'Democratic control in managing Europe's southern border'
Ahead of European elections, Spanish NGOs and JRS Europe press MEPs for more democratic management of Europe's external borders

Friday, May 8 - A new report by Entreculturas, Alboan, SJM-Spain, and with the participation of JRS Europe, discusses the various EU policies that control Europe's southern border, how these policies distort the notion of 'a border', and the impact of these policies on the lives of migrants on Europe's external borders. In compiling this analysis, the partner organisations wish to impress upon MEPs that controls on the EU's external borders must be transparent, guarantee migrants' safety and, above all, be democratic.

Following studies of Europe's southern border by SJM-Spain and JRS-Europe, the EU's attempts to outsource Europe's border have been well understood, and how such outsourcing negates the very notion of the physical border.

Migrants' living conditions were analysed, the insecurities, injustices, and lack of freedom observed. The conditions are reflected right across this population of migrants hoping to reach Europe from North Africa. As a parallel, these migrants are subject to the same conditions faced by migrants without legal status and already inside EU territory.


Considering these points, SJM-Spain and JRS Europe demand that European and Spanish MEPs work toward the following objectives:

1/ Adjust the political discourse on African migration so that it reflects the data of reality, and not the social imaginary distorted by the media.

2/ Effectively use the competencies of the EU, and international agreements between EU Member States and African nation, to:
- develop workable avenues for legal migration; and
- develop coherent policies that do not just serve to control migration flows, but rather, serve the development of human populations before migration.

3/ Monitor and study closely legal controls on migration beyond the borders of the EU, especially for those deemed in need of international protection.

4/ Step up the fight against trafficking human beings and trafficking networks, emphasising the effects both within and outside EU borders, and ensuring that the most vulnerable are not harmed.

5/ So as not to violate the fundamental rights of the person under EU and national laws, change all policies that limit freedom, security and justice - both inside of the EU, and beyond her borders.

6/ Strengthen the protection of the migrants' rights by promoting the universal ratification of the 'International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, 1990'.

Furthermore, and in order to reach the objectives above, European and Spanish MEPs are invited take the following action:

1/ Work with civil society organisations to adjust border control mechanisms and bring them in line with basic and fundamental human rights.

2/ Embark personally on patrol boats to ensure that border operations are running as they should. Interview migrants intercepted, and evaluate if their rights as migrants and refugees are being respected.

3/ Visit detention centres and speak to migrants there, investigate their cases, see if there are readmission agreements in place with their country of origin, ensure that their rights are being respected as outlined in the European Convention of Human Rights.

4/ Visit the Center for Migration Management (CIGEM) in Bamako, and see how regular migration flows may be controlled.

5/ Visit their own ministries responsible for migration and centres for migrants, and along with civil society organisations, open their eyes to how Europe's internal borders are limiting and hurting migrants' liberty and personal security.

The Spain Jesuit Migration Network-Spain (SJM-Spain) is a Jesuit network devoted to the study of migration, the hosting and training of immigrants, and the promotion of an inclusive society that is integrated and intercultural.

Organisations within the SJM-Spain network include: Graduate Institute of Migration Studies (University Pontificia Comillas), Migra-Studium Foundation (Barcelona), CeiMigra Foundation (Valencia), the San Juan del Castillo foundation (Madrid), the social foundation Ignacio Ellacuría (Bilbao) and the Claver Volunteer Association (Seville).

Click here to see the report in Spanish
(note that the report will be available in English in the coming weeks)