliefs and question them, give a chance to someone to show who they are, and care a bit more about each other. Take time to stop, reflect. This is the best way to grow: walk with open eyes and open heart.”

Do you want to volunteer?

Get in touch with Mediterranea Bruxelles (mediterraneabxl@gmail.com) or Serve the City.

MedBreak is a Mediterranea Bruxelles project co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

In this monthly newsletter, we’ll fill you in on Mediterranea's ongoing missions—both on land and at sea—along with a quick rundown of the most important migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

🚢 Mediterraneo #21: Back at Sea with Safira

🇵🇱 Poland Curtails Asylum Rights, Drawing Sharp Criticism over Border Policy

⛔ Italian Migrant Centres in Albania: Updates

✍🏻 Giulia, Giovanni, Liliana, Alessandro, Francesca, Emanuela, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Lavinia, Clara & Ludovica

📣 Hot topics

Mediterraneo #21: Back at Sea with Safira

On 5 April, in the late afternoon, Mediterranea Saving Humans launched its 21^st mission on board the civilian sailboat Safira. The next day at 15:30, the crew of Safira intercepted a boat in distress in international waters between the SAR zones of Malta and Tunisia.

After ensuring that every person on the boat in distress was provided with a lifejacket, the rescue team of Mediterranea contacted the Maltese authorities, who at first did not respond and then refused to intervene. Due to the lack of intervention from the authorities, and since the boat’s engine caught fire, Mediterranea’s rescue team proceeded to evacuate the migrants and took them to safety on board the Safira.

The operation ended successfully when all 28 people rescued, including 12 unaccompanied minors, were brought to Lampedusa, the place of safety indicated by the Italian authorities.

Just a few days later, on 12 April, Mediterranea’s crew aboard Safira received a “mayday” message from a Frontex aircraft, reporting a boat in distress between the SAR zones of Malta and Tunisia. The rescue team intervened promptly and cooperated with the Italian Coast Guard that had previously reached the boat. The mission ended with the safe rescue of the 50 migrants on board. Cooperation at sea between civil society and institutions to save lives is always a victory for all.

Poland Curtails Asylum Rights, Drawing Sharp Criticism over Border Policy

"I believe it is necessary to strengthen the security of our borders and the security of the Poles" announced President Andrzej Duda, following Poland’s decision to suspend the right to seek asylum for migrants arriving across the Belarusian border.

On 26 March, Duda signed into law a bill that will allow Polish authorities to suspend for 60 days the right to request asylum, declaring that the situation constitutes a "serious and real threat" to national security.

Last February, Human Rights Watch called on the European Union to take legal action against Poland if this measure came into effect, pointing out that it violates Poland's obligations under international and EU law. Similarly, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed concerns, reminding Poland of its international commitments, especially regarding the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids returning individuals to territories where they risk inhuman or degrading treatment.

Mediterranea Bruxelles is deeply concerned by this development and its potential to endanger the lives and rights of vulnerable individuals. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and advocate for the protection of human rights.

Italian Migrant Centres in Albania: Updates

On 11 April, Italy transferred 40 men whose asylum applications had been rejected to Italian-run detention centres in Albania—the first time an EU country has sent migrants to a non-EU nation they did not transit through. The migrants, moved by navy ship from Brindisi to the port of Shengjin, are now detained in the Gjadër centre and face up to 18 months of administrative detention under Italian law. No details have been released about their nationalities.

Originally intended to process asylum claims offshore, the Albanian camps were reclassified in late March as repatriation centres (Cpr - Centri di permanenza per i rimpatri) after Italian courts blocked the original plan. Human rights observers and lawmakers who visited the centres raised concerns about the lack of transparency, forced transfers without prior notice, and the prolonged use of restraints during transport.

While Italy’s "Albania model" remains under review by the Court of Justice of the EU, according to the European Commission, the conversion of the centres into detention facilities for deportation is in compliance with EU law, as Italian national law continues to apply within them after their conversion. Therefore, the centres should not be considered similar to the return hubs in third countries envisaged by the Commission in its proposal for a new Returns Regulation published on 12 March.

📅 Past Events

8^th of April: Book Presentation: For Many Years from Tomorrow

On 8 April, Mediterranea Bruxelles, in collaboration with Arci Bruxelles, hosted the presentation of For Many Years from Tomorrow by activist Giorgio Brizio at Librebook in Brussels. We were thrilled to welcome a full house, where attendees enjoyed an evening of meaningful discussion around the book’s themes—ranging from activism to the future of our planet—all in an informal yet deeply engaged atmosphere, accompanied by drinks and great company.

10^th of April: Mobilising Against the EU Migration Pact

On 10 April, some of Mediterra BXL volunteers joined over 200 protesters at Place du Luxembourg in Brussels to denounce the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The demonstration, backed by numerous organisations, was part of a global call against EU migration policies that undermine international solidarity.

Speaking for Mediterranea Bruxelles, our volunteer Gianmarco Riolo stated: “This Pact is not only costing lives, it’s eroding our democracies by reinforcing the Fortress Europe narrative. We must reject this vision and resist efforts like the push for detention centres in Albania, a failed policy masked by political spin”.

📅 Future Events

23^rd of April: Standing Up for Lives at Sea

Join us in Brussels on 23 April for Standing Up for Lives at Sea — an evening of conversation, books, and collective reflection.

We’ll be welcoming Luca Casarini, Head of Mission at Mediterranea Saving Humans and author of La cospirazione del bene, and Don Mattia Ferrari, Mediterranea’s chaplain and author of Salvato dai migranti. Racconto di uno stile di vita.

Together, we’ll reflect on what it means to defend life at sea at a time when solidarity is increasingly criminalised. This will be a space to exchange questions, experiences, and hopes — and to reaffirm our shared commitment to resistance and care.

The conversation will continue informally over drinks. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Practical Info: 23 April 2025 at 7 pm, Librebook, Chaussée de Wavre 128, Ixelles

Join us for the 80th Liberation Day!

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Italian Liberation Day, Mediterranea Bruxelles is coming together with several associations for a weekend filled with reflection, mobilization, and collective spirit. On Saturday 26 April, we’ll be at Le DK for an engaging afternoon of debates, readings, live music, and participatory ateliers. The following day, Sunday 27 April, we’ll gather at GC Kontakt to carry the energy of 25 April forward — transforming it into a powerful moment of remembrance and unity.

This is more than just an anniversary. It’s a chance to honor the past, inspire the future, and strengthen our shared commitment to antifascism and solidarity.

Practical Info:

• 26 April 2025 from 1 pm, LE DK, 70b Rue de Danemark, Saint-Gilles (more info here)

• 27 April 2025 from 12 pm, GC Kontact - Av Orban 51 -Woluwe-Saint Pierre (more info here)

1^st of May: Med BXL at Labour Day Celebrations

On 1 May, Mediterranea Bruxelles will take part in the FGTB Brussels Labour Day celebration with a stand at the vibrant village associatif at Mont des Arts. Together with around fifty other organisations, we’ll be there to share our mission, connect with the public, and celebrate solidarity and social justice. Pass by our booth and discover Mediterranea Breaks the Bubble - MedBreak, our new project co-funded by the European Commission as part of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). Enjoy some delicious food, grab a drink, and join us for meaningful conversations—we’d really love to connect with you!

Practical Info: 1 May 2025 from 1 pm, Village associatif, Mont des Arts

4^th of May: Film Screening - Grenades in Maqluba

Join us on 4 May at Elzenhof for the screening of Grenades in Maqluba, a documentary shedding light on the occupation and daily oppression faced by Palestinians in the south of the West Bank.

We’re honoured to welcome director Jana Weissteiner, who will be present for a discussion following the film.

Don’t miss this event—come reflect, learn, and stand in solidarity.

Practical Info: 4 May 2025 at 3 pm, GC Elzenhof, Av. de la Couronne 12, Ixelles

Something’s Coming … 💃🕺

Get ready for a day you won’t forget. This 22 June, we’re cooking up something loud, bold, and full of energy. Mark your calendars, stay tuned, and keep your dancing shoes close — you’ll want to be there.

More details soon...

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We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources

In this monthly newsletter, we’ll fill you in on Mediterranea's ongoing missions—both on land and at sea—along with a quick rundown of the most important migration news.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, here’s what you’ll catch up on this month:

🇺🇦 Ukraine: 18th Mission of Mediterranea Saving Humans and Music & Resilience

🚢 Stranded and Abandoned: migrants rescued after four days at sea from a gas platform off the coast of Tunisia

⛔ Paragon case: Mediterranea targeted by spyware

✍🏻 Giulia, Giovanni, Liliana, Alessandro, Francesca, Emanuela, Simone, Angela, Maria, Marco, Lavinia, Clara & Ludovica

MedBreak

We’re excited to introduce Mediterranea Breaks the Bubble 🫧 - MedBreak, the latest initiative of Mediterranea Bruxelles! This project, which is funded by the European Solidarity Corps, is all about raising awareness on migration and creating stronger connections among the organizations dedicated to migrant integration across Belgium and Europe.

Check out the first interview here with activist and writer Ibrahima Lo.

📣 Hot topics

Ukraine: 18th Mission of Mediterranea Saving Humans and Music & Resilience

On the 2nd of March, the 18th mission of Mediterranea Saving Humans and Music & Resilience set out, delivering two tons of humanitarian aid. Organised by the Mediterranea land crews of Emilia-Romagna and volunteers from Music & Resilience, the effort highlights the worsening inequalities within the Ukrainian population. The economic crisis and the fear of forced conscription are now defining the continuation of the conflict -marked by relentless Russian bombings- and fueling an atmosphere of permanent instability. While Ukraine continues to resist the Russian invasion, largely thanks to loans from the United States and European countries, this financial dependency places the country in an increasingly vulnerable position, exposing it to the economic interests of Western powers. In the face of these increasing challenges, humanitarian missions continue to provide crucial support to the local communities which are affected by the ongoing conflict.

Stranded and Abandoned: migrants rescued after four days at sea from a gas platform off the coast of Tunisia

For four days, between 1 and 5 March 2025, 32 people (with children among them) fleeing Libya have been shipwrecked without access to food and water on the Miskar oil platform, owned by the British multinational British Gas and located off the Tunisian Coast in the Central Mediterranean. From the outset, people have been in contact with the NGO Alarm Phone, which has been constantly informing the Italian and Maltese authorities of the situation for days. However, there was no proactive effort from any of the two governments to rescue the stranded migrants, even though they were located in international waters.

The Maltese government’s omission of rescue is even more problematic as, on the 3rd of March 2025, the Human Rights Committee instructed Malta to take all measures necessary to coordinate a search and rescue operation for the 32 persons in distress with the aim “to ensure that they are not disembarked in a place where they will be at risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment or risk to their life”. The NGO Seawatch finally sent the Aurora ship to rescue the 32 migrants who were safely brought to the port of Lampedusa. This latest episode of non-assistance by European states reveals just how relevant the work of civil society organisations in the Central Mediterranean still is.

Paragon case: Mediterranea targeted by spyware

Mediterranea's founder and mission chief Luca Casarini has reportedly been under surveillance since February 2024, according to analysis conducted by The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. On Friday, January 31st, Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, sent an official message to Casarini informing him that his phone had been hacked by a high-level "spyware" operation, using software defined as "one of the most sophisticated in the world." The Citizen Lab describes the "Graphite" spyware as capable of covertly accessing the most sensitive data on targeted devices without possibility for independent audit. The software is developed by the Israeli company 'Paragon Solution' which claimed to have provided it 'to the US government and other government intelligence agencies of allied countries'.

Fellow co-founder Dr. Giuseppe Caccia, Fanpage Editor-in-Chief Francesco Cancellato, and Refugees in Libya founder David Yambio were also among those reportedly affected. This appears to be part of a broader notification sent to approximately 90 individuals worldwide, including journalists and human rights activists. Mediterranea's legal representatives Fabio Lanfranca and Serena Romano have filed a complaint in Palermo requesting an investigation into the matter and Mediterranea has decided to publish, through reports, all the findings from the team of experts that is conducting the civil investigation on the phones of our activists.

📅 Past Events

5^th of March: Day of the Righteous - Screening of A Nord di Lampedusa

On 5 March 2025 in honor of the Day of the Righteous, MED BXL volunteers attended an event at the EU Parliament, hosted by MEP Cecilia Strada. The evening featured the screening of A Nord di Lampedusa, a documentary telling the story of Vito Fiorino, a fisherman who, on the night of 3 October 2013, helped rescue 47 people during the tragic Lampedusa shipwreck. With moving speeches from the film’s directors and Fiorino himself, the event underscored the urgency of humanising migration — shifting the focus from statistics to the real stories of resilience, solidarity, and survival at Europe’s borders.

8^th of March: International Women’s Rights Day

On 8 March 2025, MED BXL volunteers joined the International Women’s Rights Day march in Brussels under the theme For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. With a strong focus on migrant, refugee, and displaced women, we highlighted that migration justice is a feminist issue. Women flee not only for economic reasons but to escape violence and oppression — yet many asylum systems fail to recognise gender-based persecution, leaving them vulnerable. We stand in solidarity, demanding justice, protection, and empowerment through the recognition of gender-based asylum claims, safe shelters, and legal and economic support for migrant women. No woman should have to choose between her rights and her safety.

📅 Future Events

8th of April: Book Presentation - For Many Years from Tomorrow

Join us on 8 April at Librebook for the presentation of For Many Years from Tomorrow by Giorgio Brizio, featuring Belgian activist Eline Le Menestrel. This powerful book brings together 27 stories from activists across the EU, shedding light on urgent social and environmental issues. Following the presentation, we’ll dive into a debate on the connections between climate change and migration — how the climate crisis is driving displacement, the urgent need to recognize climate refugees, and why these issues must be intertwined in public discourse. After the discussion (8 pm), stick around for drinks and check out our merch. Don’t miss this important conversation!

Practical Info: 8 April 2025 at 7 pm, Librebook, Chaussée de Wavre 128, Ixelles

10th of April: Take a stand against the EU Migration and Asylum Pact!

On 10 April 2024, the European Parliament adopted the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum - a set of new rules that reinforces racist policies of isolation, criminalisation, systematic detention, and human rights violations. One year later, we refuse to stay silent. Join us in Brussels to resist these injustices and demand a migration system built on dignity, solidarity, and human rights - not exclusion and repression. Let’s stand together and make our voices heard!

Practical Info: 10 April 2025, time and location will be announced soon on our Instagram.

If you find this email useful, please consider to forward it to other interested human beings.

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👋 - Until next time

We hope you liked this number of our newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive the latest updates on migration hot topics and our activities!

If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please send us an e-mail at mediterraneabxl@gmail.com

🔗 - Dig into our resource page and previous newsletters

Mediterranea BXL Resources