The EU's new Pact on Migration and
Asylum is a "political compromise" at the expense of migrants
and refugees that continues to treat migration as an issue of
security and will only cause more suffering, Refugees Welcome
Italia said on Wednesday.
"Today is a dramatic day for those seeking protection in Europe.
The pact is a political compromise made at the expense of people
that does not address the root of the unresolved issues, but
perpetuates a securitarian and dangerous logic that will cause
even more suffering," said director Fabiana Musicco.
"Any reform of the asylum system should put people's rights at
the centre, which is why the agreement betrays the founding
values of the European Union," she added.
The agreement reached is not a "historic moment", as some
politicians have claimed in recent hours, "but (rather it)
represents a dark page in the history of the EU", said the
association that promotes a culture of solidarity and
integration for refugees and asylum seekers in Italy.
"In fact, the pact provides for the mandatory use of border
procedures, which will result in situations of prolonged
detention with limited access to legal assistance, the increase
of push-backs at the border that have led to serious violence
and human rights violations over the years, the strengthening of
externalisation policies with the involvement of third countries
in the management of migration flows, the expansion of the
notion of 'safe third countries' that will allow for the forced
repatriation of people to countries that are not safe, the
normalisation of the arbitrary use of detention for migrants,
and the use of racial profiling," it added.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
