Italy approved on Wednesday a €20 million program for the voluntary return of around 3,300 “at-risk” immigrants in Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), despite criticism from human rights groups.
According to Italy’s Nova news agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave the green light to the program, which aims to assist vulnerable immigrants in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, along with Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli, chaired the second annual meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation on Wednesday, as well as the 11th full session of the National Council for Development Cooperation.
The committee also decided to establish a fund to support cooperation projects implemented by Italian regions, with the aim of leveraging regional expertise and strengthening networks between public and private actors.
Additionally, an increase in funding was arranged for civil society organization projects, and an extra allocation was designated for co-financing innovative entrepreneurial initiatives aimed at boosting human capital — in line with expanding scholarship opportunities for foreign students in Italy, according to the same source.
Last Thursday, a group of human rights organizations and associations issued a statement launching a campaign to halt voluntary return programs from transit countries. They condemned what they called the “illogical and distorted use of so-called ‘voluntary return’” supported by transit countries like Libya and Tunisia, where immigrants’ fundamental rights are systematically violated.
The signatory organizations demanded an end to the funding of voluntary return programs from transit countries. They called for freedom of movement, protection policies rather than restrictions, and the suspension of agreements and funding aimed at preventing immigrants from reaching Europe — along with increased transparency, safeguards, and human rights monitoring.
