Brussels, 4 December 2013 – The European Commission today presented proposals on the new EU ‘Mediterranean Taskforce’, which was established in response to the latest refugee disaster off the coast of Lampedusa. Commenting on the proposals, Green migration policy spokesperson Ska Keller said: “This Taskforce shows the Commission has sadly…

Having been at Melilla several times, I have again been speechless facing this enormious fence and it’s consequences for security- and perspective-seeking refugees. I was there with Juantxo. Take a look at the video or this article’s .pdf [in ES]  

For some weeks, hatred has been stirred up against a planned refugee center in Pätz, an urban district of the municipality of Bestensee in Brandenburg, Germany. From spring 2014 about 150 people from conflict areas shall be accomodated in a former training facility that was already converted into a dormitory…

PRESS RELEASE – Strasbourg, 10 October 2013 The European Parliament today endorsed a legislative agreement on setting up a new European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR). The Greens have criticised the focus of the proposed system and hit out at weak provisions on assisting refugees in distress at sea. Commenting after…

After hundreds of migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean, not far from Lampedusa, the question remains whose fault it was and what should be done to prevent further catastrophes. For that, we need to both look at the situation in the Mediterranean and at the reasons that brought migrants to…

On 25th and 26th of September, I visited Melilla, North Africa, for the second time. My first stay in the Spanish exclave was in 2005, back when the first “jumps” occurred. This term describes the attempt of many dozens or hundreds of migrants to overcome the fence that surrounds Melilla…

Question for written answer to the Commission | Rule 117 Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE/NGL) , Cecilia Wikström (ALDE) , Franziska Keller (Verts/ALE) , Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL) , Sylvie Guillaume (S&D) , Hélène Flautre (Verts/ALE) , Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) , Barbara Lochbihler (Verts/ALE) , Judith Sargentini (Verts/ALE) Subject:  Intended pushback by the…

The European Commission proposes new technologies for the surveillance and control of travellers at the EU external borders. With the so called “smart borders” package all foreigners will be registered with fingerprints when entering or leaving the EU. It is envisaged that in the future the police could also get…

All over the world human beings have to flee. They flee war, persecution, oppression, climate change, poverty. Most of these people go to the next city or neighbor region. Only a few cross borders and go to the neighbor country. And of these few people even fewer come to Europe.…