New study shows EU funding linked to human rights abuses beyond external borders
Migration
Today, a new study commissioned and released by the Greens/EFA Group shows how EU funding for migration support going to Tunisia and Libya is contributing to human rights violations. The study, ‘Beyond borders, beyond boundaries,’ carried out by Profundo, ARCI, EuroMed Rights and Action Aid, demonstrates severe shortcomings in human rights compliance within border control programs, coupled with a lack of proper transparency that clearly contradicts EU and international law.
Tineke Strik MEP, Greens/EFA member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, comments:
“The EU continues to pursue and promote dodgy deals with dictators and warlords in a deliberate attempt to stop migrants from reaching Europe. Externalising our responsibility to host a fair share of refugees comes at a heavy cost for those seeking shelter and at the expense of human rights and European values.
“The evidence collected in this study shows widespread violent and criminal behaviour, leading to the abuse of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia and Libya. This approach of prioritising dodgy deals over human rights cannot continue.
“Instead, the EU must show respect and protection of international law and fundamental rights, ensure access to fair and efficient asylum procedures and dignified reception conditions as well as solidarity between Member States.”
Erik Marquardt MEP, Greens/EFA vice chair of the Development and Humanitarian Aid Committee, comments:
“The EU cannot continue to throw money at third countries to do its dirty work while turning a blind eye to linked human rights violations. The EU must ensure greater accountability for deals with third countries.
“For the EU to have a humane Migration Pact, we cannot accept deals with third countries in the absence of fundamental rights monitoring, democratic scrutiny and parliamentary oversight.
“This is an EU-wide challenge that requires the fair share of responsibility for asylum applications among all Member States, as well as safe and legal pathways for migration, and an EU approach to labour migration that promotes mobility to and within the EU. To prevent people from dying at sea we have to put a stop to pushbacks and violence from both EU and third country authorities and we urgently need an EU-coordinated and EU-funded search and rescue mission.”
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Petition: Stop the EU from financing human rights violations at our border
