Donald Tusk on the decision to ‘detain’ refugees for 18 months on arrival at the borders of the EU

10.12.2015

Question for written answer E-015649-15
to the Council
Rule 130
Inês Cristina Zuber (GUE/NGL)

According to the British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ in an article published on 2 December 2015, the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has declared that refugees arriving at the borders of the EU should be held for a period of 18 months in detention centres. This decision has come following the attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015, on the pretext of preventing and combating terrorist acts in the EU. This is a contemptible decision, not only because it starts from the xenophobic premise that refugees fleeing war and death in their countries might be potential ‘terrorists’, but also because reality contradicts this argument, as it is now known that those involved in that attack in Paris were European citizens.

We therefore ask the Council:

How does it think 18 months’ unlawful detention can be reconciled with enhancing and ensuring a dignified welcome for refugees and migrants, principles so often proclaimed by the EU?

Does it think this decision accords with asylum-seeker status and the International Bill of Human Rights?