Tuesday, December 7, 2021

The EU tries to put a better face on its support for Poland's treatment of refugees on the border to Belarus

Wolfgang Münchau's Eurointelligence reported last week on a move by the EU, apparently meant to soften its previous support for Poland's refugee policy in the face of Belarus' ploy of sending a few thousand refugees across the border into Poland. (EU and Poland at odds over migrants 12/2/2021; scroll down)

EI describes Poland's practice this way: "Poland took the toughest stance against the migrants at the border. It criminalised irregular border crossings, and used its state of emergency to prevent humanitarian organisations and the media from coming close to the border. They also are accused of pushing back migrants, so-called refoulement, which is prohibited by EU and international law." (my emphasis)

The EU proposed extension of the time limits Poland has been applying for refugees to register asylum claims. "Amnesty International dismissed the proposal too, saying the current [official rules than Poland should be following] rules worked fine, and that this is a weakening of migrants protection for political purposes."

Relief Web provides the AI press release (EU: ‘Exceptional measures’ normalize dehumanization of asylum seekers 12/2/2021):
In response to today’s proposals from the European Commission which would allow Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to derogate from EU rules, including by holding asylum-seekers and migrants at the border for 16 weeks with minimal safeguards, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Office said:

“The arrival of people at the EU’s borders with Belarus is entirely manageable with the rules as they stand. Today’s proposals will further punish people for political gain, weaken asylum protections, and undermine the EU’s standing at home and abroad. If the EU can allow a minority of member states to throw out the rule book due to the presence of a few thousand people at its border, it throws out any authority it has on human rights and the rule of law." [my emphasis]

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