European border surveillance (EUROSUR)
Deal reached on technologies for keeping out refugees
The European Parliament and Council yesterday reached agreement on legislation to set up the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR). The Greens have criticised the proposed system and expressed regret at the agreement, with migration policy spokesperson Ska Keller stating:
"Today's deal will set up a system aimed at sealing off Europe's borders, using intrusive new technologies (like drones and satellites). This skewed approach to immigration misses the point. In addition to information exchange systems, under EUROSUR FRONTEX will implement new technologies to police Europe's external borders.
"EUROSUR aims to prevent refugees even setting off from North Africa towards Europe, with cooperation agreements with countries in the region either established or planned to ensure this. In practical terms, this means the EU is effectively shifting its borders to countries that lack an asylum system and may not even be signatories to the Geneva Convention.
"The Greens called for the monitoring system under EUROSUR to be also used to come to the rescue of refugees in distress at sea. This would at least have given EUROSUR a human face but sadly this was not accepted by EU governments. While EU member states will have to inform other member states and FRONTEX if they are aware of refugees in distress, there is no requirement to increase the use of patrol boats in areas that are dangerous for refugees."
