The situation on the Mediterranean Sea and in Libya has once again become more brutal. The conditions for sea rescues are becoming increasingly difficult. The EU is contributing to this escalation.
Refugees in distress at sea are currently rescued mainly by NGOs. In contrast, the so-called Libyan coast guard, which is supported by the EU, is acting increasingly harshly against refugees and rescuers. Libyan units, an opaque web of security forces, militias, and smugglers, fire on rescue boats and obstruct the work of NGOs in the Mediterranean. In Libya, people are abducted, tortured and raped. This also happens in official detention centers.
It is intolerable that the EU and Germany support these human rights violations logistically and with money and weapons. At sea, in addition to the acute danger posed by Libyan units, cooperation with European security forces has deteriorated. European forces that are close by leave the NGOs alone to some extent, even in emergencies. The rescuers are working at the limit of their possibilities to provide survival assistance.
The reactions of the EU and various member states are unacceptable: instead of giving more support to NGOs, they are criminalized through accusations and false allegations. In this context, sea rescue is mandatory under German, European and international law. Italy threatens to close its ports to the NGOs’ ships and thus to the refugees unless other EU countries show more solidarity. However, this would be a blatant violation of the law and is therefore rather unlikely. Also, Italy has taken in refugees for decades, while countries like Germany have invoked the Dublin rule. At present, however, Italy is experiencing an emergency situation. Many migrants are homeless. It’s time for the Italian borders at the Brenner Pass and elsewhere to be reopened to everyone. The number of refugees is rather low, as it has been for decades, if we look at countries like Jordan, Turkey or Uganda.
Let’s break the silence! We demand:
- Cessation of EU cooperation with Libyan entities
- No deportations back to Libya
- Support for NGOs in the Mediterranean and rescue by European associations
- Solidarity with refugees, a suspension of the Dublin regulations and a reopening of the borders
- Safe, legal crossings to Europe
- A Europe of open borders
Initial signatories:
kritnet – Critical Migration and Border Regime Research Network
medico international
Bavarian Refugee Council
Refugee Commissioner of the State of Schleswig-Holstein
borderline europe
bordermonitoring e.V.
glokal e.V.
Network Racism Critical Migration Education Baden-Württemberg
“Die Unmündigen e.V.”
Refugee Council Thuringia e.V.
ffm Research Community Flight and Migration
Refugee Council Brandenburg
Refugee Council Thuringia e.V.
Refugee Council Lower Saxony e.V.
Refugee Council Berlin e.V.
Committee for Fundamental Rights and Democracy, Cologne
Solidarity City
women’s and human rights activism
Foundation :do