AYS News Digest 10.7.23: Leaked Letter: EU Commission pledges more funds for external borders
Shots fired at rescue ships by Libya // More people leaving Syria // Bulgaria pushbacks // Pylos shipwreck update // Three boats missing, one found, en route to the Canary Islands // Dutch Coalition government collapse over migration policy // Pressure for Frontex to withdraw from Greece
FEATURE
Leaked Letter: EU Commission pledges more funds for external borders
The EU is to pay hundreds of millions of Euros to Egypt, Libya and Tunisia for border surveillance. The letter, which was sent from Ursula von der Leyen to all 27 EU-member states, was sent just days after the tragic shipwreck near Pylos, Greece.
The original letter is available to read here.
The letter, which was leaked and published by Statewatch, describes the increase in funding for Frontex by 200 million Euros
“Tunisia has been one of our key partners for many years. We are now ready to reinvigorate our relations.” Letter to member states Ursula von der Leyen.
As reported in a previous News Digest this is the same Tunisia where human rights abuses and racism are regularly reported and are on the rise. Technology, patrol boats and vehicles have all been promised to the Tunisian government, alongside funds to assist with returns to sub-Saharan Africa.
Also reported in the letter is an increase in funding for Bulgaria and Romania to reinforce their borders with Turkey. The corruption in both countries is well reported, with them achieving the rating of numbers 1 and 2 in the list of most corrupt countries in Europe. This year at least 3 million Euros of EU money, which was due to be spent on restoring the UNESCO heritage centre in the capital city of Sofia, has disappeared, with publicly acknowledged corruption.
The so-called Libyan “Coastguard” is also to receive continued support, despite the UN report published in April which confirms that human rights abuses and torture have been and continue to be common practice.
Egypt’s list of presents includes patrol boats and funding for land border security as well as an “anti-smuggling partnership” for which 120 million Euros is pledged.
SEA and SEARCH and RESCUE (SAR)
Shots fired at rescue ships
The so-called Libyan “Coastguard” (LCG) fired shots at NGO rescue vessels from SOS Mediterranée whilst they were conducting rescues.
The shots were fired from a vessel donated to Libya by the EU on June 22nd this year.
As the Ocean Viking proceeded to a second rescue, under instruction from Italian authorities, the LCG followed, and didn’t communicate in English (a requirement in law of any coastguard). A total of three shots were fired, as can been seen in this video of the rescue.
Zusammenland, who operate the rescue ship Mare*Go are holding another event on 23rd July in Wiesbaden — details here
SYRIA
More people leaving Syria
The Syrian regime is undertaking a reconciliation process in the Daraa province, which has been branded “theoretical” in the June report by Etana — an organisation working both as in-country civil service and internationally in diplomatic capacities.
The report indicates that the increasing humanitarian crisis is only getting worse, with conflict in different areas leading to food scarcity. Fields of wheat have caught fire — a total of over 1,500 hectares of crops have been destroyed. 72 people from Daraa province were among those who died on the Pylos shipwreck — demonstrating the urgent need for safe and legal routes for people.
BULGARIA
Illegal pushbacks
No Name Kitchen reports of two incidents of illegal pushbacks from Bulgaria to Turkey. The group of men from Tunisia were 10km into the Bulgarian interior when they were apprehended by authorities. In the second incident, a man who was involved in the first pushback was removed from a train. Full details of the illegal actions of the EU funded authorities are reported here.
GREECE
Pylos shipwreck update
A hi-tech investigation, including 3D imagining of the vessel, has led to this report in the Guardian newspaper. The findings show that Greek authorities lied about certain facts, including towing the boat, saying that the boat had moved of its own accord.
This video also shows how unstable the vessel was before the capsize took place.
The huge loss of life has not stopped the Hellenic Coastguard from conducting illegal pushbacks. 27 people were prevented from landing on Lesvos this week.
A 20 year old man from Syria was shot and killed in a police car chase in the province of Larissa. The police officer has been released pending trial. The young man was unarmed and on foot when the shot was fired, the officer claims it was accidental and that he feels regret. Many people gathered to demonstrate their sadness and anger at the incident.
A report has been published into the criminalisation of people arriving by boat or car who are charged with people smuggling for involuntarily taking control of the vessel or vehicle. The report states that the authorities make no effort to construct the real events, with trials lasting in one case only 6 minutes. A man from Syria commented:
“You are trying to tell them that the Turkish driver drove us and then ran off and swam back to Turkey? That it’s always like this? Every ride, every boat. All report the same thing. But the police don’t care.”
Whilst Green MEP Erik Marquardt agreed that injustice is in evidence. “The Greek judiciary is being politically abused to deter people fleeing.”
The Lavrio camp that was home to more than 50 Kurdish refugees has been violently evicted and the people relocated. This article reports on the individual experience of a woman trying to protect her daughter from the violence that they were experiencing.
A protest against unjust detention and state violence is due to take place on Tuesday 11th July at 7pm in Athens. Details here.
SPAIN
Three boats missing, one found, en route to the Canary Islands
The Spanish Coastguard has rescued 86 people from a vessel which was found 70 nautical miles away from the Canary Islands. The Coastguard was assisted in the rescue by a container ship. The boat was first reported missing a week ago. The passengers, reportedly from sub-Saharan Africa, were to be transferred to Gran Canaria. Two similar vessels are still missing, they both left Senegal on 23rd June and are estimated to have around 60 people on each vessel.
A search is underway for a teenager in Ceuta — the Spanish enclave in Morocco. The 15 year old is thought to have crossed to Ceuta a week ago and police are searching for him. Full details here.
NETHERLANDS
Coalition government facing collapse over migration policy
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has resigned and the four-party coalition government is facing collapse over proposed policies to reduce the number of people settling in the Netherlands. The policies included proposed caps on family reunification, including that families would have to wait two years before reuniting. The tough policies were opposed by two of the four parties. A general election seems likely, with campaigning already underway. The NY Times has an analysis which can be read here.
FRANCE
Unaccompanied minors having been protesting for their rights
Under 18 year old people on the move have organised protests to ensure that their rights as minors are upheld. The relays were sparked by one boy being denied access to a place in a shelter. The 16 year old was left on the streets after The Committee for the Rights of Children requested support on his behalf and it was denied. The Committee is calling for people to be treated as children until there is proof that they are not. This includes believing the validity of any identify documents and providing legal representation. See here for the full press release.
Following another avoidable death in France when a young man attempted to board a truck heading for the UK, this article explores the reason for an increase in similar instances, relating how people are feeling as the toxic rhetoric in the UK drives attempts to change the law.
UNITED KINGDOM
As the latest anti-refugee bill is returning to the House of Commons next week, organisation Freedom From Torture calls for UK residents to email their MP asking them to vote against the bill. Details here
FRONTEX
Pressure for Frontex to withdraw from Greece
Following the Pylos shipwreck, Frontex is facing increasing pressure to withdraw its presence from Greece. In this detailed Twitter thread, the ramifications of the report following the tragedy are unpicked, implicating Frontex for being aware of the vessel and taking no action.
Release of audit report
The EU’s data chief has launched an investigation into Frontex following an audit. The audit wasn’t published in full until today when a freedom of information request has led to the full 119 page document being released. Read it here.
WORTH LISTENING TO
Podcast 12 Rules for WHAT — episode 85 features representatives of the Border Violence Monitoring Network to discuss the criminalisation of solidarity work, how people on the move are treated by the racist border regime, the impact of climate on the border regime and more.
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