With the arrival in Spain of the migrants rescued by the humanitarian vessel Aquarius, a new debate is opened on migration in the European Union

The 630 migrants rescued on the night of June 9 to 10 in front of Libya by the humanitarian vessel Aquarius, arrived on June 19 in Spain on three ships and in the midst of tensions in the European Union (EU) on the immigration issue. Spain decided to welcome them, after Italy and Malta refused on June 12 to disembark in their territory. It is worth clarifying that Spain will receive them for a provisional period of 45 days, after which the immigration law will be applied.

Leer en español: ¿Europa ha dejado de ser una región que protege los derechos humanos?

"The Aquarius has shown the most supportive face of Spain, which has assumed the role that no other country wanted. And to that platform have wanted to raise from politicians of all the parties to NGOs, passing through associations of all kinds", said Neus Fabregas, Councilor in International Cooperation of the Valencia City Hall. In addition, Fábregas said that the Spanish gesture opens the possibility of changing immigration policies not only in Spain but across the EU, taking IGNORE INTO account the tensions that arose because of the Aquarius.

Spain vs the European Union

Ximo Puig, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, and Mónica Oltra, mayor of Valencia, wanted to take advantage of the humanitarian gesture to improve the image of Valencia, which has been heavily influenced by the many cases of corruption. For his part, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has used the arrival of Aquarius to try to lead a change in the migratory strategies in Europe and boost his necessary political project, taking IGNORE INTO account the situation that the continent is experiencing due to migration, where the right-wing has been imposed in national elections to stop any imposition of migrants in its territory.

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The Spanish gesture has been applauded internally and abroad has generated reactions from neighboring governments. Emmanuel Macron, president of France, confirmed by means of an official communique that he offers to welcome the shipwrecked person from the Aquarius who want to move to France, and Sanchez thanked him in a telegram. However, the tension generated by the Aquarius caused clashes between Italy and France, since the two countries differ in European migration policy. Italy has been emphatic in saying that it will only receive migrants picked up by the national naval force and not by the boats of NGOs because it ensures that these are encouraging irregular migration.

"The migratory policies of the EU countries in the Mediterranean are close to what would be a migratory genocide. Our rulers are forcing us to witness impassively the abandonment and death of our brothers at sea. Europe has ceased to be a reference territory in the safeguarding of human rights," said Gema Siscar, head of the CIEs NO campaign in Valencia, which is fighting to close the foreigners' detention centers (CIE). For Siscar, the Aquarius is the opportunity to force Europe to return to be a territory of guarantee of fundamental rights.

Both Siscar and Neus Fábregas agree that, unfortunately, the migration and refuge competences are state-owned and are not solving the problem that is experienced worldwide against migrants, who really seek to consolidate a better situation for refugees, because the reason of them for leaving of their original territory lies in leaving behind a precarious situation where their lives are their only real possession. "While cities try to improve the lives of people who flee, foreign and internal policies are increasingly exclusionary, violent and even, kill, not in its term of being, but to exist," said Fábregas.

European and state policies are failing miserably. While millions of euros are dedicated in the general budget of the State to borders, foreigners' detention centers and deportations, it has not been sought how to solve the fundamental problem protecting the human being, as Europe did for many years championing the protection of fundamental rights. "This history is reflected in the laws that protected the individual during the last quarter of the 20th century," said Fábregas.

In total, there are 450 adult men, 80 women (at least seven of them pregnant), 11 children under 13 years old and 89 teenagers, the rescued by the Aquarius. These people come from 26 countries, mainly African, such as Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea, South Sudan and Algeria. There are also citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Latin American Post | Carlos Eduardo Gómez Avella

Translated from "¿Europa ha dejado de ser una región que protege los derechos humanos?"