Dear All,
As Coordinamento Migranti we discussed the possibility of organizing actions during the meeting of the EU council on October 24/25. However, we finally decided not to do it for reasons that concern organization. Furthermore, we really doubt that this kind of pressure could have any effect, though we agree with our German comrades that an opposition to the current government of migration is always useful, mainly when migrants are actively involved. This is our main point: we believe that even what happened in Lampedusa must be connected with migrants’ general struggles. We believe that what happened in Lampedusa is not a humanitarian problem, but the most horrible face of the wider problem concerning the repression and exploitation of migrants’ global movement.
We do not support or subscribe the call for a humanitarian corridor for two main reasons. First, it propose a distinction between migrants and refugees that cannot be sustained, and so it accepts the externalization of the borders toward third countries against which we fought in the last years. Furthermore, asylum seekers would hardly succeed in applying to the EU embassy in the country where they are oppressed, or they would run the risk of being repressed even more and more. If they apply in transit countries, what then? Should they wait an answer in a camp built by the EU in Libia, or Tunisia? In this case, camps would have an extra-territorial statute within the hosting States. Is this realistic? Is this what we actually want? In general terms, those who are escaping have no time or possibility to stop into an office for an application. We support their right to escape, but could it depend on European authorization? Beyond the good intentions of those who formulated and are supporting the proposal of a humanitarian corridor, we believe that it is politically unpracticable.
What Bernd suggest seems much more interesting, since it faces the question of borders directly and refuses both the logic of emergency (which is implicit in the call for a humanitarian corridor) and whatever proposal which could enforce rather than question the selective function of European borders. It is just against this function of selection and differentiation that on March 23 we tried to connect the struggles of migrant workers here in Italy with those of the refugees in Amsterdam and Berlin. Bernd’s proposals is open to some of the risks stressed above about the humanitarian corridor. However, it could be a good provocation when connected to the break of the link between labour contract and residence permit claimed by migrants already living in Europe, since they would point out not only at the border experience but also at the everyday condition of migrants within the EU borders. We believe that these questions should be taken into the account if we wish to assume the right European and transnational dimension of this struggle.
All the best
Paola (Coordinamento Migranti)
Il Martedì 22 Ottobre 2013 14:01, Martina Tazzioli <martinatazzioli@yahoo.it> ha scritto:
Dear all,
yesterday evening we finalized our call for the protest that we will do in Milan (and we hope also in other parts of Italy) on the 25th of October . We will try to involve also the Syrian refugee now in Milan
http://leventicinqueundici.noblogs.org/ (there is also the text in English)
as you can see in the text we mention the other demonstration that will take place in Germany. We have also published on our blog the appeal made by Syrians blocked in Calais that I met last Sunday there
we hope that this is a first step to build coordinated action/statements in the near future
all the best,
Martina
Il , Martina Tazzioli <martinatazzioli@yahoo.it> ha scritto:
Il Martedì 22 Ottobre 2013 12:44, bernd kasparek <bk@antira.info> ha scritto:
ok, let me try again...
thank you very much for making this a topic on the list. Coincidentally,
we will have a demonstration in Munich on the 26th of October.
here is the call, we are also looking for support (not exclusively from
Munich)
http://lampedusa.karawane-muenchen.org/call/
Building on what Hagen said, public opinion in Germany seems very
favourable these days, there are a lot of very strong articles in the
media, and journalists are writing/calling for more information
constantly. It is good that there has been so much knowledge and
information gathering from the movement over the last years, since now
we can answer, give the right information, offer political opinion on it.
While I strongly support the notion of seizing this favourable moment
and get out on the streets, etc, I also think we need to discuss how we
can carry that moment beyond the point in time when public attention
will inevitably fade again. As Martina rightly pointed out, the EU
council will seek mitigating strategies that will not solve the issue at
hand, might probably disguise and worsen it. There will be a new push
for externalisation. To counter this, we will need to reconnect the
struggles of the borders with the struggles against the attacks on
mobility rights within the EU, and Europe.
On a personal note, I am not convinced that a humanitarian corridor is
the right demand in this hour, for it will merely add to the already
differentiated character of the border, without questioning its
selective nature at all. We would need to find a demand that is more in
line with the movements of migration towards europe, challenging the
border at large. If we are into reforms, it should rather be something
like the right to obtain, at the border and unconditionally, a temporary
visa for the purpose of applying for asylum in Europe at a place of
one's own choice. This would not create limited spots and institutions
at the border through which a certain mobile population can be funneled
and ultimately governed, and it would at the same time undermine the
Dublin principle of "country of first entry". Even if this is still not
a very realistic demand, the discussion would exploit the rift within
the border regime: Those that favour a strong border and border police,
and those that are sceptical that such a practice can deliver on
Europe's humanitarian obligations. The argument would be that despite
the obligation to grant access to asylum (see Hirsi vs. Italy), border
police is neither willing nor capable (due to their task) to fulfill. So
why not take that task off their hands by unconditionally legalising
asylum migration through the institution of such a visa. We would also
avoid the stupid discussion about whether Frontex can be reformed.
Admittedly, this is only a half-cooked idea, and more of an invitation
to discuss. I guess we should be seeking out venues where we can
continue this discussion, and document it to some extent.
best wishes
Bernd
On 19.10.2013 19:13, Martina Tazzioli wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I write to the list because since on the 24th and on the 25th of
> October there will be the EU Council in Bruxelles concerning future
> measures on migration following the tragedy of Lampedusa, Federica and
> I, as part of the group Leventincinqueundici were thinking about
> organizing some common actions across Europe outside European embassy
> and consulates.
>
> We think that the next EU meeting will pave the ground for an increasing
> militarization of the Mediterranean (enforcement of Frontex and
> deployments of drones as Italy has already started to do the last week).
> Thus, although we are aware that many of you are already involved in
> other actions at the moment, like the refugee struggles in Germany, the
> EU meeting won't be exclusively on Lampedusa and Italy but will concern
> migration policies at large.
> For this reason we think that even if a common action is not possible at
> this point, maybe a series of decentralized actions and sit-in could be
> also fine (we know that there will be some protests in Frankfurt and in
> other towns in Germany during those days). however, we were wondering
> if, at least, it would be possible to address our protests against
> what's happening now at the European level after Lampedusa. We, as a
> group, will also support the Meltingpot statement
> http://www.meltingpot.org/Portiamo-l-appello-per-un-canale-umanitario-sul-tavolo-del.html#.UmK78fk71qU
>
> but we would also like to do something more than sending or bringing
> this to the EU... so, I don't know if the struggle against the
> militarization of the Mediterranean could be supported also in your
> struggles the next week. We will try to involve also the families of the
> missing migrants, since it would be very important that it is a struggle
> from one shore to the other.
>
> We hope that it will be possible to do something in connection with you
>
> all the best,
> Martina
thank you very much for making this a topic on the list. Coincidentally,
we will have a demonstration in Munich on the 26th of October.
here is the call, we are also looking for support (not exclusively from
Munich)
http://lampedusa.karawane-muenchen.org/call/
Building on what Hagen said, public opinion in Germany seems very
favourable these days, there are a lot of very strong articles in the
media, and journalists are writing/calling for more information
constantly. It is good that there has been so much knowledge and
information gathering from the movement over the last years, since now
we can answer, give the right information, offer political opinion on it.
While I strongly support the notion of seizing this favourable moment
and get out on the streets, etc, I also think we need to discuss how we
can carry that moment beyond the point in time when public attention
will inevitably fade again. As Martina rightly pointed out, the EU
council will seek mitigating strategies that will not solve the issue at
hand, might probably disguise and worsen it. There will be a new push
for externalisation. To counter this, we will need to reconnect the
struggles of the borders with the struggles against the attacks on
mobility rights within the EU, and Europe.
On a personal note, I am not convinced that a humanitarian corridor is
the right demand in this hour, for it will merely add to the already
differentiated character of the border, without questioning its
selective nature at all. We would need to find a demand that is more in
line with the movements of migration towards europe, challenging the
border at large. If we are into reforms, it should rather be something
like the right to obtain, at the border and unconditionally, a temporary
visa for the purpose of applying for asylum in Europe at a place of
one's own choice. This would not create limited spots and institutions
at the border through which a certain mobile population can be funneled
and ultimately governed, and it would at the same time undermine the
Dublin principle of "country of first entry". Even if this is still not
a very realistic demand, the discussion would exploit the rift within
the border regime: Those that favour a strong border and border police,
and those that are sceptical that such a practice can deliver on
Europe's humanitarian obligations. The argument would be that despite
the obligation to grant access to asylum (see Hirsi vs. Italy), border
police is neither willing nor capable (due to their task) to fulfill. So
why not take that task off their hands by unconditionally legalising
asylum migration through the institution of such a visa. We would also
avoid the stupid discussion about whether Frontex can be reformed.
Admittedly, this is only a half-cooked idea, and more of an invitation
to discuss. I guess we should be seeking out venues where we can
continue this discussion, and document it to some extent.
best wishes
Bernd
On 19.10.2013 19:13, Martina Tazzioli wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I write to the list because since on the 24th and on the 25th of
> October there will be the EU Council in Bruxelles concerning future
> measures on migration following the tragedy of Lampedusa, Federica and
> I, as part of the group Leventincinqueundici were thinking about
> organizing some common actions across Europe outside European embassy
> and consulates.
>
> We think that the next EU meeting will pave the ground for an increasing
> militarization of the Mediterranean (enforcement of Frontex and
> deployments of drones as Italy has already started to do the last week).
> Thus, although we are aware that many of you are already involved in
> other actions at the moment, like the refugee struggles in Germany, the
> EU meeting won't be exclusively on Lampedusa and Italy but will concern
> migration policies at large.
> For this reason we think that even if a common action is not possible at
> this point, maybe a series of decentralized actions and sit-in could be
> also fine (we know that there will be some protests in Frankfurt and in
> other towns in Germany during those days). however, we were wondering
> if, at least, it would be possible to address our protests against
> what's happening now at the European level after Lampedusa. We, as a
> group, will also support the Meltingpot statement
> http://www.meltingpot.org/Portiamo-l-appello-per-un-canale-umanitario-sul-tavolo-del.html#.UmK78fk71qU
>
> but we would also like to do something more than sending or bringing
> this to the EU... so, I don't know if the struggle against the
> militarization of the Mediterranean could be supported also in your
> struggles the next week. We will try to involve also the families of the
> missing migrants, since it would be very important that it is a struggle
> from one shore to the other.
>
> We hope that it will be possible to do something in connection with you
>
> all the best,
> Martina