The reluctance of the EU to welcome survivors from the Mediterranean is increasingly flagrant. Is regional cooperation for reception possible?
Too Many People
The Aquarius and Lifeline cases have highlighted the disagreements of European Union member countries regarding the reception of migrants. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean is still getting more life according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): ” One in seven people who tried the crossing lost their lives in June, against one in 38 in the first half of 2017 “. For France Terre d’Asile (FTDA), Europe has a leading role that it must assume: ” This macabre countdown can only continue when we move away from lifeboats and we leave the responsibility help only Libyan militias “.
Detention and Holding Centres
On 28 June, at the European Council, EU Heads of State or Government discussed measures to reduce illegal migration. Since 2015, a number of actions have been put in place to drastically reduce this immigration: ” the number of illegal crossings of the EU borders detected has been reduced by 96% compared to the peak reached in October 2015 “. In order to reduce the entry of illegal migrants into Europe, for the European Council, all member states must be involved: ” rescued persons should be supported, on the basis of a shared effort, by transfer to centers controlled. These centers must be established in Member States only on a voluntary basis “. The introduction of this idea of volunteering may result in the proliferation of examples of unauthorized ships landing their survivors on European shores.
This Is Also Africa’s Problem
Involve African countries in this fight against illegal immigration, involve countries bordering countries in conflict, these ideas returning regularly in the discussions are they relevant? For FTDA, many conditions are prerequisites: ” If we want to convince these countries, and not buy them, it can only be under the humanitarian objective of rescue at sea, according to internationally accepted rules, and with an effective resettlement mechanism. The principle of non-refoulement must also be respected by all “.
The idea of regional cooperation to regulate immigration to the EU, and especially to reduce the number of deaths in the Mediterranean, will only be viable if each Member State plays its part. So far we are rather faced with a cacophony.
