Search and rescue NGOs as a focal point in debates on the reception of refugees in the EU: Research essay on an Italian and German case study

Abstract

After criticising a lack of rescue capacities and an increase in border deaths at the maritime EU external borders, search and rescue (SAR) NGOs have been sending out vessels since 2014. While the responsibility for SAR lies with the coastal states, we start from the assumption that these NGOs have now become part of the border regime. They pursue different activities to make the border regime, in their view, more humane and in line with European legal and moral obligations, and aim to mobilise a broader network supporting their activities. We observe a variety of actors – including churches, political actors, and civil society organisations – contributing to controversial public debates on their intervention. In our ZivDem project, we argue that various positions and conflicts around the reception of irregular migrants and refugees in Europe crystallise in the dissent on private SAR operations. In this research essay, we present a comparative research design to show how to analyse this dissent and how it plays out concretely in public debates in different member states. We focus – in a first approach – on recent events surrounding SAR NGOs and reactions in Italy and Germany to gain insights into the debates and reflect on emerging lines of conflict. Both national and transnational dimensions are taken into account. We conclude with the hypothesis that ultimately the debates are about different visions of European democracy.