Resolution accepted at the EGP Council meeting, Malmö, Sweden, October 16-18, 2009
European Greens have a threefold approach: Fundamental rights for all migrants also in practice, and an approximation of rights of EU citizens and third country nationals within the EU: A set of common rights for all: To have an as open and as welcoming EU as possible.
Following up on the EGP Policy Paper on Migration and Asylum that has been voted in 2008 and taking into account that the situation of migrants and refugees who try to reach EU countries either because they seek refuge from persecution or because they hope to find a better life and income for themselves and for their families who stay at home, European Greens look with great concern and criticism to recent developments such as
FRONTEX being charged with denying refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean water, sending them back and even threatening them with the destruction of their boat if they would not return voluntarily (cf. TV report in ARD on Oct 10th, 2009).
European Greens have a threefold approach: a) fundamental rights for all migrants also in practice, and an approximation of rights of EU- citizens and third country nationals within the EU b) a set of common rights for all, c) and to have an as open and as welcoming EU as possible.
European Greens therefore demand that the EU Commission and Council 1.revise the Dublin II Regulation, the Eurodac system for comparison of fingerprints for
Dublin II and the Directive laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers in such a way that they deliver high quality decision making that recognizes human rights consistent with international law, such as the right to be close to family, the right to privacy and to safeguard appeal procedures. The proposed asylum agency needs to have enough leverage so it can help deliver a high-quality system.
2.Ensure that FRONTEX’ mandate incorporates international law, protection and humanitarian concerns; ensure parliamentary scrutiny of FRONTEX’ work. At the moment there is no oversight whatsoever of FRONTEX’ work.
3.Provide legal migrants with the same rights as EU residents: Legal migrants who have resided in the EU for 5 years do have the same rights as long-term EU residents but this is not being implemented correctly. The Commission should consider infringement procedures when the directive is not implemented correctly. Migrants have to have residence/work visas separate from their partners so that they are not dependent on the rights of them to remain in the country.
4.Take the necessary steps to ensure that migrant workers are not exploited by employers and receive the same protection as EU residents. Integration measures must be accompanied by proper planning in order to accommodate migrants into social, education and health services.
5. Synergize migration and development issues: Migration and EU external policies must be coherent. The EU external policies must
a) not sideline developing countries, and
b) focus on ways and means that empowers civil society and democratic processes as well as provides economic stability and access to decent employment and work for citizens of third countries – especially young men and women - so it becomes possible for them to stay and develop their lives in their countries, and
c) ensure that Member States act responsibly, properly plan and have legal migration policies which complement development policy in the developing countries so that these countries do not suffer from brain drain.
Download the complete resolution in PDF format here...
