ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the evolution of the Euro-Mediterranean border control regime prior to the outbreak of the social and political upheaval in some of the Middle Eastern and North African countries. It provides an overview of how the Arab Spring turned into a major international crisis by reflecting on its influences on migration within the Western Mediterranean and to Italy in particular. The chapter examines how Italy, facing most visibly with the challenges of migratory flows in Europe following the crises in Tunisia and Libya, responded towards migrant arrivals. It focuses on the developments within the wider European context following Italy's announcement to issue temporary residence permits. While the number of arrivals to the Italian island Lampedusa was "out of the ordinary", they were not that significant taking into account the complete size of Italy and even minimal when the size of the Schengen zone is considered.
