Maltese non-governmental organisations this afternoon welcomed yesterday’s European summit conclusion the immediate priority was to prevent more people from dying at sea but expressed disappointment at the measures proposed.
Aditus foundation, African Media Association Malta, Foundation for Shelter and Support of Migrants, Integra Foundation, International Association for Refugees, Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta), KOPIN, Malta Emigrants’ Commission, Migrant’s Network for Equality, Organisation for Friendship in Diversity, Peace Lab, People for Change Foundation and SOS Malta said the measures indicate an insistence on interpreting the deaths of over 1,000 persons as an illegal migration phenomenon.
“As long as member states stick to this approach, migrants and refugees will perish as they knock on Europe’s doors.”
The NGOs, however, welcome the commitment to resettle higher numbers of refugees and to explore internal relocation programmes, as indications of solidarity with refugees and other states receiving and hosting them.
“Yet we are extremely saddened that the statement is essentially yet another declaration that European Union borders will be reinforced, as evidenced by repeated references to illegal migration flows.
“The statement seems to indicate that there will be no extension of search and rescue coverage. If so, the commitment to prevent people from dying will remain a paper statement marking April 23 as the day the European Union decided to abandon people at sea.”
The NGOs questioned the statement’s assumption that traffickers, smugglers and countries of transit were the real problems.
“While it is undeniable that they are part of the problem, and therefore ought to be included in holistic solutions, their role remains secondary in the face of the impossibility of refugees to safely and legally enter the European Union.
“The proposed measures might be effective in curbing trafficking and smuggling activities from Libya, but will definitely lead to the opening up of new and possibly more dangerous routes.
“Once again, we urge the European Union not to forget the imperative of also ensuring dignified reception conditions for survivors, prompt access to asylum procedures and appropriate modalities to respectfully deal with corpses and their possessions,” they said.
Their thoughts were echoed by 38 European organisations who said April 23, 2015 was a terrible day: the European Council, that was supposed to take action on a “tragic” situation in the Mediterranean, merely attempted to shelter member states from migrants by toughening border protection.
The heads of government, they said, did not seek to put an end to the race to the bottom taking as few migrants as possible and the word ‘welcome’ did not feature in their vocabulary.