Youth Forum statement on migration across the Mediterranean

Brussels, 22nd April 2015 // In reaction to the recent and ongoing tragedy of migrants dying in the Mediterranean Sea and ahead of this Thursday’s extraordinary summit of EU leaders, the European Youth Forum calls for EU Member States, led by the European Union, to at long last wake up to the tragedies taking place on their own doorstep and take strong action to prevent them.

EU Member States have for too long turned a blind eye to the plight and the deaths of thousands of people each year on their doorstep. It should not be down to a few countries on the EU’s borders to – with limited resources - do what they can to rescue those making the perilous journey across the sea rammed into inhumane conditions. Tackling this should be at the top of the EU and Members States’ political agendas and they must act now with concrete, feasible proposals.

Ambitious development policies and development aid, particularly towards regions suffering from conflict as well as long-term peace-building, must be an EU priority in order to help tackle forced migration. Moreover, mobility (the free movement of people) is one of the core freedoms of the European Union, and the European Youth Forum believes this is a right from which every person in Europe should benefit. But this right to mobility should be implemented beyond the borders of the EU. Europe can benefit from migration, but only if sufficient resources are allocated to integrate the people that have moved to Europe.

The European Youth Forum calls for wider solutions to stop human trafficking and these dangerous journeys, set up by criminal organisations, and the resulting tragic deaths. We welcome yesterday's EU Foreign Affairs meeting, and urge the European Council to agree on concrete action in its extraordinary summit tomorrow. These steps should include a stronger mandate and significantly increased funding for Frontex, which is, among others, tasked to prevent these tragedies in line with the EU fundamental rights charter.

Member States must step up to the mark, share responsibility and should all (not only those on the EU’s borders) welcome people who are trying to find a safe haven from the conflict and disasters that are taking place in their country of origin. The mandate should also be given to the European Commission to have the remit to monitor and regulate the situation, as well as to start a discussion on a common migration coordination at EU level, which has so far been blocked by Member States.The onus is also on governments and on citizens to fight the negative rhetoric around migration. A rights-based approach must be taken by the European Union in order to ensure the free and safe movement of people. It is the EU’s responsibility to change the discourse and to stand in solidarity with our neighbours.