Immigration In Europe: Facing The Crisis Europe

Immigration in Europe: facing the crisis Europe

For more than a year it has been talking in Europe of the ‘refugee crisis’. However, more than refugee crisis, we must talk about lack of activity, lack of leadership and political will in Europe to successfully face a problem as serious as the one that is happening.

Through this work it is intended to put in context the reader of the real problem of immigration in Europe and make it supportive with the refugee.

To understand why a brief introduction to the concept of border and the existing legislation will be made, to continue talking about the terrible deaths that are happening in the Mediterranean, and how organizations such as Open Arms, scarce of resources in its beginnings, It has been involved in collaborating.

Likewise, the solutions that Europe are trying to give this problem through the European Commission, such as allocating aid and resources establishing a European International Cooperation and Development Policy.

We will also talk about existing projects for the integration of immigrants, such as those promoted disinterested humanitarian aid.

Through the analysis of these points it can be established that Europe has sufficient capacity to accommodate and integrate the refugee population. Concluding that there are several very relevant reasons why Europe must face with humanity, solidarity and courage the situation of the refugee population, such as the right of asylum collected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Convention of 1951 and the European Human Rights Charter.

Borders and humanitarian care: legislation

Border is a word that is used to refer to the territorial limit of an area, a country or plot, which can be real or imaginary. The word comes from Latin frons or frontis, which means ‘front’ or ’facade’.

This term is widespread in the geopolitical field, since the border refers to the geographical limits of nations.

In International Law, the term border is defined as the line that marks the exterior limit of the territory of a State, that is, the line that determines the spatial scope where a state exercises its sovereignty excluding others. 

There are currently different types of borders: territorial, aerial, maritime, river and lake.

The determination of the borders between states is necessary and inevitable, and has been important for the creation of communities throughout history.

On the other hand, borders serve to create identity and belonging to even country, to a territory. This identity and belonging are accompanied by customs, traditions, celebrations and others, which give each country a special essence.

The borders have various objectives, the main ones lie in the control of the population, economy, conservation of traditions such as languages ​​or other. In addition, for there to be an order, an organization, and this entails its own laws, which are elaborated or adapted according to the needs of its inhabitants.

To conclude, the borders are not only about dividing lines, but in the union of regions in an organized way. In general terms, a border is the transit between two cultures.

With regard to Spain, Spanish borders in the border peninsular territory with France, Portugal, Gibraltar and Morocco, are delimited as follows:

• France borders have been set according to historical, natural and conventional criteria for each of the three sectors in which this border is divided: Western, established in the Bayonne Treaty of December 2, 1856, central, delimited by the treaty of Bayonne of April 14, 1862 (modified in 1892) and the additional provisions of July 11, 1898; and Eastern regulated by the Bayona Treaty of May 26, 1866 and the Bayonne Declaration of June 14, 1906.
• Portugal borders are delimited, in general terms, by the Lisbon agreement of September 29, 1864.
• As for the border with Gibraltar, article 10 of the Utrecht Treaty of 1713 for which the city and the castle of Gibraltar are transferred to the British Crown, together with its port, defenses and strengths, does not establish precise limits.
• Regarding the Spanish borders with Morocco, in the squares of Ceuta and Melilla they were settled in the agreements of August 24, 1859 and 26 of the trial of 1862.

 

The Schengen Treaty, which in 1991 signed Spain and the one that entered into force in 1995. An agreement by which several European countries suppressed the interior borders (among those countries) to transfer them to an external border (with third countries). This space is called Schengen Space, a territory in which common norms are applied to control exterior borders and also in the visa field and collaboration between police and judicial services in a criminal field. 

Through these borders there are migratory movements, when talking about people from one country to another, the emigration term is used, and when the arrival of people to a specific country is produced, it is called immigration. 

There are several causes of human migrations such as political, socio -economic, cultural, family, war and other international conflicts, generalized catastrophes etc.

In Spain through the Ministry of Interior, on the page of the General Police Station of Aliens and Borders, all legislation may be obtained close to the rights and duties for any foreigner in Spain, among this legislation the following stands out:

1. Organic Law 4/2000, of January 11, on rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration (includes the last reform made by Organic Law 2/2009, of December 11).
2. Royal Decree 557/2011, of April 20, which approves the Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000, on rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration, after its reform by Organic Law 2/2009.
3. Royal Decree 240/2007, of February 16, on free circulation and residence in Spain of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and other states part in the Agreement on the European Economic Space.
4. Law 12/2009, of October 30, regulating the right of asylum and subsidiary protection.
5. Royal Decree 203/95, of February 10, which approves the Regulation of Application of the Law Regulatory Law of Asylum and the Refugee Condition.

 

In addition to the Interior Ministry page, it is necessary to highlight in the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security, the Immigration Portal, where it can be highlighted between various links, integration programs, humanitarian care, international protection and asylum among others.

Deaths in the Mediterranean: "Open Arms", "Acquarius"

"Six people died up to date in 2018 trying to get to Europe"

This is the average of people who lost their lives in the Mediterranean trying to get to Europe in 2018.

In total, 2.275 people lost their lives or disappeared in the Mediterranean in 2018. Lower figure than 2017 that were 3.139 dead and a little less than half than in 2016 that there were 5.096. 

In other words, one in 51 migrants and refugees who threw themselves into the sea to try to reach the European coasts failed in their attempt, according to a report ‘Desperate Crossings’ published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Any of these figures is chilling when it comes to deaths of human beings.

Spain became the second half of the year in the main point of entry to Europe, being a good part of those who try to reach the Moroccan and increasingly Algerian Spanish coasts, but also people from other countries such as Guinea, Malí, Costa Ivory or Gambia, according to UNHCR.

Currently, so far this year, 2 are counted.200 arrivals and 16 deaths.

There are several organizations in Europe dedicated to the rescue of immigrants in the Mediterranean. In Spain, it is worth highlighting the role of organizations such as "Proactiva Open Arms (POA)". 

Open Arms is a non -governmental and non -profit organization whose main mission is to protect with their presence at sea, those who try to reach Europe fleeing war conflicts, persecution or poverty.

They are dedicated to the surveillance and rescue of boats of people who need help both in the Mediterranean and in the Aegean Sea.

This project began with some photos of children drowned on a beach, aware of the existing tragedy, they intend to help, this NGO, which is based in Badalona, ​​is born from a company of lifeguard and maritime rescue on the Spanish coast.

He began operating in September 2015 on the island of Lesbos, in the Aegean Sea, where he helped reach more than 150.000 people in a few months. In July 2016, it extended its operation radius covering the deadliest route in the world, that of the Central Mediterranean aboard medicalized ships and professional rescue equipment.

Open Arms is immersed in various missions, in addition to the Central Mediterranean, where they constantly remain with a rescue and surveillance vessel, it is also present in Africa and Lesbos (Greece) to help refugees who reached the Greek coast.

Among other organizations, it is also worth highlighting the role of the French NGO SOS Méditerranée, known for its flagship of rescue to immigrants in the “Aquarius” Mediterranean.

The first mission of this ship took place in February 2016 and since then it has saved almost 30.000 lives. (EFE, 2018)

This ship before being converted to the rescue vessel carried out oil prospects on the high seas, also as German coast -up and was used in the wind sector.

In her reconversion as a rescue ship, she has already carried out 170 rescue operations and another 64 transford, in which she receives immigrants saved by other ships.

This is the only ship chartered by SOS Méditerranée and doctors without borders, is 76 meters in length and one of the largest in rescue missions. She has a capacity for 500 people, which is limited to adverse weather conditions at 100 since there can be no people on deck.

This ship has a crew of about 30 people including NGO professionals.

On May 25, 2016, Aquarius was news when she returned from the tenth rescue operation of her, having rescued 388 immigrants, and a Ghanaian baby was born on board. 

In June 2018, the new Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini denied access to any of his ports to the ship, which had 629 migrants. The Spanish government chaired by Pedro Sánchez offered the Aquarius to dock in the port of Valencia for humanitarian reasons, and the Italian navy offered marine assistance and escort. Several Spanish municipalities such as Madrid or Malaga offered to host part of refugees.

The Aquarius is, next to the Open Arms, the most active and symbolic of the ships that, against wind and tide, have maintained their mission of rescuing migrants in the sea.

Currently Aquarius has had to abandon rescue tasks after a hard institutional harassment campaign.

(Doctors Without Borders, 2018) On her website, he affirms the following:

"Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SOS Méditerranée we have been forced to finish our search and rescue operations of the Aquarius ship while refugees, migrants and asylum seekers continue to play life and lose it in the Mediterranean Sea". 

This campaign has been headed by the Italian government and backed by other European states, to delegitimize, discredit and hinder organizations that provide assistance to people in danger, thus dynamiting international law and humanitarian principles.

Solutions: Development and investment cooperation at origin

Much of the massive immigration that is taking place, is from countries in a situation of extreme poverty, or developing countries.

One of the possible solutions to this massive immigration is to allocate resources and investments in countries of origin, for this a European International Cooperation and Development Policy is needed.

"Cooperation for development or cooperation for development or development assistance includes the set of actions, carried out by public and private actors, with the purpose of promoting global economic and social progress, which is sustainable and equitable".

Together, EU institutions and member countries (European Commission) are the world’s largest donors for development and cooperation aid. The EU proposes legislation and policies to promote good governance and human and economic development, such as the fight against hunger and the conservation of natural resources.

What does the commission do? The European Consensus on Development compromises the EU to eradicate poverty and build a more fair and stable world.

The EU assistance, based on the 2011 Change Program, is concentrated in two general priority areas: (European Commission, 2019)

1. Human Rights, Democracy and other aspects of good governance
2. Sustainable and integrative growth to contribute to creating growth in developing countries and giving the population the means to leave poverty.

 

Among the objectives are:

1. Ensure that the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are met.
2. Promote democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in developing countries.
3. Guarantee sustainable economic, ecological and social progress in developing countries.
4. Increase the effectiveness of the aid to the development of different European countries deepening cooperation between national governments.
5. Enter negotiations on the Cotonú Agreement reviewed with the group of countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
6.  

Help populations help themselves. Of food security to environmental challenges, through social aspects and human rights, are the points at which the EU acts and is necessary.

The European Union (EU) and its member states are the greatest donors of official development aid. In 2013 they provided 56,500 million euros, what

which represents 52 % of the total world aid to donated development during that year. In 2013, the EU allocated an important sum (14,860 million euros) to foreign development aid, whose main beneficiaries were low -income countries and the least developed.

Projects: try to improve immigrants’ reception.

There is a United Nations migration organism, IOM.

The IOM works with its member states, its observers, civil society, local municipalities and other associates of the international community in order to promote cohesive, inclusive and tolerant societies where the immigrant population can cohabit in harmony with the local population.

The IOM in Spain works in four broad migration management spheres: migration and development, reintegration in countries of origin and socio -labor integration of immigrants. It also works for the promotion of international law on migration, for integrating the gender dimension into migration, while ensuring the protection of migrants’ rights.

On the other hand, in Spain dependent on the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security, there is the immigration portal, in this portal the integration programs stand out.

These grants aimed at financing programs that promote the social and labor integration of the group of immigrants and covering various aspects:

• Comprehensive reception projects for the attention of basic needs and support for the insertion of immigrants.
• Projects co -financed by the European Social Fund within the framework of the “Social and Social Economy” operational program, in terms of employment, to encourage the incorporation of quality systems, as well as for the training and improvement of professionals and volunteers and volunteers of awareness and promotion of equal treatment and non -discrimination in the workplace.
• Projects co -financed by the Fund of Asyl Integration of minors and young people in the education system, those aimed at promoting the inclusion, promotion and prevention of health, the promotion of participation, the promotion of equal treatment and non -discrimination in the reception society and Programs specifically aimed with women, and those aimed at favoring dialogue, citizen coexistence, the sense of belonging and the management of diversity in areas with significant presence of national residents of third countries.

 

Main countries: Origin, Transit and Destination.

Currently hundreds of thousands of people are crossing the Mediterranean starting from enclaves located south and east with the aim of reaching the European Union.

 These flows are mainly two types, asylum demanding ones seeking refuge and also economic immigrants. Both use the same routes, means of transport and networks of people traffickers.

The war in Syria and the unstable situation of Libya are the main reasons why thousands of refugees are crossing the Mediterranean in recent years.

Likewise, in recent years the flows from other countries with an unstable situation (Iraq and Afghanistan) or that suffer repressive regimes (Eritrea) have remained constant. 

Therefore, these refugee movements when heading towards Europe, given the impossibility of accessing formal channels, have used the roads that were traditionally used irregular migrations to cross the Mediterranean.

For more than a decade there have been different runners in the Mediterranean to irregularly enter the EU, used by immigrants from Maghreb countries, as well as Western Africa (Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast etc.) These flows followed an economic migration logic and were heading to countries in southern Europe where labor markets had a growing demand for labor, and allowed regularization through employment.

The destabilization of the region after the Civil War in Libya and the war in Syria will generate an important flow of refugees, to which we must add the previously existing flows of other regions and that remained constant. Unlike migratory flows, they will follow a logic linked to the humanitarian reception of asylum and refugees plaintiffs. That is, they will go to countries where there is an effective refugee reception system. That is why, despite access restrictions, the main destinations will be countries in the center and northern Europe with a long tradition of war reception of war refugees.

 conclusion

The European Union (EU) must be faithful to its founding principles, solidarity, freedom and respect for human rights, among others.

European citizens must put themselves in the place of people fleeing by war or hunger and relieve this suffering being supportive.

The most relevant reasons why Europe must face with humanity, solidarity and courage the situation of the refugee population are: (Euro Efe, 2016)

• For fidelity to the values ​​and principles of the European Union, for justice and compliance with international law and for economic reasons.
• The reception of refugees is an opportunity from the economic point of view, provided that a rapid integration and labor insertion of the refugee population is given and the risk of social exclusion is limited.
• Therefore, the solution to the crisis in Europe is based on being faithful to our values ​​and principles, strengthening our identity, creating European citizenship around this shared identity and being able to give solutions to global problems, such as human mobility.
• It should actively contribute to protecting the rights and dignity of refugees and migrants who arrive in Europe, address the causes of violence, war and displacement and work to solve conflicts.

 

It is urgent to create a common asylum system, open legal and safe access roads, invest in humanitarian aid and in development cooperation and create a hospitality culture in reception societies, fighting the outbreaks of xenophobia and racism, in short, respect human rights.

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