Dissecting Policy-Induced Obstacles: The Impact of European Anti-Migration Policies on the Humanitarian Space in the Mediterranean Region

This research examines the impact of policy-induced obstacles on the humanitarian space, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region. Following the termination of search and rescue (SAR) operations by EU Member States in the Mediterranean, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have stepped in to fill the void. The high influx of migrants, coupled with an EU-wide impasse on addressing this issue, has resulted in various anti-migration policies. This research explores how these anti-migration policies and the obstacles they generate affect the humanitarian space in which NGOs operate. Through the analysis of primary documents and in-depth interviews, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of NGOs. The findings reveal distinct categories of obstacles resulting from anti-migration policies, each contributing differently to the deterioration of the humanitarian space. Additionally, the research highlights how contradictions in policy create uncertainties for NGOs, further impacting their operational environment and deteriorating the humanitarian space.