• Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Middle East logoCarnegie lettermark logo
PalestineSyria
{
  "authors": [
    "Tasnim Abderrahim",
    "Matt Herbert",
    "Anna Knoll",
    "Hamza Meddeb"
  ],
  "type": "event",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [
    "X-Border Local Research Network"
  ],
  "regions": [
    "North Africa",
    "Tunisia",
    "Maghreb"
  ],
  "topics": []
}
Event

Leveraging Flows: The Surge in Irregular Migration From Tunisia to Europe

Wed, July 12th, 2023

Virtual

Link Copied
X-Border Local Research Network

Project

X-Border Local Research Network

In Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, conflict and instability endure in contested border regions where local tensions connect with regional and global dynamics. The Asia Foundation, the Rift Valley Institute, and the Carnegie Middle East Center are working together to better understand the causes and impacts of conflict in these border areas and their international dimensions, support more effective policymaking and development programming, and build the capacity of their local partners to leverage research to advocate for peaceful change.

Learn More

Irregular migration from and through Tunisia has surged since 2020. The North African country has become a launching point for Tunisian nationals as well as foreign migrants seeking to reach Europe. Indeed, in late 2022, Tunisia surpassed Libya as the main country of embarkation for Italy. With growing concerns in Europe about the inflow of migrants, the subject is increasingly dominating discussions on EU-Tunisia relations.

To understand the underlying factors contributing to the surge in irregular migration from and through Tunisia, The Malcolm H. Kerr Middle East Center and The Global Initiative are organizing a joint event on Wednesday, July 12, at 4:00 PM EEST, featuring Tasnim Abderrahim, Hamza Meddeb, and Anna Knoll. The event will focus on two publications examining the issue: “Borders Under Pressure: Increased Fragility Fuels Migration Surge from Tunisia,” which delves into the phenomenon of human smuggling from Tunisia to Europe during 2022; and “Leveraging Lives: Serbia and Illegal Tunisian Migration to Europe,” which analyzes the post-pandemic surge in Tunisian migration through the Western Balkan route and the growing instrumentalization of migration in countries’ foreign relations.

The discussion will be held in English and moderated by Matt Herbert. Those interested can join the event through Zoom and submit questions to the panelists using the live chat feature during the discussion. For more information, please contact claudio.landi@globalinitiative.net or najwa.yassine@carnegie-mec.org.

This event was produced with support from the X-Border Local Research Network, a program funded by UK aid from the UK government. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
North AfricaTunisiaMaghreb

Event Speakers

Tasnim Abderrahim

Tasnim Abderrahim is an analyst at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime within the North Africa and Sahel Observatory.

Tasnim Abderrahim
Matt Herbert

Matt Herbert is a Senior Expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, managing research activities for the North Africa and Sahel Observatory.

Matt Herbert
Anna Knoll

Anna Knoll is the head of ECDPM's migration and mobility team. Her current research focuses on the interaction between migration, displacement and development processes, the external and development dimension of the EU’s migration and asylum policies, migration in European development policies as well as African narratives, policies and processes on migration.

Anna Knoll
Hamza Meddeb
Fellow, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Hamza Meddeb

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

Event Speakers

Tasnim Abderrahim

Tasnim Abderrahim is an analyst at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime within the North Africa and Sahel Observatory.

Matt Herbert

Matt Herbert is a Senior Expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, managing research activities for the North Africa and Sahel Observatory.

Anna Knoll

Anna Knoll is the head of ECDPM's migration and mobility team. Her current research focuses on the interaction between migration, displacement and development processes, the external and development dimension of the EU’s migration and asylum policies, migration in European development policies as well as African narratives, policies and processes on migration.

Hamza Meddeb

Fellow, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Hamza Meddeb is a research fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, where he co-leads the Political Economy Program

Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Carnegie Middle East logo, white
  • Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.