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Amnesty argues for a humanitarian migration policy

Est. 1min

27-10-2005 (updated: 07-11-2012 )

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Europe cannot maintain its current ‘keep out’ immigration policy but must take responsibility, said Amnesty International, releasing a report detailing “gross human rights abuses” at Europe’s borders.

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Positions

Amnesty argues that the EU cannot respond to events such as those in Ceuta and Melilla with a harsh immigration policy which refuses to take any responsibility for helping the world’s poor. Its press release states: "EU Member States must recognize that the political and economic pressure they are exerting on neighbouring countries to "keep people out of Europe" is contributing to a chaotic situation. There is a need for a global strategy that ensures that the human rights of some of the world's poorest people are protected regardless of whether they qualify as refugees or not."

Javier Zúñiga, head of the Amnesty delegation to Spain said, "The evidence we saw showed that law enforcement officers used force which is both unlawful and disproportionate, including lethal weapons. They injured and killed people trying to cross the fence. Many of those seriously injured inside Spanish territory were pushed back through fence doors without any legal formality or medical assistance."

Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Zapatero, writing in The Guardian, argues that the problem of illegal immigration must be addressed by the EU as a whole and not left for those member states with external borders. However, in a link which could be damaging in terms of a fruitful discussion on immigration, Zapatero combines the issue with remarks on security and the fight against terrorism.

In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Tony Blair highlighted migration policy as one of the key issues facing Europe. Immigration is essential for Europe’s economic competitiveness and a balance must be struck between controls on illegal immigration and structured economic migration essential to cope with labour shortages.

Blair refers to a paper by French academic Patrick Weil who argues that while European policy is reaching convergence on visa policy, asylum and repatriation, attitudes to immigration – legal and illegal - are deeply divided. The situation in different member states varies widely: all need immigration to help labour shortages caused by population decline and ageing but at different levels and in different economic sectors. At the same time there is deep concern over high levels of illegal immigration. He argues for a ‘circulation and recirculation’ policy – allowing true free movement and permitting, for example, skilled professional workers trained in the EU to come and go between Europe and their countries of origin as they wish, through use of permanent visas.

Background

In August and September 2005, there were scenes of riot in the Spanish towns of Ceuta and Melilla where Spain’s border meets Morocco. Here, only fences separate the extreme poverty of Africa from the riches of the EU. The Amnesty report, published on 26 October, shows that 11 people were killed and scores injured, as Spanish and Moroccan border guards repelled hundreds trying to scale the fences. It also reports that hundreds more were rounded up and forcibly detained.

The immigration issue is likely to feature at the UK Presidency Hampton Court summit on 27-28 October, where there will be calls from French and Spanish premier ministers for a common EU immigration policy and greater financial aid to Morocco to deal with the issue.

Timeline

  • The UK Presidency informal summit takes place at Hampton Court 27-28 October 2005.
  • Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero will announce a Euro-African ministerial summit on immigration.

Further Reading

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