Print
See related documents
Resolution 2088 (2016)
The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its Resolution 2050
(2015) “The human tragedy in the Mediterranean: immediate
action needed”, Resolution
2072 (2015) “After Dublin – the urgent need for a real European
asylum system”, Resolution
2073 (2015) “Countries of transit: meeting new migration
and asylum challenges”, Resolution
2089 (2016) on organised crime and migrants, as well
as its other relevant resolutions.
2. A sharp increase in mixed migratory flows along the eastern
Mediterranean coast from Turkey to Greece since the beginning of
2015, adding to a constant flow along the central Mediterranean
route from Libya to Italy, has resulted in an unprecedented migratory
and refugee crisis in Europe. An estimated total of 1 million people arrived
on the various European shores of the Mediterranean in 2015, compared
to 219 000 in 2014 and 60 000 in 2013.
3. Regrettably, the number of deaths at sea increased proportionally
until April 2015. The death toll in the first four months of 2015
exceeded 2 500. Despite commendable international joint efforts
and large-scale rescue operations launched by a number of countries
in May 2015, deaths at sea still occur, albeit on a considerably
smaller scale. According to the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 70% of those who
arrive can be considered as refugees in terms of the 1951 Convention
relating to the Status of Refugees and are entitled to international
protection. The majority are Syrians but there are also Iraqis,
Afghans, Somalians, Eritreans, Nigerians, Senegalese and Gambians.
4. The majority of those now arriving in Greece are people who,
at different stages of the armed conflict in Syria, had fled to
Turkey, Lebanon or other neighbouring countries where in many cases
they had stayed for several years. Turkey alone has been hosting
2 million refugees from Syria. After years of increasing pressure and
insufficient international support, the economies of the neighbouring
host countries are struggling to cope, making it increasingly difficult
for refugees to find shelter and jobs and to access health care
and education. This is what pushes them to undertake the dangerous
journey across the Mediterranean.
5. The spike in arrivals in Greece and the continuous migratory
flows to Italy have put enormous pressure on the reception capacities
of both countries. It is clear that neither of them can cope with
the migration flows on their own.
6. The Assembly is convinced that only a common European response
can address the present migratory and refugee crisis. A comprehensive
political debate based on the principles of solidarity, responsibility
and the highest human rights standards (as enshrined in the European
Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5)) should accompany strategic
migration management policies at European and national levels.
7. In this context, the Assembly welcomes the European Union’s
efforts to develop a common European response involving internal
and external stakeholders, including non-European Union countries
of transit and origin. In particular, it looks forward to the implementation
of a Joint Action Plan with Turkey. It commends a number of emergency
measures put in place, such as largely increased search-and-rescue
operations, agreement on the relocation of 220 000 people and the
resettlement of 40 000 others.
8. At the same time, the Assembly regrets the absence of a global,
comprehensive vision of the migration phenomenon in the modern world,
including all of its implications and consequences for society.
It has to be acknowledged that the challenge largely exceeds the
measures agreed upon so far and that there are currently no clear
prospects for a sustainable solution.
9. The Assembly points out that the debate cannot be limited
to the question of quotas and their compulsory or voluntary nature.
While it is necessary to address the immediate humanitarian emergency
without further delay, long-term measures and solutions should be
identified and implemented as soon as possible.
10. The idea of identifying people in need of international protection
and organising external processing of asylum applications through
“hotspots” set up outside Europe deserves support, provided human
rights of refugees and migrants are guaranteed. It would certainly
contribute to saving the lives of many potential candidates who
would otherwise attempt to cross the sea.
11. Tackling the root causes of the Mediterranean refugee and
migration crisis is the most important and unavoidable long-term
measure. It implies adequate, enhanced development co-operation
between Europe and countries of origin and transit, including not
only considerably increased financial support but also, more importantly,
viable economic projects which will contribute to sustainable development.
The peaceful settlement of the hostilities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan
is a necessary condition for ending the human exodus and making
possible the return of refugees to these countries.
12. The Assembly calls on member States:
12.1. with regard to rescue at sea and human lives lost, to:
12.1.1. continue search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean
Sea on at least the same scale as at present;
12.1.2. create a centralised register and introduce unified procedures
for recording and identifying the dead with a view to enabling the
tracing of missing persons throughout all European countries;
12.1.3. step up investigations and action to disrupt smuggling
networks and prosecute smugglers;
12.2. with regard to reception conditions, to:
12.2.1. substantially
increase specific financial support aimed at the immediate creation
of large-scale emergency facilities in Greece and Italy;
12.2.2. provide emergency response assistance to Serbia and “the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”;
12.2.3. support, financially and institutionally, the establishment
of hotspots to receive, assist, register and screen arrivals, with
a view to identifying those in need of international protection;
12.2.4. implement agreements on the relocation of refugees from
Greece and Italy to other European countries and put in place a
permanent relocation mechanism;
12.2.5. demonstrate a spirit of solidarity and respect for human
rights in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights
and the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with
a view to reaching an agreement in the European debate on sharing
of responsibilities with regard to migratory flows;
12.3. with regard to legal channels of entry, to:
12.3.1. increase
access to legal migration channels to Europe, including enhanced
resettlement and admissions for humanitarian reasons, family reunification
for the beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and student visas
for refugees from countries neighbouring Syria;
12.3.2. consider the establishment of hotspots and the processing
of asylum applications outside Europe with a view to identifying
those in need of protection before they risk their lives on a journey;
12.3.3. raise awareness of the situation of refugees and ensure
the elimination of all types of discrimination, intolerance or xenophobia
against them;
12.3.4. reflect on the emerging challenges faced by integration
policies in states which have been confronted with unprecedented
numbers of migrants;
12.3.5. support grass-roots initiatives in the field of integration
and education;
12.4. with regard to reducing the incentives for irregular migration,
to:
12.4.1. harmonise return practices and implement them
when appropriate;
12.4.2. expand Frontex’s mandate so that the agency can scale
up its support to member States in order, inter
alia, to facilitate, organise and fund return operations;
12.4.3. establish a European border guard system;
12.4.4. establish a stronger partnership with countries of departure
with a view to preventing irregular crossings;
12.5. with regard to addressing the root causes, to:
12.5.1. step up development co-operation between Europe and the
countries of origin, including not only financial support but also
economic projects which would contribute to sustainable development;
12.5.2. engage in a meaningful and comprehensive dialogue with
the African and Asian countries of origin and transit in order to
jointly manage migration and asylum flows in a spirit of shared
responsibility;
12.5.3. make full use of the Emergency Trust Fund for stability
and address the root causes of irregular migration and displaced
people in Africa;
12.5.4. establish, in co-operation with the UNHCR and the International
Organization for Migration, multipurpose centres similar to the
one which was set up in Niger.