In May 2012, AKEL along with the entire international left movement and the peace-loving forces of the area protested against the new war in Syria and warned that such a development would also flatten other countries, plunge their peoples in bloodshed and cause new waves of refugees.
Nothing of course stopped the imperialist forces from intervening in Syria. A few months later, the European Union (EU) (with the consent of the government of Anastasiadis) decided to suspend the arms embargo to the Syrian opposition. They had decided to finance and equip the so-called “Free Syrian Army”, which was the hothouse from which sprang the jihadists and the murderous army of ISIS. With EU tolerance, both France and Germany equipped jihadists, while together with the US and with other EU countries contributed to the destabilization of the Middle East and North Africa promoting wars and funding the “Arab spring”. We warned at the time of the consequences of the unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country but our positions were ignored.
I recall the events because what is happening today in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe is the result of the US plans, NATO and the EU who for two decades ride roughshod over international law and promote the redrawing of borders in order to ensure their geopolitical interests and their control over the resources and channeling of energy. Thus arose the refugees and the endless bloodshed in neighboring Syria.
The war in Syria has caused 4 million refugees. What is happening in Syria is part of an imperialist plan which is applied on a broader base. The same forces-NATO, USA, EU – bombed Libya in 2012, with the result that today the refugees from Libya have reached two million. The same forces carried out the 2003 invasion of Iraq most of which is currently under the terror of ISIS. In 2001 they also raided Afghanistan and today refugees from Afghanistan reach 3.5 million.
They are the same forces that continue today to support Israel which is illegally occupying the territory of Palestine and do not care for the Palestinians who are today becoming refugees for a second time. They are lastly, the same forces that supported and still support authoritarian regimes in the Middle East.
Even until now the EU continues to support the imperialist wars and the destabilization in the Middle East and North Africa by imposing neoliberal “cures” on the economies of countries and promoting neo-colonial dependency relations practices for the benefit of multinationals and of big business. We currently live through the developments and the dramatic effects of the policies which undoubtedly constitute a humanitarian crisis underway.
The ongoing tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea leave no Man unmoved. Everyday new names are added to the list of the dead. Refugees lose their lives trying to escape from the impasses that they have been led to by the imperialist, neoliberal policies of the new world order. Just in 2015, 3,511 people died or disappeared in the Mediterranean.
The continued tragedy makes ever more urgent the need for the EU to launch a fundamental review of its immigration / refugee policy. Position of AKEL and GUE / NGL
The proposals of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left are clear. To effectively address the refugee crisis we must fight the causes of immigration, i.e. the wars, poverty and neo-liberal economic policies in both the countries of origin and the host countries.
The EU needs to redefine the objectives of its foreign policy, to stop being led to imperialist wars by the US and to actively support the interests of the people so that peace and prosperity can prevail. We reject therefore the logic of military solutions and the strengthening of the enforcement of mechanisms for border controls, particularly at the expense of the sovereignty of member states. We are also pushing for the EU to cease strengthening the forces of repression and the wall at the borders that makes Europe a fortress.
For us it is clear that a different approach is urgently required to stop the refugees being treated as criminals and to promote immediate measures which are based on international law, solidarity, human rights and human dignity.
The EU has a duty to enhance its humanitarian assistance, its search and rescue forces but also help to promote developmental policies in the countries of migrants and to support Member states bordering countries in crisis. To this end we the Left battle in the European Parliament but also on every other front.
In particular we demand:
- A prompt abolition of Dublin 2, which is now recognized by everyone of having dramatically exacerbated the humanitarian crisis since the southern countries shouldered almost all the refugees without the structures and capacities to cope. 2. We are pushing to ensure fair burden-sharing according to the GDP of each member and a common asylum system which ensures the free movement of refugees across the European territory.
- We stress that the EU must particularly assist the Member States in the Mediterranean receiving the greatest weight in refugee flows. From 2009 to 2011 important steps were taken in this direction. With our initiative, as Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Cyprus together with colleagues from other countries we formed the front of the Mediterranean countries; we organized in Cyprus a meeting of southern countries on the immigration issue, and we jointly tabled documents in the EU in favour of the two axes of immigration policy, namely in favour of fair burden sharing and the common asylum system. At the time we appealed to deaf ears as the North had not yet felt the pressure of refugees. Unfortunately, we were subsequently vindicated.
- 3. As the left as we did then we still ask now for the immediate implementation of a permanent system of resettlement of refugees in all Member States of the EU in order to make distribution of refugees on the basis of the population and economic situation of each state. 4. We are particularly fighting for the immediate end of the operation EUNAVFOR Med (European Naval Force – Mediterranean) and the strengthening of border enforcement mechanisms such as FRONTEX. Instead of those we are pushing to create mechanisms and multinational search and rescue operations, to reduce and put an end to the tragedies in the Mediterranean. 5. We strive for the creation by the EU and its member states of safe and legal avenues for Refugees such as humanitarian channels, visas for humanitarian reasons and strengthening of family reunification. 6. Finally we ask for decent temporary accommodation of asylum seekers based on the UN standards, with the financial assistance of the European Union and to improve the way asylum applications are processed for quick and fair granting of asylum. What happens in the EU today
The ruling circles of the EU adhere to the same destructive policies and continue to support the imperialist interventions that fuel the terrorist forces, plunge the peoples into bloodshed and create more and more waves of refugees turning the Mediterranean into a huge cemetery. Unfortunately, the European Union is now officially focused on strengthening the guarding of its external borders, the creation of concentration camps and speedy mass deportations. Additionally it promotes the second phase of the military naval operation EUNAVFOR Med aimed at preventing entry of immigrants and refugees in the EU. These are based on the dead-end logic of military solutions, which can only can lead to more tragedies and deaths. And while military expenditure for the policing services of the Union’s borders (FRONTEX) rise, social funds are proposed to be cut again in this year’s Union budget. Despite great promises, the EU has never created legal and safe ways to enable refugees to seek asylum. So the refugees are forced to resort to criminal traffickers. The Council of the EU failed to agree to binding quotas for the relocation of a significant number of refugees in the Member States. At the same time European governments back ever stricter border controls to exclude refugees, applying fierce repressive measures and erect fences and walls. So the EU now acquires dual responsibilities for the refugee crisis; having first participated in imperialist interventions that let to millions of people uprooted from their homelands, it now seals its gates so that the refugees cannot fund refuge in Europe resulting in them dying at sea. It is shown once again that the EU is neither a power for peace nor a family of solidarity and human rights as it proclaims. The recent EU-Africa conference on immigration in Valletta, Malta (11 and 12 November) unfortunately was another show of hypocrisy on the part of European leaders. As was decided wars and foreign interventions will continue. The “Fortress Europe” will continue to erect fences and concentration camps. The member states still do not concord to a fair distribution for hosting refugees. Legal and safe access to the EU for refugees to seek asylum will not be created. At the same time military operations to destroy boats along the coast of North Africa will proceed smoothly, trapping thousands of people in war and impoverished areas, with no hope of escape.
In addition, the unequal and exploitative trade and economic relations with African states will continue to reproduce the vicious circle of underdevelopment and poverty.
On top of that the EU now requires African States to hold back –by any means- its refugees and migrants, and to accept them back when they find the doors of the EU closed. The countries with which the EU will cooperate and strengthen economically, include dictatorships from which their own citizens escape.
Indeed, the EU in order to keep the refugees out of its borders did not hesitate to give even to Turkey, which daily tramples on human rights and the principles of Democracy, the title of “safe country of destination”.
Unfortunately the ruling circles of the EU give everything to get the refugees off their backs and treat them like criminals: and with the European immigration policy they promote they harbour extreme right-wing movements which are increasingly strengthening in Europe.
It is a fact that the far right takes advantage of the presence of refugees in European countries to turn the resentment of the people for the poverty and misery they experience against refugees. They exploit the anxieties and fears of the working people to strengthen racism and simultaneously consolidate their presence.
In this well laid out game of the cultivation of xenophobia, racism, chauvinism and nationalism the parties of the right are also involved. Typical examples are the unacceptable statements of the Interior Minister of Cyprus, who expressed his preference for the religion of the 300 refugees that Cyprus will be required to host.
Especially after the recent terrorist attacks fear and terror-hysteria have become more prevalent. It is therefore our duty to fight so that the foreigners, refugees or Muslims are not targeted for what is happening. Neither should we let authoritarianism and repressive measures curtailing individual rights and freedoms prevail.
We have a duty not to succumb to the dictates of the racist extreme right. On the contrary we must remember that Muslims are the first and the most victims of «ISIS» from whom they try to escape in any way resorting to and seeking asylum in Europe. In the face of the dramatic moments that humanity is going through, new and tenacious struggles are needed for peace, freedom, democracy and social justice in Europe and beyond. We all have a duty to struggle against fascism, neo-Nazism and racism. To fight so that the EU rejects xenophobic and racist policies.
In conclusion
Comrades
Immigration is a complex and timeless issue, which will not stop until the root causes are fundamentally addressed. As long as the rich countries of the Western world exploit the wealth and resources of poor countries, as long as their imperialist, expansionist policies continue conducting wars and inequalities, the growing refugee crisis will continue and deepen. AKEL both on a national and European level together with the Group of the European United Left will continue the struggle against the policies that force people to leave their homeland in order to survive.
We will continue the struggle until the EU stops shedding crocodile tears about the plight of refugees, until it admits that the refugee crisis is a result of brutal wars and until it develops in a spirit of solidarity, respect for rights and human dignity, an immigration policy within a broader social and developmental framework. Across Europe massive events are taking place of solidarity with the refugees. We welcome all the events that embrace refugees and isolate racism wherever it comes from. As AKEL, we will continue united in the front line, responding with solidarity, humanity, unity and struggle against wars and exploitation.
Neoklis Sylikiotis – MEP, member of Central Committee of AKEL