PRO ASYL welÂcoÂmes the stateÂment by EU High RepreÂsenÂtaÂtiÂve for ForÂeign Affairs and SecuÂriÂty PoliÂcy, CatheÂriÂne AshÂton, to susÂpend negoÂtiaÂtiÂons with Libya about a so calÂled frameÂwork agreeÂment, which would include a cloÂser coopeÂraÂtiÂon in the deflecÂtion of refuÂgees. “It is a late insight that dirÂty deals with GadÂdaÂfi are imposÂsiÂble. ForÂcing on theÂse negoÂtiaÂtiÂons sinÂce 2008 alreÂaÂdy conÂstiÂtuÂted a scanÂdaÂlous negleÂct of human rights”, says Karl Kopp, direcÂtor of EuroÂpean Affairs with PRO ASYL. GadÂdaÂfi was liteÂralÂly armed by ItaÂly and the EU in order to fight refugees.
PRO ASYL demands a renÂunÂciaÂtiÂon of deflecÂtion poliÂciÂes in the run up to the meeÂting of EU MinisÂters of InteÂriÂor. InsÂtead it is now necesÂsaÂry to act for refuÂgee proÂtecÂtion and human rights.
PRO ASYL is conÂcerÂned that FronÂtex units were involÂved in the vioÂlaÂtiÂon of human rights during the ongoÂing employÂment of the EU borÂder agenÂcy. The misÂsiÂon is lead by ItaÂly, a counÂtry that preÂvents the arriÂval of refuÂgees no matÂter the cost. The BerÂlusÂcoÂni governÂment has vioÂlaÂted the EuroÂpean ConÂvenÂtiÂon on Human Rights in thouÂsands of cases, purÂsuing its push-back poliÂcy to Libya. The EU has to guaÂranÂtee that rejecÂtion and rediÂrecÂtion of boat peoÂpÂle stops. Human rights do appÂly at the EU borÂder, befoÂre the borÂder and in the terÂriÂtoÂriÂal waters of third countÂries as well. Boat peoÂpÂle have a right to humaÂne recepÂtiÂon in a safe EuroÂpean harÂbor and to an asylÂum proÂceÂduÂre in accordance with the rule of law.
The EU has to proÂviÂde the neighÂborÂing staÂtes with every posÂsiÂble supÂport, also in conÂnecÂtion to the arriÂval of refuÂgees from Libya. RefuÂgees from EriÂtrea, SomaÂlia and other perÂseÂcuÂting staÂtes that have stranÂded in the LibyÂan tranÂsit, will also attempt to flee. Even befoÂre the excesÂsiÂve use of force by the regime against the oppoÂsiÂtiÂon, theÂse tranÂsit refuÂgees were fair game in Libya. A comÂpreÂhenÂsiÂve supÂport for the neighÂborÂing countÂries in finanÂcial and logiÂstiÂcal terms is the preÂconÂdiÂtiÂon to open up escape routes.
In spiÂte of a low numÂber of boat arriÂvals in ItaÂly, the InteÂriÂor MinisÂters of the EU have to prepaÂre a humaÂne recepÂtiÂon of boat peoÂpÂle in EuroÂpe guiÂded by soliÂdaÂriÂty. In case of an increased moveÂment from Libya or other NorÂtÂhern AfriÂcan staÂtes, an EU wide disÂtriÂbuÂtiÂon of new arriÂvals – under conÂsideÂraÂtiÂon of humaÂniÂtaÂriÂan criÂteÂria – should be carÂriÂed out. EuroÂpe does have the necesÂsaÂry legal instruÂments to ensuÂre such a recepÂtiÂon guiÂded by the prinÂciÂple of “douÂble voluntariness”.