The increase in arrivals at the EU borders is causing political panic and an explosion of irrational plans such as fences and walls. Leaked conclusions strongly hint that, again, leaders don't want to solve the flawed system but choose to shift responsibility. 🧵

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

Countries like Greece and Italy have developed their own cynical tactics to escape responsibilities through violent 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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

Follow

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

· · mirror-bot · 1 · 0 · 0

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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 in third countries. 10/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

Instead of turning a blind eye to our European values and perpetuating inhumane migration policies, the EU should use this to work towards fair, equal and sustainable cooperation with partners that centre human rights and respect the needs of third countries. 11/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

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/

🐦🔗: n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/

Sign in to participate in the conversation
Mastodon

A Mastodon forum for the discussion of European Union matters. Not run by the EU. Powered by PleromaBot, Nitter and PrivacyDev.net.