MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on migratory flows in the Mediterranean, with particular attention to the tragic events off Lampedusa

16.10.2013 - (2013/2827(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Timothy Kirkhope, Susy De Martini, Cristiana Muscardini on behalf of the ECR Group

B7‑0478/2013

European Parliament resolution on migratory flows in the Mediterranean, with particular attention to the tragic events off Lampedusa

(2013/2827(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Joint Statement of the Ministerial Meeting of Syria Bordering Countries organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 4 September 2013,

–   having regard to the previous UN Human Rights Council resolutions on Syria,

–   having regard to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–   having regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the additional protocols thereto,

–   having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1168/2011 of 25 October 2011 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex),

–   having regard to the European Asylum Support Office,

–   having regard to the proposal for a Regulation establishing rules for the surveillance of the external sea borders in the context of operational cooperation coordinated by the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Members States of the European Union (COM(2013)0197),

–   having regard to the regulation establishing the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR),

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the latest tragedies off Lampedusa, which occurred on 3 October 2013, have left at least 360 migrants dead, with many others still missing;

B.  whereas at least 20 000 people have died at sea since 1993, according to the International Organisation for Migration;

C. whereas, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the small island of Lampedusa has a population of between 4 500 and 5 000 people;

D. whereas within the European Union, Germany (14 842) and Sweden (14 083) have received 59 % of the claims lodged (in EU28) by Syrian refugees, while other countries have experienced significant increases in applications, with only one other Member State (the UK with 2 634) having received more than 2 000 claims;

E.  whereas fully accurate and reliable data on the total number of asylum seekers coming to Europe and the number present overall are lacking; whereas there is a need to address not only pressures in terms of entry points, but also the situation of those countries that are under strain from mass applications;

F.  whereas Member States should be encouraged to make use of the funds that will be available under the Asylum and Migration Fund and of the funds that are already available;

1.  Expresses deep sadness and regret at the tragic loss of life in Lampedusa, and urges the European Union and the Member States to do more to prevent loss of life at sea and to combat human trafficking at the Union’s borders;

2.  Expresses concern that a growing number of asylum seekers are risking their lives by embarking on dangerous boat crossings across the Mediterranean to the EU;

3.  Reminds Member States of the possibility of using the existing measures for rescues at sea;

4.  Notes that legal, procedurally based entry into the EU is preferable to more dangerous irregular entry, which entails risks of human trafficking and loss of life, and increases irregular immigration; asks the Member States, therefore, to put in place strong criminal sanctions for those individuals who aid human trafficking both into and across the EU;

5.  Is deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and political unrest in North Africa, which is placing consequent heavy strain on neighbouring countries and causing large number of refugees to continue to seek asylum in the EU;

6.  Welcomes the efforts of neighbouring countries in conflict areas in North Africa to provide asylum for the millions of displaced people;

7.  Calls for the EU to continue to offer humanitarian, financial and political assistance in crisis areas in North Africa in order to tackle migration and humanitarian pressures at their root cause;

8.  Calls on the EU to monitor the distribution of that funding, and to increase democratic accountability for such aid, in order for these resources to have some positive effect, which has so far been lacking;

9.  Calls on the Member States to support an expansion of the responsibilities of the Frontex agency, and welcomes the newly adopted EUROSUR regulation and the proposal on the surveillance of the external sea borders in the context of operational cooperation coordinated by the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Members States, as ways of properly guarding the EU’s border and preventing further tragic loss of life;

10. Calls for the European Union and the Member States to monitor flows of asylum seekers by using the European and national instruments available, and to maintain good coordination and communications such as the facilitation of information-sharing between national coast guards;

11. Encourages regular dialogue with the Maghreb countries as a means of being prepared for, and dealing effectively with, the flow of asylum seekers into the European Union;

12. Stresses the importance of Member States’ expressing solidarity by proactively strengthening the overall protection response in the European Union through enhanced cooperation, information sharing, border management, capacity building and policy dialogue, and by upholding their internal human rights obligations;

13. Reminds the Member States that asylum seekers seeking international protection should be referred to the competent national asylum authorities and have access to fair and efficient asylum procedures;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice‑President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.