EU Policies Forcing Migrants to Use Dangerous Routes

The route between Turkey and Greece has effectively been closed. Western Balkan countries have built fences and shut country borders, closing down the irregular 'Balkan route' used by migrants. Subsequently, the numbers of migrants reaching Greece has fallen.

However, European officials are now predicting a surge in migrants arriving in Europe via Libya. It's estimated that between 500,000 and 800,000 migrants will use the deadly route across the Mediterranean Sea.

In 2014, 3,072 people drowned making it the deadliest sea in the world for migrants, according to report, 'Fatal Journeys: Tracking Lives Lost during Migration.'

"The deteriorating security situation in Libya, where many migrants reside prior to their departure for Europe, had also increased migration pressures," the report states. 

The UN Refugee Agency has said that nearly 14,500 migrants have arrived in Italy from Libya so far this year — 43 percent more than the same time last year. According to the Italian coastguard, 1,482 migrants had to be rescued from the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast in recent days.

Authors of the report attribute the increase in flow of migrants from Libya to the post-revolution chaos in the country making it an "opportune time to make the sea crossing from the Libyan coast, given the less stringent monitoring of the borders and coastline."

The report also suggests sub-Saharan migrants are increasingly being pushed out of the country and into Europe amid "instances of racism, violence, arbitrary arrest and harassment in the country."

The EU-Turkey deal came into effect on March 20 2016, shortly after, nine migrants trying to reach Europe drowned off the Libyan coast with hundreds having to be rescued.

The European pact with Turkey may stem the flow of migrants to Greece — yet with summer approaching, European leaders fear it could increase attempts from Libya.