Life-threatening conditions for migrants and refugees on the soil of the European Union

Written declaration No. 717 | Doc. 15233 | 05 March 2021

Signatories:

Ms Stephanie KRISPER, Austria, ALDE ; Mr Kamil AYDIN, Turkey, NR ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Ms Yolaine de COURSON, France, ALDE ; Ms Jennifer DE TEMMERMAN, France, ALDE ; Mr Sokratis FAMELLOS, Greece, UEL ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Marta GONZÁLEZ VÁZQUEZ, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Fabien GOUTTEFARDE, France, ALDE ; Mr Frank HEINRICH, Germany, EPP/CD ; Ms Gyde JENSEN, Germany, ALDE ; Ms María Teresa JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Yuriy KAMELCHUK, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Ms Carmen LEYTE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Ms María Valentina MARTÍNEZ FERRO, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Killion MUNYAMA, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Marco NICOLINI, San Marino, UEL ; Mr Thomas PRINGLE, Ireland, UEL ; Mr Michel REIMON, Austria, SOC ; Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Zeki Hakan SIDALI, Turkey, ALDE ; Ms Nicole TRISSE, France, ALDE ; Mr Ahmet YILDIZ, Turkey, NR ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

We, the undersigned, declare the following:

After having seen a deterioration of the situation coming, harsh winter conditions are a heavy toll for migrants and refugees accommodated in inadequate tent camps on the Greek Islands, as Kara Tepe camp on Lesbos.

Nobody should endure such struggle for survival in the 21st century in member States of the Council of Europe or the European Union, both being built on the values of human rights and dignity.

All member States must ensure the respect of the right of all migrants and refugees to life under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the prohibition of inhuman treatment under Article 3 of the ECHR at all times, including pushbacks of asylum seekers.

All member States must show solidarity and support the evacuation of the inadequate camps, prioritising the most vulnerable persons. All member States should work together with the Greek and Turkish authorities to establish a co-operation enabling a sustainable reception management system with fast and fair asylum procedures in accordance with human rights.