Sea Watch denounces policies criminalizing solidarity, externalizing borders

Sea Watch International has denounced the policies of criminalizing solidarity and externalizing the borders of Italy and the EU.

It went on to describe what is happening in the Central Mediterranean as unacceptable.

A statement by the organisation said: “Today @giorgialinardi, spokesperson for @SeaWatchItaly, was heard at the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the @Europarl_IT. On this occasion, we denounced the policies of criminalizing solidarity and externalizing the borders of Italy and the EU.

“We illustrated to the Commission that continuing with the Piantedosi Decree approach “will lead to a drastic reduction, or even disappearance, of civil search and rescue vessels in the Central Mediterranean by the end of the year. ”

The statement continued: “#Aurora’s last mission shows how law is being twisted. We got asked to coordinate with Tunisia to bring rescued shipwrecked people there: “an attempt to legitimize the EU-Tunisia agreement by compensating for its political weakness by instituting dangerous practices at sea.”

“What is happening in the Central Mediterranean is unacceptable. We ask the EU to stop the criminalization of solidarity, ensure a common European sea rescue, and abolish Frontex.”