English

NEWSLETTER
September 2015
EDITORIAL
2
AEDH NEWS
3
Europe, quo vadis? (press release)
3
The best and worse of Europe (joint press release)
3
INTERVENTION THEMES
4
Asylum and immigration
4
The European Union’s measures and the
rise of asylum applications
4
The fight against smugglers: 2nd round of EUNAVOR MED
4
Economic, social and cultural rights
4
Youth unemployment is on the rise in Europe
4
New dispute settlement system under the TTIP?
4
Protection of personal data
4
Smart borders: what are they hiding from us?
4
The Commision has to suspend Safe Harbor !
4
MEMBER NEWS
5
AGENDA
6
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION
FOR THE DEFENSE OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
33 rue de la Caserne
1000 Bruxelles ( Belgique)
Tel : +32 (0) 2 511 21 00
Fax : +32 (0) 2 511 32 00
Site Internet : www.aedh.eu
Email : info(at)aedh.eu
N°278
EDITORIAL
by DOMINIQUE GUIBERT
Europe, migrants, refugees, what crisis?
Crisis of migrants and / or refugees or European crisis?
The European Union will have no solution as long as
Member States will play hide and seek and constantly
pass on the problem to one another. This competition
has immediate consequences on the fate of persons
arriving at the EU borders. The decision made by the
German and Austrian governments to welcome a limited and evenly distributed number of people differs
from the decisions made by the Hungarian, Slovakian
and Spanish governments (Hungary refusing any settlement, Slovakia only accepting Christians, and Spain
claiming not having to do more than what it already
does in Ceuta and Melilla to protect Europe). The
French Government, although it seems to lean towards
the German position, which could be called a «fair and
distributed reception» loses credit with a tiny 24,000
in two years, announced by President Hollande during his press conference of Monday, September 7. A
number that could be compared with the 200,000 that
Germany has already received. As for the government
of the United Kingdom, the third “richest” EU Member
State, it shyly admitted it could maybe welcome a few
hundred…
In this discordant atmosphere, fixing limits appears to
be a reasonable and realistic choice, limiting the effects on countries, limiting the influx of refugees, limiting refugees to certain social categories. It is perfectly
justified to welcome Syrians fleeing a country in the
grip of a double dictatorial offensive. But are they the
only persons eligible for asylum in Europe? What will
become of Eritreans, Somalis, Sudanese? The worse
is that this sorting hides behind a fake curtain of generosity, and that the EU prefers creating centres in
neighbouring countries because «afterwards it is too
late.» We know the price paid by people (torture, extortion, rape, confinement) in Libya, Morocco, etc. Not to
mention that Lebanon and Jordan have camps on their
territories with millions of refugees without resources
or hope. But asylum is universal; it should not be under the threat of quotas or discriminations. The risk
here is that dealing with the refugees with numbers will
overshadow their fundamental rights.
THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
While there is indeed a crisis, it is that of global instability and the distribution of wealth. If threatened people
wish to seek somewhere to live in safety in Europe, then
that is because Europe’s wealth guarantees opportunities unavailable elsewhere. The world as a whole has
not yet finished “paying” the price for the criminal war
in Iraq; the disastrous situation in Afghanistan; the acceptance of the dictatorships running Eritrea, Sudan,
Syria and other countries, particularly in Africa and the
Middle East; the illegal occupation of Palestine; and poverty and destitution. If we fail to ask questions, there
will always be just as many people pushed into exile;
there will be ever more confrontation over what needs
to be built: bridges, or walls.
It is often said that we should develop the migrants/
refugees’ countries of origin so that they do not want or
need to come. This is a short-sighted reasoning. First
of all, because development aid has been decreasing
over the years. While the objective of the small amount
of 0.7% of GDP is achieved by a ridiculously small number of states, the money is used for the benefit of
local executives for security and military expenditures,
and to open camps for exile candidates. Secondly, because mobility is a right guaranteed by the UDHR and
the International Covenants. In opposition to what is
often said, development will not control migration, it will
only change its nature. Migration is inherent to history, politics, demography and simply to life. Thirdly, because the temporality is not the same. Today’s migration movements have no chance of being changed by
the development of tomorrow.
NEWSLETTER N°278 SEPTEMBRE 2015
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EDITORIAL
Europe’s civil society has intervened vigorously, but
the movement of solidarity is fragile. And if generosity has gained some space, we must not forget that
far-right political forces, fascist, racist, nationalist, xenophobic operate to make the most fragile persons
believe that this competition between individuals is
their future and that the solution is national preference. The picture of a small child washed up on a
sandy beach sparked public interest to the migrant
question. But we still have hundreds more of these
photos in front of our eyes, like those with dozens
of corpses stranded at Lampedusa or Cadiz ... The
spirit of solidarity is fragile and if we do not want it to
disappear we must transform it into a collective political advocacy.
AEDH calls for the order of priorities to be reversed
so that people are received unconditionally. It is not
acceptable to talk about long-term relocation while
welcoming measures have to be carried out in the
first place. It is not acceptable that the creation of
centres in the periphery of the European countries
for sorting out is used to limit the opening of humanitarian corridors. AEDH claims the existence of regulatory procedures that take into account equal rights
for everyone. Lastly, AEDH calls for the immediate
implementation of the directive on temporary protection, which the EU is refusing to apply, even though
the text that was adopted would have provided a
framework for the resolution of the so called “migrant
crisis”, which is, in fact, a European crisis.
AEDH SUPPORTS
AEDH
NEWS
Europe, quo vadis ?
Press release
23 September 2015 - Is there a migrant and/or refugee
crisis ? Or is there a European crisis ? The European
Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH)
considers that this issue has implications for the future of the European Union, given the powerful consequences of member states’ decisions for the rights of
migrants, whether they are fleeing war, repression, poverty or death.
Read the press release in French or in English
The best and worse of Europe
Joint press release
11 September 2015 - In the face of the current humanitarian crisis affecting people fleeing war, persecution and poverty, EPAM (European NGO Platform on
Astlum and Migtration) of which AEDH is a member,
Social Platform and CONCORD Europe – the three
largest coalitions of European NGOs working on development, social rights, asylum and migration – have
come together to call on Member State governments
and ministers to create a more welcoming Europe.
Read here in english only.
THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
NEWSLETTER N°278 SEPTEMBRE 2015
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INTERVENTION THEMES
INTERVENTION
THEMES
ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION
The European Union’s measures and the rise
of asylum applications
September 22, 2015 - The EU Council has finally
agreed to implement the relocation procedure proposed by the Commission last May. But the constant
increase of the number of asylum seekers threatens
the measures adopted by the member states. While
the EU directives multiply, treatment inequalities
emerge. How to slow the growing influx of asylum-seekers?
Read the article
The Commission must suspend the Safe
Harbor!
September 23rd 2015 – In his opinion, the advocate
general of the European Union Court of Justice, Yves
Bot, argues that the Safe Harbor agreement, which
allows the transfer of personal data of European
citizens to the United States is “invalid”. Thus, he
confirms what the civil society and the European Parliament continuously asserted: the Commission must
suspend immediately this agreement which infringes
the fundamental rights of European citizens.
Read the article
The fight against smugglers: 2nd round of
EUNAVOR MED
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS
On 24th September 2015, in Rome, Federica Mogherini, head of European diplomacy, has officially
announced that the second phase of the operation
EUNAVFOR Med will begin on 7th October.
Unemployment in the European Union continues its way: Young people are the first affected
Read the article
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION
Smart borders: what are they hiding from
us?
September 22, 2015 – As the feasibility of the smart
borders project is evaluated and while the public
consultation on the subject is still ongoing, the Commission already seems to have some precise ideas
for future propositions. One problem though: neither
MEPs nor civil society have been informed.
Read the article
September 23 2015 - The economic and financial crisis has had and still has a negative impact on the
European labour market. In 2015, seven years after
the beginning of the crisis, the situation seems to be
timidly improving but unemployment is still reaching
alarming scores.
Read the article
New dispute settlement system under the
TTIP?
On September 16, 2015 the European Commission
published a proposal for a new dispute resolution system as part of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP). This Investment Court System
(ICS) replaces the Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement
(ISDS).
Read the article
THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
NEWSLETTER N°278 SEPTEMBRE 2015
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NEWS OF OUR MEMBER LEAGUES
NEWS OF
MEMBER LEAGUES
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de
Andalucia (APDHA) denounces the unconstitutionality of the Citizen Security Law (ley
Mordaza) and the ineffectiveness of measures presented by the European Union.
Press release of the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucia (APDHA)
1st September 2015 - Migreurop Spain, of which
APDHA is a member, requires an assessment of the
migration policy the Spanish government adopted
in the coastal region of Ceuta. Spain Migreurop denounces the incompatibility of the new Citizen Security law - with the international Human rights system,
making asylum seekers even more vulnerable. The
associations of the region also remind the European
Union and the Spanish Government that the shift
of media attention to the eastern European borders
may overshadow the terrible and increasing events
occurring daily on Spanish and Italian coasts.
Read the article
The Belgian League of Human Rights (LDH)
launches a joint awareness campaign on social networks in support of refugees.
Press release of the Belgian League of Human
Rights (LDH)
10 September 2015 - The Belgian League for
Human Rights, Amnesty International, CIRE,
the CNCD-11.11.11, Médecins du Monde and
other organizations launched a web campaign
#RefugeesWelcome #WithOpenArms and set
up an online call intended for the Belgian government open to the signature of citizens.
THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Defending the rights of refugees, LDH denounces the
failure of the EU to provide quick and dignified reception policy regarding refugees and to establish secure
channels for migrants who risk their lives every day
in the hope of reaching the European continent. LDH
emphasizes that the introduction of asylum-seekers
reception quotas per country will not solve the problem, as refugees will continue to flee their countries
as long as their lives are in danger and that their number will only increase.
Read the article
The Belgian League of Human Rights (LDH)
organizes a cycle of activities around the
theme of the protection of personal data.
Launching of a cycle of activities
10 September 2015 - The Belgian LDH also launches
a cycle of activities on the respect of private life
throughout the year, with three introductory days in
October. The program includes debates, screenings,
exhibitions and concerts. During various conferences,
the association will address the challenges, opportunities and obstacles that damage private life and
the protection of personal data. Because freedom of
privacy is guaranteed to all by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 12), LDH considers
that citizens have to become familiar with their rights,
as well as the dangers that are associated to sharing
private data, especially in a context of anti-terrorism,
fraud, and data-mining.
Read the article
The French League of Human Rights (LDH)
addresses a joint open letter to the President
on September 10, 2015.
Open letter to the president of the French Republic
On September 10 of 2015, LDH sent a letter to the
French President on the subject of the migration crisis, co-signed by French and international associations such as Migreurop, Euromed rights - EMHRN or
Médecins du Monde.
NEWSLETTER N°278 SEPTEMBRE 2015
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NEWS OF OUR MEMBER LEAGUES
AGENDA
LDH called the French government to support a general welcoming plan for refugees in all the countries
of the European Union. LDH also asks for a suspension of Dublin agreements pending a revision of the
text by the European Parliament. The letter is divided
into three points: in first instance emergency measures
must be taken by the French Government for refugees
already living on the French territory, secondly, the EU
member states must improve the relocation process of
refugees arriving on European continent, and thirdly, an
upstream work should be done concerning the people
who undertake to make the long journey to Europe.
Read the article
In Cyprus, the organization KISA launched
a solidarity campaign and requires effective
measures and safer routes for Refugees.
KISA joint call for solidarity
11 September 2015 - The majority of refugees who
reached the island of Cyprus, one way or another, fail to
acquire the refugee status, although international and
European conventions allow them to. On September 9,
2015, the organization KISA visited the refugee camp
of Kofinou and complained to the Minister of Interior,
after noticing the deplorable conditions in which the refugees lived. The latter had recently declared that he
would only accept Christian Orthodox refugees on its
territory.
The KISA association, in partnership with Action for
Equality, Support, Antiracism - Cyprus Community Media Centre - Cyprus Stop Trafficking - Cyprus Caritas
Migrant Center – Freedom Dolls and Initiative Against
the Fascist Threat, denounce the immorality of the remarks made by Prime Minister and launch a joint appeal of citizen solidarity. KISA urges the Cypriot Government to put pressure on the European Union to
adopt quick and effective measures for refugees who
flock to the island and on European coasts.
Read the article
AGENDA
OF THE LUXEMBOURG PRESIDENCY
Calender of COREPER I et COREPER II meetings.
OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Plenary Session
Strasburg, 5-8 october 2015
Read more
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home
Affairs (LIBE)
Brussels, 1st October 2015
Brussels, 12 october 2015 : 9:00 to 12:30
Brussels, 13 october 2015 : 9:00 to 12:30 and
15:00 - 18:00
Read more
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Brussels, 12 october 2015
Read more
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU
General Affairs Council
Brussels, 16 october
Read more
THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
NEWSLETTER N°278 SEPTEMBRE 2015
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BECOME A
MEMBER
HELP US DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS:
BECOME A MEMBER !
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER ?
You will find all the information concerning the process of becoming an individual member here:
http://www.aedh.eu/-Become-a-member-.html.
Through a large European network, AEDH proposes
the creation of a collective sending a strong message:
YES,
AN
ALTERNATIVE
IS
POSSIBLE!
YES, WE CAN TURN EUROPE INTO A PLACE OF
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS!”
Its members are essential to AEDH. With their
knowledge and their commitment, individual members
strengthen AEDH’s action across Europe.
As one of our members, you’ll have:
•
Free access to a significant body of documents on the situation of human rights in Europe as well as to the activities of AEDH.
•
The possibility to participate in the creation and implementation of projects of interest on a regular or occasional basis.
•
The opportunity to participate in a citizens’
project and to make AEDH a strong political actor of the European landscape.
CONTACT
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION
FOR THE DEFENSE OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
Rue de la Caserne, 33 1000 Bruxelles
Belgique
Tél : +32(0)25112100
Fax : +32(0)25113200
Email : info(at)aedh.eu
HAVE CONTRIBUTED
TO THIS EDITION
Dominique Guibert, President and Editor in chief
Catherine Teule, Vice-chairwoman
Yvonne Ebner
Elena Bosshardt
Marius Jammes
Mickael Molé
Layout : Anaïs Kintgen
7