The majority of members of the European Parliament called on member states to stop cooperating with Libya to curb irregular migration attempts and criticized the funding of the Libyan coast guard forces which are accused of violating human rights and their violent handling of migrants and asylum seekers.
Humanitarian organizations filed a complaint expressing their concerns about transferring European funds for development to security programs that do not respect human rights.
The Liberties Committee of the European Parliament stressed that “Libya is not a safe country for landing people that get rescued at sea”, and demanded in a statement to stop supporting the Libyan coast guard, who received material supplies and equipment from the European side, in addition to training support .
The demands were not limited to the cessation of cooperation with Libya, but members of Parliament highlighted the difficulties faced by European countries, which are often reached by boats of migrants fleeing Libya, especially Malta and Italy. They stressed the need to amend the unified European asylum system, with a focus on solidarity Between Member States and respect for international law.
It is noteworthy that, since the beginning of the year, more than 3.200 people have arrived by sea, and 1.100 people have arrived in Malta, according to official figures.
Amnesty International stressed the need to review the plan put in place by Member States to limit attempts to irregular migration, border management and control, and considered that during the past three years, these policies have resulted in endangering the lives of “tens of thousands of women, men and children in a country where they have been subjected to horrific violations”.
In July 2017, the European Union allocated 91.3 million euros for the “Libyan Border and Immigration Management” (GIF) program, which will continue until the end of 2021, and the aim of this program is to improve Libya’s ability to control its borders and save the shipwrecked at sea, in a manner that is completely consistent with international human rights obligations and standards.
This money has also been allocated by the European Development Fund to ensure stability and to combat the root causes of irregular migration and internally displaced persons from Africa (EUTFA).
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