In figures from the Italian Interior Ministry, last updated on November 9, almost 146,000 migrants arrived in Italy since the beginning of January 2023 by small boat. In the same period last year, 88,476 migrants arrived from January-November 7 2022.

This, said Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, when presenting the figures at a Schengen Parliamentary Committee, made the increase 65% this year.

In line with the arrivals, Italy has also experienced an increase in the number of asylum requests. Over 72,000 were registered in the first six months of the year.

An increase was also seen in the number of repatriations. 3,960 migrants were sent back as of early November compared with 3,410 the previous year.

Guineans account for greatest number of arrivals

"In absolute figures, the numbers may not seem high. However, they indicate an irrefutable change in the trend," underscored Interior Minister Piantedosi when speaking to the committee.

Guineans have been most often represented among arrivals by small boat to Italy. More than 17,000 Guineans have arrived this year to date, followed by 16,300 Tunisians, 15,803 Egyptians and 8,537 Bengalis.

A total of 15,386 unaccompanied minors disembarked on Italian coasts in the period, compared with 14,044 for the entire year of 2022. Some 23,000 foreign-born individuals under the age of 18 are currently in Italian reception facilities.

A total of 140,842 people are currently in the national migrant reception system, a sharp rise compared with a year before when there were 85,041.

Some 34,367 are in the SAI integration and reception system that 3,000 Italian municipalities take part in across all of Italy. Most (105,680) are hosted in CAS special reception centers while 795 are in so-called hotspots or emergency first reception centers near the points of arrival.

Minister underscores CPR role in repatriations

Lombardy is the Italian region receiving the largest number of foreigners (17,869), followed by Emilia Romagna (13,001), Piedmont (12,373), Lazio (12,233), and Campania (11,029).

Across the whole of Europe, over half a million asylum requests were filed in the first six months of this year. Germany registered the greatest number of asylum requests followed by Spain, France and then Italy.

As of August, requests still pending at Italy's asylum commission totalled 130,000. Within Europe, only Germany had more with 192,000.

Minister Piantedosi reiterated that it is essential to have an adequate number of CPR repatriation centers since relevant figures show that 70% of people repatriated had been held in such facilities.

Currently there are nine CPRs operating at the national level in which 700 foreigners are being held.By the end of the year there will be 218 places available in these facilities. However, the aim is to create at least one per region and a plan is being drawn up alongside the defense ministry to select buildings that could be used for this purpose.