1. Europe’s shameful wall in the Mediterranean to stop migrants
At the informal summit of Valletta, Europe confirmed its policy of agreements on the closing of borders – continuing with its extremely debatable strategy of their externalization. And Italy humours EU requests and draws up a shameful agreement with Libya.
Annalisa Camilli at Internazionale explores why closing the central Mediterranean route is unrealistic and inhumane.
2. Blocking migrants in Lebanese “concentration camps” is inhuman – in the words of the UN
The EU has been warned not only by civil society organisations but by the United Nations as well: blocking thousands upon thousands of migrants and asylum seekers in brutal Lebanese prisons – defined as proper “concentration camps” – is not a humane solution. The article at The Independent.
3. Why the agreement with Libya is a terrible idea
The plan approved by European leaders this past summer in Malta has one objective only: to reduce the number of people arriving in Europe – at any cost. Here are what those costs are and why the agreement with Libya is truly a terrible idea, as explained by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
PICTURE: Sara Prestianni ©
4. A word to be cancelled immediately
In the agreement between Italy and Libya, migrants are defined as “illegal immigrants”. A term which is legally incorrect and full of negative connotations and, as such, must immediately be amended, as Carta di Roma demands in their open letter.
5. How Europe is betraying its fundamental values
Judith Sunderland (Human Rights Watch) explains to The New York Times the seriousness of what is happening and how Europe is betraying its fundamental values through its foul policies on immigration.
6. Emma Bonino: Europe is acting just like Trump
“Europe has been scandalized by Trump’s ban and the wall with Mexico, but what we’re doing here in Europe isn’t all that different. One country, Libya, is being paid to keep in place a ‘cork’ in order to hold back migrants of any nationality. A plan that some have described as ‘Trump light’ and is similar to the one already in place in Turkey.”
The interview with Emma Bonino at La Stampa.
7. Migrants: Trump calls, and Europe falls in line
Is there really any difference between Trump’s walls of cement and the walls of military vessels that Europe would like to have between itself and Africa? Federica Marsi’s article at Middle East Eye and Marco Elhardo’s at Vita.
8. Europe’s contradictions on migrants and refugees
Nando Sigona analyses the situation at The Conversation, explaining how, if Europe wants to present itself as a bastion of liberal democracy, it must cease demonizing refugees and migrants and radically change direction in terms of its policies on immigration.
PICTURE: Sara Prestianni ©
9. America says no to Trump’s ban
In America the legal battle against Trump’s insane decree banning entrance to refugees and citizens from (some) Islamic countries continues. Not only are civil society and its organisations – the ACLU in particular – taking a position, but also the giants of Silicon Valley, from Google to Facebook. The video fromi Al Jazeera.
10. The role of sanctuary cities
In Trump’s America, the role of cities involved in resisting federal policies on immigration are becoming ever more central. Here are 4 ways in which local authorities – and, above all, “sanctuary cities” – can offer protection and integration to migrants, explained in depth at The Nation.
Translation by Alexander Booth.
Header photo via European Liberties Platform.
