A Decade Later, Lampedusa's Refugee Tragedy Revisited

Lampedusa, the southern Italian island known for being the first port of call for refugees crossing the Mediterranean, has experienced a familiar sense of disillusionment as the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, visited the island and made promises to crack down on people smugglers and swiftly deport rejected asylum seekers. However, locals question the effectiveness of these policies and express concerns about the lack of concrete solutions and the exploitation of Lampedusa for political campaigning. With increasing arrivals and no tangible progress on previous agreements, the EU faces challenges in addressing the ongoing refugee crisis and striking deals with North African countries.