New EU Immigration and Search and Rescue Pact Concerns About Humanitarian Implications
Concerns about the humanitarian implications of the new agreement
Introduction and Context of the New EU Immigration Pact
The new European Union Immigration and Asylum Pact, recently agreed upon, has raised criticism and concerns regarding its potential implications for the rights of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Despite the triumphant rhetoric surrounding the announcement of these reforms, Human Rights Watch has described the pact as a disaster for migrants and asylum seekers. These reforms, centered around deterrence, have been criticized for being both ineffective and abusive, further complicating an already complex and cruel system.
Controversial Details and Mechanisms of the New Pact
The proposed changes in the pact include the introduction of accelerated border procedures for those deemed to have little chance of obtaining asylum. This could entail detention and the initiation of sub-standard asylum procedures that deprive individuals of fundamental safeguards, such as legal assistance, and also involve fingerprinting children as young as six years old. The package includes a “crisis regulation” that would allow EU states to derogate from fundamental human rights obligations, moving towards legalizing the denial of the right to asylum.
Impact on Search and Rescue at Sea and Member State Responsibilities
The new EU Immigration and Asylum Pact raise significant concerns regarding search and rescue at sea in the Mediterranean. According to the European Commission’s agency for Fundamental Rights, search and rescue capabilities in the Mediterranean are limited, with only 13 of the 21 NGO vessels and aircraft operational. Legal and administrative actions often interfere with the work of NGOs, further limiting their rescue capabilities. This could have severe humanitarian consequences, especially for those in distress at sea.
Critiques and Future Challenges
The new pact, along with the EU’s efforts to shift responsibility to neighboring countries such as Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, and Egypt, signals a concerning turn regarding human rights, search and rescue at sea, and the rights of people on the move, contradicting the EU’s core values. The reaction of organizations like Human Rights Watch suggests that instead of addressing the EU’s often failing management of irregular immigration, the pact may worsen the situation, pushing EU member states to refuse to relocate people and invest in border fences, barbed wire, and surveillance rather than humanitarian measures.