Criminalisation of refugees

For some weeks now tensions have been high at various cross-border points between Greece and Turkey. Attempts by migrants to cross into Greek territory have resulted in heavy interventions (including the use of firearms) by Greek security forces. 

Since Monday 2 March at least two people have died: a child of four drowned near the island of Kos as Greek coastguards were trying to sink a boat full of migrants fleeing Turkey; Muhammad al-Arab, 22, was shot dead on the land border between Turkey and Greece, with a strong likelihood that the shot came from either the Greek army or one of the Greek paramilitary militias.

The violence used by the police force and by the army as ordered by the Greek government, as well as the suspension of asylum in Greece has been unwaveringly supported by the European Union. Ursula Von der Leyen thanked Greece for being Europe’s “shield” in these difficult times. The actions of Greek security forces and Frontex agents has as its sole aim the prevention, at any cost, of people fleeing war or conditions of misery from arriving on European soil. 

The agreement signed between the EU and Turkey in 2016 is to be read in the context of this “migration crisis” which is in fact a crisis of respect for human rights. This shameful agreement include s the EU paying €6 billion to Turkey to implement measures that prevent migrants from reaching European soil. The agreement is shameful not only because it prevents asylum, but also because it turns asylum into commodity that can be paid for. A price that Turkey is now claiming so as to put pressure on the EU on one hand but on the other hand to further guarantee total freedom and impunity for its military aggression in the North of Syria.  The EU-Turkey agreement is not the only method the EU uses to externalize its borders. In order to make sure that non-European countries agree to implement policies that restrict migrations, the Union and its member States use their so-called “Official Aid” as a lever. In exchange for measures that limit departures and increase expulsions from the EU towards countries of “origin” of migrants considered to be undesirable (readmission agreements), the EU and its members will grant or refuse access to various funds.

There is the criminalization of migrants and the militarization of borders. The budget of the Frontex agency, which is in charge of coordinating the “protection” of European borders, has dramatically increased from €6 to €330 million between 2005 and 2019, which shows how important the control of migrants currently is for the EU. This results first in strengthening physical borders, with 990 km of walls and fences , and supplying high technology monitoring tools. Borders are literally militarized to protect the European soil as though it was a fortress besieged by “barbarians.” The persecution and criminalization of migrants do not abolish illegal immigration. On the contrary, such an approach results in aggravating illegal immigration and the dramatic number of fatal casualties it entails. Young people from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, fleeing death and extreme poverty, will still be prepared to run the risks of migration.

http://cadtm.org/Crisis-on-the-Greece-Turkish-Border-let-s-have-done-with-Fortress-Europe