In it, the Christian organisations call upon leaders to reject the EU Migration Partnership Framework proposed by the European Commission to the EU Council, European Parliament and European Investment Fund.
“Condition development funding in Africa and the Middle East countries to the adoption of measures to prevent refugees crossing their borders seriously undermines European credibility to promote human dignity and to defend human rights,” said DBI Executive Secretary Angel Gudiña.
“It is disappointing that the Member States focus on deterrence measures rather than open safe and legal ways for those who seek international protection on European territory” Gudiña concludes.
Key recommendations in the letter are:
- EU migration policies must be based on solidarity and fair responsibility-sharing rather than on externalising the management of EU borders to non-EU countries;
- Stop conditioning development aid to the compliance of developing countries with readmission agreements. Engage in effective and ambitious development aid programmes, based on human rights, good governance and sustainable development with agreed Sustainable Development Goals as guiding principle;
- Open meaningful safe and legal channels to come to Europe, such as resettlement, humanitarian visas, and legal labour migration.
Read the full letter here.
