Over 100 NGOs to European Council: don't try to curb migration at the expense "of fundamental values and human rights" 27.6.16

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"The European Union is set to open a dark chapter in its history unless it rejects the European Commission’s proposal on migration, a coalition of more than 100 NGOs warned on Monday. Shifting towards a foreign policy that serves the single objective of curbing migration, the EU and its member states risk further undermining their credibility and authority in the defence of human rights, the organizations say. They call on European leaders to reject the Commission proposal that would cement this approach, making deterrence and return of people the main objective of the EU’s relationship with third countries."

 

Full article: Reject dangerous migration response plan, more than 100 NGOs tell EU leaders (ECRE, link)

See the statement: Joint NGO statement ahead of the European Council of 28-29 June 2016: NGOs strongly condemn new EU policies to contain migration (pdf): "At the upcoming European Council, European Union (EU) leaders will discuss the European Commission’s Communication on a new Partnership Framework with third countries. The Communication proposes an approach which aims to leverage existing EU and Member States' external cooperation instruments and tools in order to stem migration to Europe. The undersigned organisations express their grave concern about the direction the EU is taking by making deterrence and return the main objective of the Union's relationship with third countries. More broadly, this new Partnership Framework risks cementing a shift towards a foreign policy that serves one single objective, to curb migration, at the expense of European credibility and leverage in defence of fundamental values and human rights."

The proposals in question are those announced by the European Commission in early June, which call for a "new results-oriented Partnership Framework to mobilise and focus EU action and resources in our external work on managing migration." See: New proposals on migration: "partnerships" with third countries, Blue Card reform, integration plan (Statewatch News Online)

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