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28 February 2012 – The European Commission has put forward procedural arguments in order not to address human rights concerns in relation with the measures imposed on the countries of the Western Balkans in order to curb the number of asylum seekers in the EU. In its reply to the questions raised by NGOs, the European Commission stated that “all relevant issues at this stage have been considered” and announced that it would discontinue correspondence.
The NGOs addressed a first letter to Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in charge of Home affairs, in October 2010, following media announcements according to which the Commissioner had written to the governments of the countries of the Western Balkans requesting them to reduce the number of asylum seekers in order to avoid a reintroduction of visa requirements. The NGOs objected that this request was contrary to basic principles of international human rights principles such as freedom of movement and the right to asylum protected and asked the Commissioner to recall her letter.
The NGOs resumed correspondence following the publication, by the Commission, in May, of a proposal aiming to introduce a “safeguard clause” into the visa-free regime with third countries. If adopted by the European Parliament, which has to vote on it in April, this clause will enable the EU to temporary reintroduce visa requirements for citizens of third countries, which have been previously granted a visa waiver, in case of a major affluence of asylum seekers or an increase of undocumented immigrants.
The NGOs provided a detailed account of the measures, which had been taken by the countries of the Western Balkans in order to diffuse pressures by the EU Commission and individual member states regarding a possible reintroduction of visa requirements. They argued that some of these measures such as the temporary revocation of passports and other forms of travel bans result in an infringement of European and international human rights standards. The NGOs pointed out the discriminatory character of these measures which target essentially members of ethnic minorities and criticized the stigmatization of Roma as bogus asylum seekers.
Their position was supported by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, who, underlined in a human rights comment, that the right to leave one’s country was universally protected and expressed concern about the scape-goating of Roma over the pressures on the visa regime. In an opinion to the European Parliament, the Meijers Committee, a committee of independent legal experts specializing in the field of migration and international criminal law, likewise concluded “that EU pressure on third countries to prevent Roma from entering the EU in order to claim asylum (…) interferes with the human rights to leave one’s country and to seek asylum” and showed concern that it may lead to discriminatory border controls, which would “contribute to a climate of stigmatisation and repression of ethnic minorities in Balkan countries.”
The European Commission has persistently refused to comment on these concerns. In her reply to the questions raised by the NGOs, the Head of cabinet of Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, Maria Ǻsenius, denied that the travel restrictions were particularly targeting Roma and members of other ethnic minorities. She argued that “the only measures targeting minority communities are those aiming at their better integration, e.g. measures to increase employment and schooling, as well as measures to provide better opportunities for housing, medical care, etc.” adding that “[t]he fact that the majority of the asylum applicants from the Western Balkan countries are from Roma origin does not prove that the measures to tackle abuse of the visa free regime are discriminatory.”
Similar answers were also given to MEPs asking the European Commission to justify its “undue pressure on the Balkan countries” compelling these countries “to violate the human rights and fundamental freedoms of a particularly vulnerable social group” and to comment on the compatibility of the travel restrictions with the relevant EU acquis and, more generally, international human rights standards. “The Commission is not competent to decide on individual cases, as referred in the question.” the Commission said laconically in its answer to a question by MEP Barbara Lochbihler, specifying however, that the Commission paid particular attention to the existence of legal remedies.
With its decision to discontinue communication with the NGOs, the European Commission has also deprived the NGOs from relevant information at the very moment, where the visa liberalization is debated in the European Parliament. Chachipe as the initiator of the correspondence considers this as unacceptable. The organization has filed a complaint with the Secretariat General of the European Commission arguing that the attitude of the European Commission of not answering legitimate concerns raised by NGOs was against the principle of good administrative behaviour.
Chachipe a.s.b.l.
Brussels, 27 February 2012 – “In many European countries Roma and Travellers are still denied basic human rights and suffer blatant racism. They remain far behind others in education, employment, access to decent housing and health. Their average life span is shorter and infant mortality rates are higher compared to other groups”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, releasing today the report “Human rights of Roma and Travellers in Europe”.
The report is the first comprehensive overview of the human rights situation of Roma and Travellers in all 47 member states of the Council of Europe. The Roma and related minority communities constitute Europe’s largest and most vulnerable minority.
It is shown that anti-Gypsyism continues to be widespread. Public leaders, media, and extremist groups who are active on the Internet have openly singled out Roma and Travellers for hate speech. In some cases, these words have been understood as encouraging violent action.
“This feeds the cycle of disadvantage, exclusion, segregation and marginalisation. Elected politicians must lead by example by respecting and promoting human rights for everyone.”
The report focuses on specific themes, such as anti-Gypsyism; racially motivated violence; conduct of law enforcement and judicial authorities; forced sterilisations, removal of children from the care of their biological parents; economic and social rights; statelessness, and freedom of movement. The report also highlights the importance of increasing the participation of Roma and Travellers in public life and decision-making processes.
“The problem of statelessness and lack of personal documentation for thousands of Roma in Europe is one of the issues which must be urgently addressed with determination, as these persons are deprived of basic rights such as education, healthcare, social assistance and the right to vote.”
A number of concrete steps to be taken by governments are mentioned in the report, including providing targeted training to the police to prevent misconduct; desegregating schools and improving the quality of education received by Roma and Traveller children. The Commissioner also recommends that truth commissions be created – ideally as a Europe-wide undertaking – to establish the historical facts concerning the atrocities committed against the Roma people.
“I hope the report will encourage a constructive discussion about policies towards Roma and Travellers in Europe, focusing on what must be done in order to put an end to the discrimination and marginalisation they suffer and to foster their social inclusion.”
A summary of the report is also available in French and Romani.
Source: Council of Europe
Pristina, 24 February 2012 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer, expressed today his concern over recent security incidents affecting the Kosovo Serb community in the Gjilan/Gnjilane region, eastern Kosovo.
Earlier this week, on 20 February, a house belonging to a Kosovo Serb family in Gjilan/Gnjilane town centre was set on fire for the second time in the past seven months, while two houses belonging to Kosovo Serbs in Cërnicë/Cernica village were set on fire in January. All three properties were uninhabited.
“These cases of arson are cause for concern,” Almhofer said. “We welcome the public condemnation of the incidents by the municipal authorities and call on the police to conduct thorough investigations into these and all other incidents affecting communities in Kosovo and bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call on the municipal authorities to step up efforts to reach out to communities and address their concerns.”
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human and communities’ rights protection and promotion.
Source: OSCE
La Commission européenne contre le Racisme et l’intolérance (ECRI) du Conseil de l’Europe vient de publier son nouveau rapport sur le Luxembourg. Dans ce rapport, qui couvre la période jusqu’au 23 juin 2011, l’ECRI s’inquiète des mesures arbitraires et discriminatoires envers les Roms roumains qui viennent mendier au Luxembourg et demande aux autorités de prendre des mesures pour mettre fin aux discriminations des gens du voyage par les gérants des parkings.
Extrait du rapport:
« 94. Il n’y a pas de citoyens luxembourgeois qui se déclarent comme étant Roms. L’ECRI a été informée qu’il y aurait quelque 500 personnes sédentarisées qui ne souhaitent pas être identifiées en tant que Roms. Les autorités luxembourgeoises ont indiqué à ce sujet que selon l’annexe de la communication de la Commission européenne du 5 avril 201116 en la matière, ce chiffre serait une estimation maximale et que l’estimation moyenne serait plutôt de 300 personnes. Les Roms que l’on trouve au Luxembourg sont pour la plupart des demandeurs d’asile provenant des Balkans, les autres étant des personnes installées en France voisine, qui se déplacent pour des périodes de courte durée vers le Grand-Duché. L’ECRI a été informée que la mendicité n’étant plus interdite au Luxembourg, les Roms sont souvent arrêtés pour mendicité en réunion en vertu de l’article 342 du code pénal.17 Selon des chiffres fournis à l’ECRI par les autorités, en 2008, 639 procès-verbaux ont été dressés et en 2009, 1639. De plus, en 2010, 59 procès-verbaux ont été dressés pour mendicité en réunion et vagabondage. Il semblerait que les Roms arrêtés pour mendicité en réunion soient fouillés et leur argent confisqué, mais que la plupart des affaires sont classées sans suite. On peut donc se poser la question du bien fondé de ces arrestations. La police a informé l’ECRI que lorsqu’elle transmet les dossiers au Parquet, elle n’a pas d’informations sur la suite donnée. Une meilleure coordination entre le Parquet et la police serait donc souhaitable.
95. L’ECRI a été informée que les Roms souffrent de discrimination de la part de gérants de campings qui leur y refusent l’accès.18 Des aires de stationnement spécialement instaurées pour les Gens du voyage n’existent pas non plus. L’opinion publique luxembourgeoise semble également quelque peu hostile aux Roms puisqu’une étude parue en août 2010 indique que 26% des personnes interrogées ne souhaiteraient pas en avoir comme voisins alors qu’ils sont très peu nombreux au Luxembourg.
96. L’ECRI recommande aux autorités luxembourgeoises de s’assurer que soient clairement définis les critères relatifs à la mise en oeuvre de l’article 342 du code pénal sur la mendicité en réunion. Elle leur recommande vivement de s’assurer que toute mesure prise par la police pour combattre la mendicité en réunion ne stigmatise pas et ne vise pas injustement les Roms. L’ECRI recommande aux autorités luxembourgeoises de lutter contre toute discrimination envers des Roms par les gérants de campings.
Dans ses commentaires, le gouvernement luxembourgeois apporte des précisions sur le traitement des mendiants roms.
Extrait :
« Ad point 95 :
Les développements de l’ECRI en relation avec les Roms suscitent de la part du gouvernement un certain nombre d’observations.
« L’ECRI a été informée que la mendicité n’étant plus interdite au Luxembourg, les Roms sont souvent arrêtés pour mendicité en réunion en vertu de l’article 342 du code pénal Selon des chiffres fournis à l’ECRI par les autorités, en 2008, 639 procès48 verbaux ont été dressés et en 2009, 1639. De plus, en 2010, 59 procès-verbaux ont été dressés pour mendicité en réunion et vagabondage. »
Il convient de préciser que les chiffres dont fait état l’ECRI ne se rapportent pas aux procès-verbaux dressés à l’encontre de Roms, mais à l’ensemble des procès-verbaux établis pour ce type d’infractions.
« Il semblerait que les Roms arrêtés pour mendicité en réunion soient fouillés et leur argent confisqué, mais la plupart des affaires sont classées sans suite. On peut donc se poser la question du bien fondé de ces arrestations.»
Les fouilles et saisies pratiquées dans le cadre de la lutte contre la mendicité en réunion le sont en vertu des articles 31 et 40 du Code d’instruction criminelle aux termes desquels en cas de délit flagrant puni d’emprisonnement la Police saisit tout ce qui paraît avoir été le produit de l’infraction, tout ce qui paraît utile à la manifestation de la vérité ou dont l’utilisation serait de nature à nuire à la bonne marche de l’instruction et tout ce qui est susceptible de confiscation ou de restitution.
La Police applique les dispositions pertinentes du Code d’instruction criminelle sans égard aux origines de la personne concernée.
La police a informé l’ECRI que lorsqu’elle transmet les dossiers au Parquet, elle n’a pas d’informations sur la suite donnée. Une meilleure coordination entre le Parquet et la police serait donc souhaitable.
S’il est vrai que les fonctionnaires de police ne sont informés que da façon ponctuelle par le Parquet des suites réservées à une affaire qu’ils ont traitée, il ne saurait de là être conclu à un manque de coordination entre Parquet et Police. »
Chachipe se félicite des recommandations de l’ECRI et espère que le gouvernement luxembourgeois leur donnera rapidement suite.
Chachipe asbl
16 Communication de le Commission au Parlement européen, au Conseil, au Comité économique et social européen et au Comité des régions, Cadre de l’UE pour les stratégies nationales d’intégration des Roms pour la période allant jusqu’à 2020, Bruxelles, le 5.4.2011, COM(2011)Final.
17 Selon l’article 342 du code pénal, seront punis d’un emprisonnement de huit jours à un mois, tous ceux qui mendieront en réunion, à moins que ce ne soit le mari et la femme, le père ou la mère et leurs jeunes enfants, l’aveugle ou l’invalide et leur conducteur.
18 L’article 167 du Code de la route interdit le stationnement d’une roulotte non accouplée sur la voie publique ainsi que l’utilisation comme logis d’un véhicule en stationnement ou parqué sur la voie publique.
Sarajevo, 30 December 2011 - Muqishta Nuqi has long felt like the odd one out in his family. For years, the ethnic Roma has lacked a nationality and lived under the threat of being expelled from Bosnia and Herzegovina, his home for almost two decades.
But the asylum-seeker has never given up in his determination to become a Bosnian citizen, like his parents and siblings, and his persistence is paying off. After consistent efforts by Nuqi and UNHCR, the Bosnian government recently granted temporary residence to the 35-year-old and his children, based on his ownership of property in Sarajevo.
This means he can legally reside in the country, but must reapply every year for temporary residence, which does not entitle him to basic rights such as health care and financial support. After three years he can apply for Bosnian citizenship and all the many rights that go with it.
Nuqi’s success is an exception, but Bosnia’s Citizenship Law is under review and UNHCR hopes that hundreds of other vulnerable families could soon reap the benefits and be granted citizenship of the country, which was torn by conflict in the 1990s amid the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
His family hailed from Djakova in western Kosovo, but they moved to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, when he was a child. He had a happy upbringing in the hill-circled city, though he was never registered as a resident like other members of his family.
In 1992, all-out conflict returned to the Balkans for the first time since World War II and Nuqi fled to Kosovo with his mother and several siblings. The rest of his family remained in Sarajevo, where Nuqi’s uncle was killed in the fighting.
But a few years later Kosovo was also embroiled in violence and persecution, which only ended with the March-June 1999 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) bombing campaign against Yugoslav government targets. Forced by paramilitary fighters to leave their home, Nuqi and his family headed back to Bosnia, where he was granted temporary admission status, like other Roma fleeing from Kosovo. It gave them access to aid, shelter, education and health care.
He moved to join his family in a Roma settlement in Sarajevo, where he has lived ever since and invested in property. He earns a good living from collecting and selling waste material.
But uncertainty returned to Nuqi’s life in 2007, when he faced being sent back to Kosovo – his last place of registered residence – and separation from his family, after the government revoked his temporary admission status. In 2009, he applied for asylum, but this was rejected and he filed an appeal with the help of UNHCR.
“I have no one in Kosovo. My parents, siblings and relatives are all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Six of my [nine] children were born here, they go to school here. I built my house with my own hands and have always abided by the law,” Nuqi told UNHCR. “All I have ever wanted was to be recognized as a citizen of this country,” he added.
He faced an uphill battle challenging the government’s ruling because, like other Roma in a similar situation, he was not a resident of a reception centre for asylum-seekers and thus ineligible for legal or financial support from the government. Moreover, he was also legally barred from employment, though this was essential to support his family.
But Nuqi was determined and, even though illiterate and unable to read them, he spent time, effort and money on collecting and filing documents to back his case to remain in Bosnia and gain citizenship and to show that he was a good, law-abiding member of society who deserved this recognition.
He was supported in his efforts by UNHCR and the Council of Europe, whose Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg met Muqishta a year ago and called on the Bosnian government to do more to find durable solutions for the forcibly displaced, including local integration.
“Particular attention should be paid to Roma who have been forcibly displaced from Kosovo and have lived, for many years, with their families in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Return is not a real option for these people. They are still in need of international protection,” the Swedish humanitarian said.
The signs for change are good. In Belgrade earlier this month, the governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia gave their firm support to a work plan setting out concrete steps for removing all obstacles to a durable solution for the remaining refugees from the Balkans conflict of 1991-1995. These include the accelerated provision of civil documentation allowing people to enjoy their rights and resume normal lives.
In Bosnia, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has started drafting proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law, which will make it easier for refugees and the stateless to get nationality.
Naveed Hussain, UNHCR’s representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said he was optimistic that the law would help to improve the lives of many who face renewed displacement despite having long-term residence and strong family ties to Bosnia . “Mr Nuqi and people in his position should be able to become Bosnian citizens and stay here permanently,” he stressed.
By Eoin Ansbro and Miradije Hodza in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Source: UNHCR
Strong measures have been taken by the Macedonian authorities to prevent citizens from travelling to EU countries – and seeking asylum there. The numbers doing so have gone up considerably since the EU agreed that people in Balkan countries would no longer require visas to enter EU territory. Governments within the EU have reacted and warned that the entire process of visa liberalisation might now be in jeopardy.
22/11/2011 – In response the government in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” has decided to criminalise “abuse of the European Union visa-free regime and of the Schengen agreement”. It has also determined that those who have been forcibly returned as failed asylum seekers could have their passports temporarily confiscated.
Other countries in the region have also taken steps to prevent certain people from travelling to EU countries. Those who seek to leave for the EU area are asked to justify the purpose of their intended travel and to prove that they can finance their stay there as well as their return. If the answers are deemed unsatisfactory the travel may not be allowed.
In the present anti-migrant climate, it should not come as a surprise that EU countries have reacted to the increase in asylum requests. In 2010 – the first year after the visa liberalisation – Sweden received 7,900 applications from persons coming from Serbia while Germany and France received 6,500 and 5,800 respectively. So far this year the numbers are lower. Almost all decisions on these applications have been negative.
This is the background to the pressure exerted on the countries of origin – and to their response. However, the concrete measures taken do raise some serious problems.
Right to leave
Though states have a legitimate authority to regulate immigration, the right of the individual to leave his or her country is an established human right. This right was guaranteed already in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own”, is the formulation used in the European Convention on Human Rights (Protocol 4, Article 2). This right is also protected in the constitutions of states in the Balkans.
Even if no formal ban on leaving has been decided, the exit procedures now being introduced and the risk of penalties on return may in reality have such an effect.
Significantly, it is the minorities, and in particular the Roma, who have become targeted. Everyone cannot be checked on exit and the selection is being done on the basis of “profiling”. The result is another layer of discrimination against this minority.
This is further amplified by the notion in public discourse that the visa-exempt status may be withdrawn because of the movement of Roma people. In other words, they are scapegoated again.
The pressure from the European Union has been justified by references to the need to stop networks of organised migrant smuggling. It is certainly important to put an end to exploitation and manipulation by smugglers. However, such practices appear not to be the typical pattern in this case.
Tackle the root causes – not only the symptoms
Many of those who have moved and sought asylum within the EU have done so on their own initiative and because of a genuine experience of physical and/or economic insecurity. They have wanted to get away from injustices and/or poverty and abject misery. The fact that the Roma are overrepresented in this category only reflects their real situation in the region.
The increase in asylum applications in some countries is a symptom rather than the core problem. It represents another sign that Europe has failed to break the cycle of anti-Gypsyism, discrimination and marginalisation of Roma populations. It should be seen as a reminder that serious action is overdue.
It is obvious that even if and when the necessary political will for effective action for minority rights is mobilised, it will take considerable time before the root causes of these problems are eradicated and Roma families no longer feel the urge to seek a future abroad.
In the meantime, any discriminatory treatment of the Roma must be avoided by the destination countries. Seeking asylum is a human right and those who have grounds for protection status should be granted such status. Others will have to accept a negative decision.
Measures such as improved dissemination of information about the asylum rules in the Schengen area would be constructive. However, pressure on Balkan governments to undermine the human right of their citizens to leave their country is not.
Thomas Hammarberg
12 November 2011 – On 10 November 2011, hearing on Human Rights in the Western Balkans at the European Parliament. The hearing was organised by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights in the context of the preparation of the parliament report on the progress made by the countries of the Western Balkans in the context of the Enlargement process.
In its presentation, Chachipe underlined the prevailance of discrimination and human rights violation against Roma in all the countries. The organization focused on the situation of Roma refugees and IDPs and on the consequences of the restrictive measures taken by the countries in order to reduce the number of asylum seekers from the countries of the Western Balkans.
In the subsequent debate, Chachipe pointed out that many of those who are currently applying for asylum in the EU are Roma refugees and IDPs from Kosovo or former forced returnees from Western Europe, in particular from Germany. Chachipe agreed with the statement of an MEP, who pointed out at the responsibility of the countries of the Western Balkans towards their Roma citizens, but asked whether it is acceptable to deport foreign born children to the country of their parents or grand-parents.
Chachipe a.s.b.l.
27. Oktober 2011 – In einem Schreiben an EU-Kommissarin Cecilia Malmström haben europäische Menschenrechtsvereinigungen ihre Besorgnis über den Druck der Europäischen Union auf die Balkanstaaten zum Ausdruck gebracht, der die Staaten zwingen soll, den Zustrom von AsylbewerberInnen in die EU zu stoppen. Die Vereinigungen reagierten auf ein Schreiben der Kommissarin an die Innenminister der fünf Balkanländer, deren BürgerInnen erst kürzlich von der Visapflicht für Kurzaufenthalte in den Schengenstaaten befreit wurden, und sagten, die EU setze ihre Glaubwürdigkeit als Verfechterin der Menschenrechte aufs Spiel.
Medienberichtenzufolge, bat die für Einwanderungsfragen zuständige Kommissarin die Regierungen der fünf Staaten, die Kommission über die Maßnahmen zu unterrichten, die sie unternommen haben, um den Zustrom von AsylbewerberInnen in die Europäischen Union zu stoppen. Sie warnte die Regierungen davor, dass Visa-Liberalisierung gefährdet sei.
Seit vergangenem Jahr unterliegen die Balkanstaaten einem wachsenden Druck, potenzielle AsylbewerberInnen an der Ausreise zu behindern.
In ihrem Schreiben kritisieren die Menschenrechtsvereine die Anforderung der Kommission an die Länder, die Einreisebestimmungen, die im sogenannten Schengener Grenzkodex enthalten sind, und die Bedingungen definieren, die Drittstaatsangehörigen erfüllen müssen, um in den Schengen-Raum einreisen zu dürfen, als Grundlage zu nehmen, um BürgerInnen daran zu hindern, ihre Länder zu verlassen. Tausende von Menschen wurden so in ihrer Reisefreiheit eingeschränkt.
Die Vereinigungen zeigen sich besonders besorgt darüber, dass diese Maßnahmen vornehmlich auf Angehörige von ethnischen Minderheiten abzielen. Dies wird auch durch den jüngsten Fortschrittsbericht der EU-Kommission belegt, der beschreibt, dass die mazedonischen Behörden im Rahmen ihrer Präventionsmaßnahmen, gezielte Personenkontrollen durchführen, die als „Profiling“ bezeichnet werden.
Die Vereinigungen weisen darauf hin, dass die Bewegungsfreiheit ein grundlegendes Menschenrecht ist und das Recht beinhaltet, jedes Land, einschließlich das eigene, zu verlassen. Sie betonen, dass alle fünf Länder das Prinzip der Bewegungsfreiheit in ihre nationale Verfassung aufgenommen haben, die auch die Freiheit von Diskriminierung und das Prinzip der Gleichberechtigung garantiert.
Sie betonen, es sei ironisch, dass die Europäische Union, die die Balkanstaaten aufgefordert hat, internationale Menschenrechte als Teil Beitrittskriterien in die EU anzunehmen, diese Staaten heute dazu zwingt, diese Rechte zu verletzten, um die Einwanderung zu kontrollieren.
In Ermangelung konkreter Fortschritte bei der Verbesserung der Lebensbedingungen der Roma, würde die Forderung der Kommission nach „zusätzlichen Maßnahmen“ zur Senkung der Zahl der Asylbewerber, lediglich dazu führen, dass die Roma noch mehr diskriminiert würden. Dadurch würde die EU ihre Glaubwürdigkeit als Verfechterin der Rechte ethnischer Minderheiten einbüßen.
Die Vereinigungen fordern die Kommission dazu auf, den Druck auf die Balkanstaaten, der darauf abzielt, dass die Staaten ihre BürgerInnen an der Ausreise behindern, unmittelbar einzustellen. Stattdessen solle die Kommission die Staaten auffordern, die Ursachen, die Angehörige ethnischer Minderheiten dazu zwingen, ihre Länder zu verlassen, zu bekämpfen. Die Vereine fordern außerdem mehr Transparenz in der europäischen Einwanderungspolitik, die auf einer strikten Anwendung und dem Respekt der Menschenrechte beruhen solle.
Chachipe a.s.b.l.
27 October 2011 – A European coalition of human rights NGOs expressed concerns over the EU’s pressures on the countries of the so-called Western Balkans to cut down the influx of asylum seekers. Reacting to a letter by EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström to the ministers of interior of the five Balkan countries, which have been recently granted a liberalization of their visa regime with the EU, the NGOs said, that the EU was gambling its credibility on human rights.
According to media reports, Commissioner Malmström, in charge of coordinating the Union’s migration policy, wrote to the governments of the five Balkan states, which have been granted a visa waiver for short-term travels to the Schengen area, asking them to inform the Commission about the measures they have taken in order to tackle the increase of asylum seekers from these countries in the European Union. Otherwise, the Commissioner warned, the visa liberalization would be in danger.
Since last year, the countries of the Western Balkans have come under increasing pressure to prevent potential asylum candidates from leaving in the EU.
In their letter to the European Commission, the NGOs criticize the request to the countries to apply the entry conditions contained in the Schengen Borders Code, whichs set out the criteria a third country national has to fulfill in order to be admitted to the Schengen area, as an exit test. As a result, several thousands of citizens from these countries have been denied the right to leave their country.
The NGOs are particularly concerned by the fact that this and other measures are particularly targeted at persons belonging to ethnic minorities. This was also evidenced by the European Commission’s recent progress report on Macedonia, which mentions “enhanced border checks and profiling” as part of the preventive measures taken in order to prevent Macedonian citizens from seeking asylum in the EU.
The NGOs point out that the freedom of movement is a fundamental human rights and includes the right for everyone to leave any country including its own. They highlight that all the five countries have adopted the principle of freedom of movement into their national constitution, which also guarantee the freedom from discrimination and the principle of equality.
They call it ironic, that the European Union, which has asked the countries of the Western Balkans to adopt international human rights principles as part of the conditions for joining the EU, is now requesting them to breach these very principles in a way to control immigration.
In the absence of any progress in terms of improving the living conditions of Roma, the Commission’s call for “additional measures” to bring down the number of asylum seekers, would only result in additional discrimination, the NGOs say and damage the EU’s credibility as a champion of minority rights.
The NGOs call on the Commission to immediately relinquish its pressures on the countries of the Western Balkan states aiming to force these countries to adopt measures to prevent their citizens from seeking asylum abroad. Instead, the Commission should urge the countries to combat the root causes forcing ethnic minorities, in particular Roma, to move abroad. The NGOs ask for greater transparency in the Union’s migration policy, which should be based on a strict application and respect of human rights.
Chachipe a.s.b.l.
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