I am deeply saddened by the death of at least 24 migrants whose boat sank yesterday near Istanbul. Reportedly, these were Afghans, who were trying to reach Romania or Bulgaria via the Black Sea, as EU countries are making their land borders increasingly impenetrable. While Turkey is trying hard to cope with an extraordinary, ever increasing influx of refugees, EU member states are erecting walls and fences, or even resorting to push-backs, to deter them from reaching their territory. This policy is not only ineffective, but also bears tragic consequences as it exposes migrants to life-threatening risks. It is high time that the EU, whose member states are all members of the Council of Europe, review its dysfunctional migration policy, shifting the focus from security to human rights. The right to seek and enjoy asylum is a fundamental human right that cannot be overridden by security concerns. One way of doing this would be to afford more legal avenues to apply for asylum in the EU, so as to spare migrants dangerous routes and reduce their risk of becoming an easy prey for smugglers. Moreover, a better share of responsibility in receiving refugees is needed among all Council of Europe member states, in order to avoid that the challenges of migrant flows are left to few countries at the borders of Europe.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:17:50 +0000
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