Brussels 12/06/2018

The Migration experts of CONCORD Europe, the European Confederation of Development NGOs, strongly condemn the decision of the Italian government to close the harbours for the reception of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean and ask all Member States to share the reception by opening their harbours, as done by the Spanish government, and by opening new regular pathways.

Following what happened to the ship Aquarius and its passengers and considering what could happen in the next days, CONCORD experts express their appreciation of the humanitarian gesture done by the Spanish government and call upon all European states to fully comply with the relevant International Treaties.

What is happening in Europe is very serious: Member States are deeply divided. They do not reach any agreement in establishing a new and much needed Common European Asylum System. As a consequence, migrants rescued in the Mediterranean are at risk of not finding reception. The unique policy on which EU and Member States agree consists of the externalisation of migration management based on an instrumentalisation of development cooperation.

Europe’s response must be a solidarity one that promotes and respects human rights, and certainly not a blatant violation of international law leaving vulnerable people in distress at the high seas.

“The Italian government, while closing its harbours, is violating international law and humanitarian principles. No Member State should be left alone in managing rescue and reception. All EU members should share this task,” says Andrea Stocchiero of CONCORD Europe.

“If we want to create a global system to face migration, the EU needs to show that it is willing to cooperate on an equitable basis with other global partners, instead of attempting to outsource migration management to fragile states.”

“Coordinadora appreciates the decision of the Spanish government welcoming the 629 passengers of the Aquarius in Spain. With this gesture, Pedro Sanchez’s government takes a very positive step in respect of international law and humanitarian principle,” says Maite Serrano Onate, Director of Spanish NGO Coordinadora.

“This opens the opportunity of leading a shift in the Spanish and the European Union’s migration policy. We should stop turning our back on refugees and promote protection for people on the move. We share the expressions of solidarity and support coming from different regions and city councils in Spain and Italy.”

Migration experts in CONCORD promote and defend European values ​​of solidarity and hospitality signed in the treaties and stand for #StayHuman.

In La Valletta Plan, the EU and its Member States signed a commitment to guarantee safe and regular pathways for refugees that seek protection. Therefore, the EU should provide more options for regular migration of both high and low skilled workers in accordance to the negotiations that are underway in the UN Global Compact on Migration.

Picture: Migrants rescued in the Mediterranean.