The increase in arrivals at the EU borders is causing political panic and an explosion of irrational plans such as fences and walls. Leaked #EUCO conclusions strongly hint that, again, leaders don't want to solve the flawed system but choose to shift responsibility. 🧵
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348636460498944
Everyone agrees that the current system is failing and needs a drastic update. Sadly, that's where unity ends. Commission proposals are deadlocked for years over a deep divide among southern and northern Member States, and do not address the elephant in the room. 2/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348639299956736
We need to urgently abolish the fundamentally wrong so-called Dublin system - which determines that the first country of entry is responsible for handling an asylum procedure, resulting in excessive pressure on external border countries. 3/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348641820774401
Countries like Greece and Italy have developed their own cynical tactics to escape responsibilities through violent #pushbacks and by deliberately eroding reception conditions.
However, in the run-up to EUCO, northern countries such as NL have urged to maintain this system. 4/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348644324810752
The EU annually invests tens of millions in the border control of autocratic regimes such as Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Libya without effectively checking whether this money (in)directly contributes to the pushbacks or other violations of these regimes. 6/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348649517281280
People get stuck in transit countries without access to asylum. For instance, Turkey systematically deports people to Syria and Afghanistan, where their safety and lives are at stake. Libya is infamous for its human rights violations and hellscape detention camps. 7/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348652482633730
Further, the EU abuses its power by enforcing returns and readmission in a way that is often experienced as neo-colonial. Instead of listening to the wishes of countries with which agreements are made - such as cooperation in legal migration - the EU opts for sanctions. 8/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348654969876481
If countries refuse to cooperate, the EU suspends visa facilitation, development aid or trade benefits.
This perverse policy is destructive for the development of the poorest countries - therefore, cynically enough, may even result in more migration in the long run. 9/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348657411039232
Once again, during the upcoming summit, this so-called external dimension of migration will be a central topic. Proposals are on the table to use "all possible instruments" to enforce migration cooperation and to quickly deploy #Frontex in third countries. 10/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348659919224833
Instead of turning a blind eye to our European values and perpetuating inhumane migration policies, the EU should use this #EUCO to work towards fair, equal and sustainable cooperation with partners that centre human rights and respect the needs of third countries. 11/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348662498729986
Development aid should serve its goal of eradicating poverty and not be misused as an obstinate tool to enforce returns.
Besides, let's not forget that 85% of all refugees are hosted in low-income countries.
We need to step up responsibility. 12/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348664973332480
Let me not be misunderstood: cooperation with non-EU countries can be part of a healthy and functioning asylum and migration system. However, this will only function if we engage in truly equal partnerships with human rights at their core. 13/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348667615789057
We cannot keep running away from our responsibility and finance inhumane policies elsewhere just because we are unwilling to develop a fair and sustainable distribution system in Europe. 14/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348670086234112
In recent years, we have seen that this impasse between EU countries has led to a disproportionate focus on outsourcing migration and border control to countries outside the EU. More and more cynical deals are made with third countries, flagrantly undermining human rights. 5/
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1623348646895820801