"The reversal of migrants
is sharply criticized
Lithuania also
talks about temporary measures for a crisis situation, and one of the most
important requirements is the temporary legalization of a reversal policy.
Speaking to Delphi, the Lithuanian deputy minister admits that for the time being, the
exclusion of foreigners is a gray area. However, he is lying.
The consensus in Brussels is
that reversal is illegal.
At a meeting of
the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home
Affairs (LIBE) last week, there was strong criticism of Lithuania, Poland and
Latvia during the discussion on interim measures.
Sophie Magennis, a
spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
called for the repeal of laws that legalized the expulsion of migrants as soon
as possible, for being in violation of international agreements and EU law.
"Rejections
and other human rights abuses continue at the EU's border with Belarus,"
she said, arguing that the policy of rejection could no longer be continued and
that the debate on its temporary legitimacy was a violation of European values.
Home Affairs
Commissioner Ylva Johansson, who spoke in support of Lithuania at the beginning
of the migrant crisis but later criticized the policy of rejection,
acknowledged that there was an extraordinary situation, but that EU values
remained true.
"Lukashenko
has tried to sell tickets to the European Union, which is unacceptable and he
does not have to sell them. It is important that we fought against it before,
and I think we did it right,” - she said, emphasizing that the joint EU efforts
to repatriate about 5,000 people from Minsk to their countries of origin
people and successfully stopped flights.
Calling the
Belarussian regime desperate, Johansson said the migrants had been
instrumentalized.
"But even
when such instrumentalization takes place, people still have the right to apply
for asylum, they still have to have access to the application for asylum. We
need to stay true to our values and agreements, especially when it comes to
the best needs of the child, when we need to protect vulnerable people,” - she
said. "Affected countries have reacted differently, with new laws and
regulations that are not in line with European law."
It is true that
Poland's policy has been the subject of much criticism, not only forbidding
journalists and non-governmental officials, but also for refusing the help of the
UN refugee agency and Frontex.
Gunter Burkhardt,
head of the German human rights organization Pro Asyl, has criticized not only
the rejection policy, but also the EC and Germany for not stopping the illegal
practice. He called for sanctions and for EU funds not to be given to countries
turning migrants.
The committee also
questioned why the EC is not launching infringement proceedings for illegal
refusals. Mr Schin, Vice-President of the Commission, states in response to
that question that there is insufficient evidence to that effect.
The same question
was asked of Mr Johansson, but he had already left the meeting and left for the
next meeting."
Komentarų nėra:
Rašyti komentarą