MigrationPact: Seebrüecke condemns EU’s disregard for human rights

With the publication of new EU Migration Pact this morning, Seebrüecke International a German Non Governmental Organization that want safe passage and an end to criminalisation of civil sea rescue, says the EU has missed the opportunity to agree on key mechanisms to safeguard human rights.

This morning, Seebrüecke International said “the outcome of the trilogue negotiations on the new EU #MigrationPact was published. With the agreement on the Common European Asylum System, the EU has decided to legislate a status quo in which violence, abandonment, torture&leaving people to die are commonplace.

“People on the move are already experiencing cruel practices: they are crammed into camps such as Moria, children are separated from their parents, boats are prevented from reaching land safely, people are beaten unconscious at the borders or left to freeze to death.

“At the time, it was said that their deaths should be a wake-up call to strengthen solidarity and mutual support and prevent similar tragedies in the future. The deaths of 600 people in the shipwreck off Pylos this year were not even worth empty promises.

“With today’s conclusion of the negotiations, the EU has missed the opportunity to agree on key mechanisms to safeguard human rights. There were alternatives that could have saved lives.”

Seebrüecke International further said: “What we need are: Safe and legal routes to Europe, a European sea rescue programme and a solidarity-based reception of refugees. Instead, the EU has decided to actively curtail the rights of people seeking protection and to legalise violations of EU asylum law by member states.

The new pact will restrict access to protection in Europe by introducing accelerated asylum procedures at the borders to facilitate returns. Refugees are to be isolated from the rest of society and held in remote camps, thus preventing any possibility of arrival.

“Third countries are to be declared safe, even if these countries persecute their own nationals or do not even grant legal status to refugees.

“All of this will force even more people to choose ever more dangerous routes. Not a single life will be saved by today’s decision. Europe has decided to learn from its worst examples. This is a historic failure.”