Contemporary West African Migration to Europe (1990–2020)

1. Schengen implementation expands free movement area

   Mar 26, 1995Labels: Schengen Agreement, EU border

   • EU Schengen
   • Britannica

2. EU launches Eurodac asylum fingerprint database

   Jan 15, 2003Labels: Eurodac, European Union

   • EUR Lex
   • RFE RL

3. EU adopts Dublin II responsibility rules

   Feb 18, 2003Labels: Dublin II, European Union

   • EUR Lex
   • Europarl

4. EU creates Frontex for external border coordination

   Oct 26, 2004Labels: Frontex, European Union

   • EUR Lex
   • Frontex

5. Euro-African Rabat Process begins on migration

   Jul 10, 2006Labels: Rabat Process, Euro-African Dialogue

   • Rabat Process
   • Reuters

6. Canary Islands crisis triggers Operation Hera

   Jul 19, 2006Labels: Operation Hera, Spain

   • Frontex
   • New Humanitarian

7. EU-Cape Verde Mobility Partnership is signed

   Jun 5, 2008Labels: Mobility Partnership, Cape Verde

   • EU Press
   • EEAS

8. EU adopts Return Directive for removals

   Dec 16, 2008Labels: Return Directive, European Union

   • EUR Lex
   • EUR Lex Law

9. Lampedusa shipwreck intensifies Europe’s sea-crossing debate

   Oct 3, 2013Labels: Lampedusa shipwreck, Italy

   • AP Archive
   • BBC

10. Italy launches Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue operation

    Oct 18, 2013Labels: Mare Nostrum, Italy

    • Italian Navy
    • UNHCR

11. Frontex Operation Triton replaces Mare Nostrum

    Nov 1, 2014Labels: Operation Triton, Frontex

    • DW
    • Frontex

12. European Commission issues the European Agenda on Migration

    May 13, 2015Labels: European Agenda, European Commission

    • Europarl
    • UNHCR

13. Valletta Summit launches EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa

    Nov 11, 2015Labels: Valletta Summit, EUTF

    • EU Council
    • EUTF Africa

14. EU-Turkey deal shifts pressure toward Central Mediterranean routes

    Mar 18, 2016Labels: EU Turkey, European Union

    • EU Council
    • European Parliament

15. Italy signs deal with Libya to curb departures

    Feb 2, 2017Labels: Italy Libya, Italy

    • Italian Govt
    • Amnesty

16. Spain becomes top EU destination by sea in 2018

    Dec 31, 2018Labels: Spain arrivals, Spain

    • UNHCR
    • IOM MMP

17. EU and West African states coordinate on returns and anti-smuggling

    Jan 1, 2019Labels: Rabat Process, EU-West Africa

    • Rabat Process
    • EU Council

18. By 2020, migration governance combines deterrence and selective legal pathways

    Dec 31, 2020Labels: 2020 migration, European Union

    • ECA Report
    • Europarl