On 11-12 November EU and African Heads of Government will meet in Valletta to discuss the refugee and migration crisis.
The International and European Trade Union Confederations (ITUC and ETUC) have made a joint call to European and African leaders to agree concrete measures for dealing with the unprecedented waves of people fleeing war, poverty and persecution.
The trade unions believe that the Governments could agree that
- EU & African states will work together to address the root causes of migration through measures to promote sustainable social and economic development;
- EU states will not take funds away from aid for economic and social development to deal with the crisis;
- EU and African states will mobilise international humanitarian assistance for countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Jordon and Niger that host refugees in great numbers;
- Regular channels will be opened for economic migration between Africa and Europe;
- The EU to commit to a complete overhaul of the EU’s ‘Dublin’ rules for asylum procedures.
The joint ETUC and ITUC statement also highlights the need for
- European Governments to reassure European citizens of their capacity to manage the emergency by: re-establishing mutual trust, and budgetary flexibility to ensure extra resources are spent addressing humanitarian needs without being at the expense of already overstretched services for local communities;
- Employers, trade unions and Government to work together at national and local level to ensure a smooth transition of migrants into the labour market.
“Even while the EU is struggling to get its own act together, it needs to reach a deal with Governments in Africa and the Middle East to manage the crisis on a wider scale” said Liina Carr, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC. “Europe should take a lead in ensuring the crisis is dealt with inside and outside its borders. Europeans have been shocked by the numbers of refugees arriving in Europe, but there are many more in neighbouring states to the east and the south.”
“Restoring peace in conflict areas is in the interests of the whole international community” added Liina Carr. “Investing in democratic and sustainable development is essential to prevent further conflicts.”
