With Italy deporting asylum seekers and infringing on the fundamental rights inscribed within the EU, European policy makers are facing some tough decisions on how to best manage immigration.
EU member states are supposed to embody the ideals of the Union. But the reality is often very different. And by deporting those seeking refugee back to hostile countries, Italy and several other European states, are essentially handing out death sentences.
“Italy is returning people, including refugees, rescued in international waters to a country that is not a country of origin and has not signed the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention. Europe should not allow this violation of international obligations to continue” said Christopher Hein, director of the Italian Council for Refugees.
European Justice and Home Office Affairs ministers will be meeting this week to discuss the possible creation of a European Asylum Support Office. The office should consolidate and harmonize asylum across Europe says the ECRC.
As it stands, all Iraqis seeking asylum in Finland were granted the status in 2007 whereas in Greece, none were admitted. Hopefully, this new office will forward human rights principles in its decision making and leave the politics aside.
