Refugee rescue organisation: EU deal will cost more lives at sea

Such a statement by Sea Watch is supported by a dozen non-governmental organizations.

“Today’s decision will not save a single life. This deal is a historic failure and a bow to right-wing European parties,” the charity said in a statement.

Sea Watch is one of several organizations that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe in small boats or boats.

According to the United Nations, the central part of the Mediterranean Sea, connecting North Africa, Italy and Malta, is the world’s deadliest migration route, where more than 2,200 people have died this year alone. people.

A statement by Sea Watch, signed by the Alarm Phone, Sea Eye and SOS Humanity, among other organisations, said the EU reform deal was “a breaking point and one of the most blatant disrespect manifestations of human rights and suffering at Europe’s borders”.

“With the agreement on the Common European Asylum System (BEPS), the EU decided to legitimize it status quowhere violence, neglect, torture and leaving people to die are daily practices,” the report said.

It said the bloc “missed an opportunity to agree on essential mechanisms to prevent deaths at sea”.

“Instead of doing this, EU institutions have decided to actively violate the rights of those seeking protection by legalizing violations of EU asylum law by member states,” the report states.

The NGO’s position says the agreement “will limit access to protection in Europe by introducing accelerated asylum procedures at the border to speed up the deportation process.”

It goes on to teach that the plans will “isolate refugees from the rest of society, detain them in remote camps and prevent any integration”.

The report also adds that the agreement does not provide for any safe and legal means of seeking protection in the European Union.

“All this will force even more people to try to cross the sea and choose increasingly dangerous routes. People will always die,” the report said.