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Following Ursula von der Leyen’s recent endorsement of offshore detention centres, and other EU leaders announcing various rollbacks on asylum and refugee rights, migrant-led organisations write to EU institutions to demand alternatives to the EU’s deadly border regime

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission,

EU Interior Ministers,

We, organisations led by migrants and racialised people, along with our supporters, write to European leaders to condemn the violent, punitive and immoral turn in European migration politics in recent weeks. 

In recent weeks, we, residents of Europe  organising amongst both new and long-standing migrant communities, have watched as EU leaders have declared war on migrants and international law.

From illegal proposals to suspend the right to asylum and adopt offshore migrant processing models, the creation of EU ‘safe’ third-country lists and extended periods of internal border checks in the Schengen area, to our consistent reality of prison-like detention centres, state violence and racial profiling, illegal pushbacks and violent and unlawful deportations, European leaders have reached a point of no return. 

These announcements are part of a trajectory of worsening demonisation of migrants and the complete erosion of international law. For almost a decade, the European Union has pursued violent, ineffective and expensive migration measures that expand prison-like detention centres, endorse racial profiling and facilitate pushbacks and violence at borders. 

Human rights organisations have consistently framed these developments as flagrant violations of international law. We agree. However, we should also clarify that European leaders are unashamedly emulating a fascist politics reminiscent of Europe’s genocidal and colonial history.  We see the consistent demonisation and blame of our communities as a clear attempt to distract Europe’s residents from decades of political, economic and environmental failures. 

Rather than orient policies toward safety, protection and social provision for all, European leaders have settled for a politics of securitisation, criminalisation, and violence. The EU has pursued migration policies geared toward criminalising our communities, militarising borders, and endorsing far-right and racist violence. 

What you frame as a ‘migration crisis’, is actually a global inequality crisis. Recent announcements on migration conveniently evade responsibility for Europe’s past and present role contributing to the root causes of migration: displacement caused by climate change and environmental destruction, resource and wealth extraction,  colonialism, conflict, military intervention and political destabilisation. The EU is presenting an inhuman, unworkable response to problems it itself has created and contributed to.  

Attacks on migrants rights are the beginning of attacks on everybody. Anti-migrant politics and the subsequent degradation of rights have opened the door for rollbacks in women’s rights and the right to abortion, anti-gender movements, anti-worker movements and the widespread repression of civil liberties.  The far-right forces that birthed this narrative and the centrist ones that normalise them are responsible for broader threats to democracy and the rule of law. Collectively, these trends disproportionately impact communities at risk of state violence, including (undocumented) migrants, racialised, queer and trans people, and sex workers.

We call on leaders to change course and present a meaningful alternative to current EU migration policy, which is illegal, immoral, and unworkable.

Instead of wasting billions on new offshore detention centres, illegal and costly deportation procedures, and the militarisation of borders, European leaders could implement  policies in compliance with human rights, toward economic well being, safety and community care, and invest in long-term solutions to address climate degradation, conflict, and economic decline. 

We need:

  • Safe and legal routes for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees;
  • Pathways to regularisation and an end to the criminalisation of people on the move;
  • Address the root causes of why people flee their countries, including by ending EU investment in the militarisation and securitisation of borders, the weapons trade, fossil fuels, and other industrial strategies contributing to conflict and climate degradation in the global South;
  • Policies that focus on addressing the needs of all people (including migrants, shift and gig economy workers, unpaid carers, and those in precarious work) instead of prioritising corporate profits;
  • A comprehensive economic and social strategy for everyone living in Europe.

We call on European leaders to change course and end their war on migrants. Instead, reorient your policies to centre a politics of care, protection and safety for all, including migrant communities.


Drafted by:

  1. Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice – Europe
  2. Greek Forum of Migrants – Greece
  3. International Women* Space – Germany
  4. Movement for Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) – Ireland
  5. Equipo del Decenio Afrodescendiente – Spain

Signatories 

  1. Academics for Peace-Germany, Germany
  2. Acollides Feministes – Transformem juntes, Spain
  3. Agora Association, Turkey
  4. Akoma, Germany
  5. Albanian Community in Greece, Greece
  6. AlgoRace, Spain
  7. All Faiths and None, United Kingdom
  8. Almena Cooperativa Feminista, Spain
  9. APROSEX, Spain
  10. Ariadni A.M.K.E., Greece
  11. Associació intercultural diàlegs de dona, Spain
  12. Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés – ASTI asbl, Luxembourg
  13. Association Tunisienne des Femmes Democrates ATFD, Tunisia
  14. BARAC UK, United Kingdom
  15. Border Criminologies
  16. Cantiere, Italia
  17. Centre for Information Technology and Development, Nigeria
  18. Centre of legal aid “Voice in Bulgaria”, Bulgaria
  19. Citizen D / Državljan D Slovenia / EU
  20. Comitato 3 Ottobre – ETS, Italy
  21. Conflict Kitchen Foundation / Kuchnia Konfliktu, Poland
  22. Congolese Community of Brazzaville in Greece, Greece
  23. Conselho de Cidadania do Brasil em Barcelona, Spain
  24. EDUXO ITALIA APS, Italy, Belgium, Spain
  25. EL*C, Europe and Central Asia
  26. EmpowerVan, Greece / Switzerland
  27. European Network Against Racism, Europe – wide
  28. European Network for the Promotion of Rights and Health among Migrant Sex Workers, Europe
  29. European Network on Religion and Belief, Europe-wide
  30. European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA), Pan European
  31. European Union of Women Marina Alta, Spain
  32. Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Experts
  33. Flüchtlingshilfe Iran e.V.2010, Germany
  34. forRefugees, UK
  35. GAT – Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos, Portugal
  36. Ghanaian Nationals Association in Greece, Greece
  37. Global Women Against Deportations, England
  38. Greek Forum of Refugees, Greece
  39. Hidden Goddess, Greece
  40. Hoffnung leben e.V., Germany
  41. HOTM, Belgium
  42. IGLYO – The International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation, Belgium
  43. Infokolpa, Slovenia
  44. Ivorian community of Greece, Greece
  45. KISA- Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism, Cyprus
  46. Lesvos Solidarity, Greece
  47. Migrant Tales, Finland
  48. Migrationsrat Berlin e.V., Germany
  49. Mulheres Brasileiras contra o fascismo e o racism, Spain
  50. New Women Connectors, Netherlands
  51. Nigerian Community  Greece, Greece
  52. Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality, United Kingdom/Northern Ireland
  53. One Billion Rising Frauengruppe, Germany
  54. Racism and Technology Center, Netherlands
  55. Red Española de Inmigración y Ayuda al Refugiado, Spain
  56. Refugees in Libya, Italy, Libya
  57. Refugees Welcome España, Spain
  58. Revibra Europe, EU
  59. Romnja Feminist Library
  60. S.P.E.A.K ( Muslim women collective), The Netherlands
  61. Safe Passage International, Europe (UK, France, Greece)
  62. Samos Volunteers, Greece
  63. Sant Just Solidari, Catalunya
  64. Siempre ong, Belgium
  65. Solidaridad Entre PErsonas Integrando Comunidades- SOEPIC, Spain
  66. Spazio di Mutuo Soccorso, Italia
  67. The German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), Germany
  68. Trans United Europe-BIPOC European trans network, France
  69. VELOS YOUTH, Greece
  70. WeMove Europe, Europe
  71. Women in Development Europe (WIDE+), Europe
  72. Women of Colour in Global Women’s Strike, England
  73. women’s council Dest Dan e.V., BRD
  74. Yoga and Sport with Refugees, Greece/ France
  75. All African Women’s Group, England
  76. Biznegra, Spain
  77. Critical Queer Solidarity, Germany
  78. Diaspora Climate Platform, Belgium
  79. Eritrean Blue-Revolution in Berlin, Eritrea
  80. No More War Collective, International collective
  81. Red de Hondureñas migradas en España, Spain
  82. TAMPEP, European Network for the Promotion of Rights among Migrant Sex Workers, Germany

Supporters

  1. #StopFisha, France
  2. Abolish Frontex
  3. ACAT Belgium, Belgium
  4. Access Now, Belgium/Europe
  5. aditus foundation, Malta
  6. Anti Racism Movement, Lebanon
  7. Anti-Racism Crew Flensburg, Germany
  8. Asociación Nós Mesmas, Spain
  9. Aspiration, Belgium
  10. Association for Integration and Migration, Czech Republic
  11. barkwende e.V Deutschland, Germany
  12. Border Violence Monitoring Network
  13. Bündnis90 /Die Grünen Rosenheim, Germany
  14. Centre for Peace Studies, Croatia
  15. Comisión Legal Sol, Spain
  16. Comitato per i Diritti Civili delle Prostitute APS, Italy
  17. Coordinadora Obrim Fronteres, Catalonia
  18. Creación Positiva, Spain
  19. ECHO100PLUS, Greece
  20. Equal Legal Aid, Greece
  21. ERA LGBTI Association for Western Balkans and Turkiye, Western Balkans and Turkiye
  22. ESPACE P… ASBL, Belgium
  23. EUR, Greece
  24. European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Germany
  25. Flüchtlingsbetreuung Herzogenaurach, Germany
  26. Flüchtlingsrat Niedersachsen, Germany
  27. Flüchtlingsrat Schleswig-Holstein e.V., Germany
  28. Front d’habitat lesbien, France
  29. Fundació Autònoma Solidària, Spain
  30. Fundación Alianza por la Solidaridad-ActionAid, Spain
  31. Fundacja Inicjatywa Dom Otwarty, Poland
  32. Fündec foundation, Spain
  33. Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), Greece
  34. Greens Regensburg, Germany
  35. Griesehop, Germany
  36. Habibi.Works (Soup and Socks e.V.), Greece
  37. Human Rights Association (İHD), Turkey
  38. Integral Germany, Germany
  39. Inter Alia, Greece
  40. InterEuropean Human Aid Association (IHA)
  41. INTERSOS HELLAS, Greece
  42. Irídia – Centre per la Defensa dels Drets Humans, Spain
  43. Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in NahOst e.V., Germany
  44. Khebra Germany
  45. Kif Kif vzw, Belgium
  46. Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, South Africa
  47. La Strada International, Netherlands
  48. Leibniz Zentrum Moderner Orient, Germany
  49. Mobile Info Team, Greece
  50. MV Louise Michel
  51. N4D, Austria
  52. Panoptykon Foundation, Poland
  53. PICUM, Europe/ International
  54. Pride des Banlieues, France
  55. Projecte Acollides féministes, Spain
  56. Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D), México
  57. Refugee Law Clinic Dresden, Germany
  58. Refugee Legal Support (RLS), UK / France / Greece
  59. Salud por Derecho, Spain
  60. Sea-Watch
  61. Seebrücke Nordfriesland
  62. Servei Civil Internacional, Catalunya
  63. SOLIDAR, Belgium
  64. Statewatch
  65. Transnational Institute
  66. Verdi, Lachesis e.V.
  67. Wildkräuterschule Artemisia, Germany
  68. Adele Del Guercio (University of Naples L’Orientale), Italy
  69. Alexandra Kuon, Germany
  70. Angela Büttner, Germany
  71. Anna (International Women* Space), Germany
  72. Asli Telli (Wits University), Germany
  73. Bruna Romano Pretzel (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Germany
  74. Chiara del core, Italy
  75. Diana Podar (Bielefeld University), Germany
  76. Diógenes Parzianello, Portugal
  77. Dr. Mirjam Twigt
  78. Francesca Cogni, Italy
  79. Grace Franck Germany
  80. Ilaria De Capitani
  81. Jan Tobias Muehlberg (Universite Libre de Bruxelles), Belgium
  82. Jara Henar, Europe
  83. Jonathan Bloch, United Kingdom
  84. Judith Membrives i Llorens (UOC), Spain
  85. Juli Saragosa (Catalyst Institute of Creative Arts and Technology), Germany
  86. Julia löschner, Germany
  87. Juliana Santos Wahlgren, Belgium
  88. Juliette Vandame, Germany
  89. Jürgen Prade, Germany
  90. Laura Jung (University of Graz), Germany
  91. Laure Baudrihaye (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Belgium
  92. Leonie Sontheimer, Germany
  93. Lydia Karagiannaki
  94. Magdalena Maier, Belgium
  95. Mara Junge (University of Bremen, German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM)), Germany
  96. Mariam Camilla Rechchad, Belgium
  97. Marita Blessing, Germany
  98. Marta Pompili, Belgium
  99. Mathilde du Jardin (Université libre de Bruxelles), Belgium
  100. Mercedes Povedano, Germany
  101. Mher Hakobyan, Belgium/EU
  102. Nastasja Scholz
  103. Orcun Ulusoy (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Netherlands
  104. Peter Weis, Germany
  105. Rakhal Zaman, Germany
  106. Rebecca Steel-Jasinska, Belgium
  107. Rogier van Reekum (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Netherlands
  108. Rosemary Storkey, United Kingdom
  109. Roy Konings (KU Leuven), Belgium
  110. Sal González Leal, Germany
  111. Sarah Hergenröther, Germany
  112. Sayra Latif, Germany
  113. Shelley Anderson, Netherlands
  114. Suzanne Dominguez, Belgium
  115. Sydney Ramirez (University of Kassel), Germany
  116. Tahin Demiral, France
  117. Teresa Pedreira, Belgium/Brussels
  118. Ulrike Janz, Germany
  119. Zeynep Kasli (International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam), Netherlands
  120. Zina Weisner (Department for Migration and Globalisation, University Krems), Austria
  121. Apoyo antirracista, Spain
  122. Borderline-europe Menchenrechte ohne Grenzen e.V., Germany, Italy
  123. Calala Fondo de Mujeres, Spain
  124. Change Multipliers, Greece
  125. Collective Aid France, Bosnia, Serbia, Greece
  126. Comitato per i Diritti Civili delle Prostitute APS, Italy
  127. Danes je nov dan, Inštitut za druga vprašanja, Slovenia
  128. European Union of Women, Europe
  129. Feminist Autonomous Centre for research, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean
  130. Fundación Cepaim, Spain
  131. Lachesis e.V., Deutschland
  132. Projekt Pia, Austria
  133. RLS NRW, Germany
  134. Über den Tellerrand e.V., Germany
  135. Zentrale Bildungs- und Beratungsstelle für Migrant*innen e.V., Germany
  136. Annette Hauschild, Germany
  137. Beatrix Lenzen, Germany
  138. Embaye Destaalem, Germany
  139. Estibaliz Garmendia Santamaria, Basque Country
  140. Flora Jansen (Humboldt University Berlin), Germany
  141. Miriam Gyamfi, Germany

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