The 12th conference of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration – IASFM12: Transforming Boundaries – will be hosted by the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, from 28 June to 2 July 2009.
Click here for conference information.
Category Archives: States
12th Conf. of International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (Cyprus 28/6-2/7) (Conferences)
Filed under Colloques / Conferences, Cyprus
L’Algérie ne veut plus jouer le gendarme de l’Europe (News)
“[L]e ministre chargé des Affaires maghrébines et africaines, Abdelkader Messahel … [d]ans un point de presse … avec le directeur général de l’Organisation internationale pour les migrations (OIM), William Lacy Swing, en visite en Algérie, … a appuyé l’approche « globale » basée sur le développement telle qu’elle a été adoptée par l’Union africaine. Ce sera, d’après lui, la seule plateforme de discussions entre le continent africain et les partenaires européens et internationaux.
“« Désormais, notre priorité est que la question du développement soit au centre du règlement et de la solution des problèmes migratoires. »
“Ainsi, après avoir privilégié l’approche strictement sécuritaire telle que dictée par l’Union européenne à travers notamment les centres d’accueil et les lois répressives contre les candidats à l’immigration clandestine, l’Algérie et les pays du Maghreb surtout renvoient la balle aux Occidentaux pour apporter leur contribution.
Click here for El Watan article.
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Swedish and Maltese PMs Meet to Discuss Stockholm Plan (News)
Maltese PM Lawrence Gonzi is meeting with Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt in Sweden in advance of Sweden’s 1st July assumption of the EU presidency. Irregular immigration and the Stockholm programme, the new 5 year plan for EC Justice and Home Affairs replacing the Hague Programme, are being discussed.
Click here for Times of Malta article.
Click here for additional information from Statewatch about the Stockholm Programme’s process and contents.
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Filed under European Union, Malta, News, Sweden
Nouvelles mesures en cours de négociation entre l’Algérie et l’Italie: organisation de patrouilles maritimes (News)
“Ces mesures devront compléter et renforcer celles déjà prévues dans l’accord de réadmission signé entre les deux pays le 24 février 2000, entré en application sept années plus tard. Parmi elles, il est notamment question de l’organisation de patrouilles maritimes communes des deux côtés de la méditerranée.”
Click here for El Watan article.
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Filed under Algeria, Mediterranean, News
Greek Dep. Foreign Minister’s ‘Six Point Plan for Illegal Migration in Agean’ (News)
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis G. Valinakis has written an article in an Athens daily paper proposing a “Six-point plan on illegal migration in the Aegean.”
The most troubling of the six points is a call for the use of “a ship of sufficient tonnage to be used as a first reception and transport centre [which would] sail near the islands of the Aegean where illegal migrants have been arrested, it will take them on board and carry them to the reception centres already in, or due to be put into, operation.”
Such a proposal is reminiscent of a similar practice used by the US Government in late 1991 when the US intercepted at sea thousands of Haitians fleeing a bloody military coup d’état. In an effort to prevent the Haitians from reaching shore, US Coast Guard and US Naval ships detained Haitians on board large naval vessels in steadily worsening conditions. Ultimately most of the Haitians were transferred to migrant detention camps at the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Other points proposed by the Deputy Foreign Minister include:
- “Immediate relaunching of EU-Turkey negotiations on the conclusion of a readmission agreement and an immediate implementation of the existing Greek-Turkish Readmission Protocol.
- “Use of a specific port on the Turkish coast for the return of illegal migrants who have reached [Greece] through Turkey.
- “Intensification of joint operations on a permanent basis under FRONTEX … on the way towards the creation of a European Coastguard.
- “Proposal for the creation of a specialised FRONTEX branch in Greece.”
Click here for the full text of the article on the Ministry’s web site.
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Filed under Aegean Sea, Frontex, Greece, News, Turkey
Maltese Patrol Boats Funded by EU External Borders Fund (News)
Four new patrol boats for the Armed Forces of Malta are scheduled to be delivered in six months. The boats cost €9.6 million. 75% of the cost is coming from the EU External Borders Fund.
Click here for Times of Malta article.
Click here for EC Justice and Home Affairs External Borders Fund site.
Click here for the 2008 “Annual Work Programme for Community actions and Specific Actions within the framework of the External Borders Fund”.
Click here for Austal ship builder Media Release.
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Filed under European Union, Malta, Mediterranean, News
Swedish Migration Minister in Malta for Migration Talks (News)
Swedish Migration Minister Tobias Billström completed a two day visit to Malta ahead of Sweden’s 1st July assumption of the EU Presidency. The recently approved EU pilot project where refugees are to be transferred from Malta to other EU member states on a voluntary basis was reviewed.
Click here for Times of Malta article. Click here for www.di-ve.com article.
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Filed under European Union, Mediterranean, News, Sweden
First Summit Meeting Between Spanish PM and ECOWAS (News)
West African ECOWAS leaders met with Spanish PM on 22 June. Spain pledged 262 million euros for projects in ECOWAS nations. Increasing ties with west African countries is a priority for Spain due in part to efforts to reduce illegal migration from the area.
“Stepped-up surveillance and cooperation with African nations has meant the number of migrants reaching the Canaries dropped to 9,181 last year from to 12,478 in 2007 and 31,678 in 2006, Spain said in January.”
Click here for full article.
Click here for brief Spanish Foreign Ministry media release.
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Filed under Eastern Atlantic, ECOWAS, News, Spain
Forum Réfugiés: 9e rapport annuel sur l’asile en France et en Europe (Reports)
“A l’occasion de la Journée mondiale du réfugié, Forum réfugiés publie son 9e rapport annuel sur l’asile en France et en Europe. Seul document en France à faire un état des lieux précis du dossier de l’asile et des réfugiés, ce rapport reprend tous les indicateurs et statistiques indispensables à un débat objectif sur les migrations forcées.
“Dans ce document, Forum réfugiés fait le bilan du droit d’asile en France, chez nos voisins européens et dans le monde, de janvier 2008 à mai 2009. A travers des chronologies, cartes et tableaux statistiques, ce rapport remet un an d’actualité en perspectives et pose des balises indispensables à la compréhension des débats actuels et des enjeux à venir.”
The full text of the 2009 report does not seem to be posted on the web site.
Click here for more information and for le Dossier de presse Lyon.
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Creation of Joint European Coast Guard Premature (News)
The Greek PM’s request at the recent European Council Summit to create a joint European coast guard was regarded as “premature”.
Click here for Kathimerini article.
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Filed under European Union, Greece, Mediterranean, News
¿First Frontex Forced Repatriation Operation? (18 June Repatriation Near Malta) (News)
Malta Today reported that the forced repatriation operation involving 74 migrants that took place on 18 June was the first time that Frontex ever coordinated a forced repatriation operation at sea.
“Even though the migrants were intercepted by an Italian coast guard boat, the same migrants, that included women and children, were identified by a Frontex asset that followed the operation through.”
The operation, part of Nautilus IV, used a German helicopter, the Italian coast guard, and a Libyan patrol boat.
Click here for article.
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AI USA: Lives in danger as European governments deny refugees protection (Statements)
AI USA Statement on World Refugee Day
19 June 2009
“[***] Countries at Europe’s border are showing a flagrant disregard for their international obligations towards refugees:
“*Italy is intercepting refugees in international waters and physically transporting them, without assessing their protection needs, to Libya, where migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees are at risk of ill-treatment and forcible return to countries where they risk serious human rights abuses.
“*Turkey continues not to recognize people from outside Europe as refugees, meaning thousands of people are denied the protection they need.
“*Greece pushes back people at its land border and sea borders with Turkey without first assessing their asylum claims. For those that do enter the country there are many legal obstacles for refugees to gain protection.
“*Spain’s bilateral agreements with several countries in Africa are used to justify the arbitrary arrest, detention and deportation of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in these countries.
“*Other countries in the European Union (E.U.) turn a blind eye to the increasing lack of respect for the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers at the E.U.’s borders as they attempt to receive fewer refugees themselves. Every year, thousands of asylum seekers are transferred under the “Dublin II” system to countries where the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers are inadequately protected.
“On World Refugee Day, Amnesty International warns E.U. states that their actions are undermining the protection of refugees not only in their own countries but across the world, by sending a dangerous message on the treatment of refugees. All countries must meet their obligations towards refugees and asylum-seekers not only within their own borders but wherever they exercise effective control.
“Background
“Italy [***] Between May 6-11, approximately 500 people were intercepted by Italy [in international waters] after they sent rescue requests and were transported to Libya, where Italy claimed they could seek protection. They included people from Somalia, Eritrea and other African countries. [***]
“Turkey [***] Turkey is effectively the only state party to the Refugee Convention that does not recognize people from outside Europe as refugees, meaning thousands in need of protection are denied it. Asylum-seekers are often arbitrarily detained for extended periods in poor conditions, and subjected to ill-treatment. Further, forcible returns of individuals from Turkey to countries where they face serious human rights abuses are common. [***]
“Greece [***] Currently Greece is attempting to amend domestic law to further restrict protection by eliminating the right to an effective substantive appeal in the asylum system, in breach of international and European law. Furthermore, serious concerns over the detention conditions of asylum-seekers and migrants continue to exist. [***]”
Click here for link to AI USA statement on their web page.
Click here for more detailed AI USA press release.
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Filed under Eastern Atlantic, European Union, Greece, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean, Spain, Statements, Turkey
France may take asylum seekers from Malta per pilot EU project (News)
“The details will be finalised on Friday when French Immigration Minister Eric Besson flies to Malta for a one-day meeting with Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici. [***]
“Immigration will be high on the government’s agenda this week, as Dr Mifsud Bonnici will also host Swedish Migration Tobias Billström tomorrow and Tuesday to discuss the EU Stockholm programme, before Sweden takes over the EU Presidency on July 1.
“This programme is a five-year strategy with precise goals in the areas of freedom, justice and security. The plan has to be endorsed by member states by the end of this year.”
Click here for full text of Times of Malta article.
Click here for text of approved European Commission communications setting priorities for the proposed future Stockholm Programme which will establish a framework for EU action on citizenship, justice, security, asylum and immigration for the next five years.
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Filed under European Union, France, Malta, Mediterranean, News
Greek PM Karamanlis satisfied with EU Summit decisions (News)
Greek PM Karamanlis is satisfied with EU Summit decisions and with agreements to more equally share illegal immigration burdens, stepped up guarding of borders via the Frontex initiative, and commencement of jointly chartered flights by EU governments to repatriate illegal immigrants.
Click here for article.
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Filed under European Union, Greece, Mediterranean, News
Respinti 76 migranti Erano su un barcone segnalato ieri al largo di Lampedusa (News)
ANSA – PALERMO, 19 GIU – Nuovo respingimento nel Canale di Sicilia: un barcone con 76 migranti, e’ stato intercettato da una motovedetta della Guardia Costiera.Il barcone era stato segnalato ieri a 29 miglia a Sud di Lampedusa, in acque di competenza maltese per quanto riguarda le operazioni di ricerca e soccorso. Secondo fonti militari maltesi, gli extracomunitari, tra cui donne e bambini, sarebbero stati consegnati a una motovedetta libica e riportati a Tripoli.
Click here for link.
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Filed under Italy, Malta, Mediterranean, News
MIGRANTS AT SEA 