The agreement reached on 20 December between Europe’s national governments and the European Parliament could undermine children’s fair access to asylum across the continent, Ekklesia reports.
The agreement, known as the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, will also systematise the detention of children of all ages at EU borders, lead to egregious violations of children’s rights, endanger children on the move and further divide migrant families. Willy Bergogné, Save the Children Europe’s Director and EU representative, said:
“The European leaders involved in these negotiations claim that the new Pact is a historic agreement on EU migration policy that will establish clear, fair and faster border procedures. This result is deemed crucial to reducing the influx of asylum seekers towards Europe. In fact, the agreement reached today is historically bad. It is evident that for the majority of legislators, the priority was to close borders, not protect people, including families and children escaping violence, conflict, hunger and death while seeking protection in Europe.”
According to Save the Children, the reform could have been an opportunity to provide effective solutions for thousands of children and families trapped in inappropriate and often overcrowded facilities at borders, without adequate access to rights and assistance, as is often the case in Italy, Greece or Spain, and in countries in the Balkans where children are victims of unspeakable violence perpetrated by smugglers and border guards at the EU’s external borders.
The EU had a chance to reassert its role as a defender of children’s rights. Instead, if this reform receives final approval by a majority of MEPs and member states in spring 2024, systematic detention of families with children will become the norm. The new pact abolishes the importance of reuniting children with their families, including siblings.
The lack of mandatory resettlement and effective solidarity in sharing responsibility for hosting people requiring protection in Europe has been rejected by EU member states. Instead, the new law opens the door to the construction of new fences and walls, leaving people stranded on EU borders exposed to inhuman treatment and violence.
The pact risks legitimising existing abuses and perpetuating the cycle of mistreatment of those seeking protection, rather than addressing these failings. Moreover, children will not be exempted from an accelerated assessment of their protection needs at borders. As a result, many will not only not be granted asylum, but will be left without the opportunity to receive education, health care, housing or social support that any other child in Europe can receive. Willy Bergogné said:
“We will continue to stand for all children rights and to assist children on the move in Europe and at borders. A child is a child, no matter where they come from. Every child deserves a fair chance to be safe, protected, have hopes and dreams for a better future in Europe away from home.”
