Thousands have fled into the Italian-Tunisian Lampedusa, now strikes the hour of Frontex, the EU border guard standing at her next assignment, to stop the flow of refugees. Human rights activists are alarmed - they Frontex operations have long been suspect. Berlin / Lampedusa - It will again look very menacing: Heavily armed men in dark uniforms, ships or helicopters - especially in contrast to the wretched refugees in their rickety boats.
Just as in 2006 when EU Frontex border guards had their first big gig. At that time she stood up to refugees seeking the way from Africa to Malta and the Canary Islands - mainly Europe. Even before Lampedusa crossed the Frontex people at the time. The Italian island in the Mediterranean, halfway between Tunisia and Sicily, situated in the coming days once the application of EU border troops.
"The operation will begin in a few days," said Frontex director Ilkka Laitinen, a commission spokesman in Brussels said the same amount. Not until after thousands of Tunisians sent in recent days to Lampedusa Italy translated and calls for help to Europe, Frontex has become a buzz word in politics.
Since there are the border guards, military rule over their operations. Some see in the agency an appropriate means of deterrence, an effective tool to keep unwanted refugees from the continent. Others think Frontex for a symbol of the EU-foreclosure policy, which remains questionable actions against human rights does not stop.
Laitinen, Frontex Director does not understand this criticism. And who on Tuesday witnessed a press conference in Berlin, can the friendly gentleman from Finland actually difficult to imagine as the head of a brutal gang grabs. Laitinen, rimless glasses, gray hair, side parting is the guy-friendly Nokia manager.
He speaks on the edge of the 14th European police congress of the "very serious situation" around Lampedusa, which is why "operation of its employees" was imminent. Of course that emphasizes Laitinen, only in support of the Italian police and border guards. A day or two it will probably take some time before his men were already in Italy.
Frontex is on the border with Greece for months in operation, and this in a moment in which Frontex already on the edge of its capacity a few hundred kilometers to the northeast in use: In the autumn of last year, the EU force of Greece was called in to help: The local authorities could not cope with the growing refugee flows, which flowed over the Turkish-Greek border into Europe.
Since then, there are also German police officers in action, according to the Interior Ministry is currently 23 out of federal and state governments. For since the start of 2005, Frontex staff of the organization, based in Warsaw, although grown to around 220 - but with operations in Greece and now in front of Lampedusa is to rely almost exclusively on police from the EU countries.
Frontex has also not own boats or helicopters, which also lends to the member countries. Still lies in the interior ministry apparently no request for the use of Lampedusa. But he could not "imagine" that German police would not participate in it, says Laitinen, Frontex director at his press conference and a smile.
All the more understandable that the Frontex debate now boils up again in Germany. And some even take the example of Lampedusa as an opportunity to be in principle. Hans-Peter Uhl, for example, internal expert of the CDU. He has a lot left over for EU border guards. Moreover, he wants to expand their powers and ensure that refugee flows can be warded off even better.
His demand: more staff, more responsibilities. But the opponents move. Especially human rights organizations fear that the use of border guards will once again be controlled by anyone really. The Frontex mandates were "deliberately airy, criticized Karl Kopp, European expert at the refugee organization Pro Asyl.
Critics complain again and again the lack of transparency of the operations. Frontex was operating independently often as brutal defensive struggle is being waged, is not really apparent. Kopp asks: "Frontex must be made clear at last, errors must be justiciable." The Green MEP and former Germany-head of Amnesty International, Barbara Lochbihler, and on a Frontex "a high lack of transparency.
You have doubts as to whether the Authority is going more with human rights." Tom Koenigs, Member of Parliament of the Green Party, speaks of "weak "Mechanisms for the control of the operations. the end of the week he will travel to Warsaw to discuss with the Frontex management, as the mandates could be expanded to make them less vulnerable.
If it were up to him, the border guards should in future do not only defensive actions but also the ". Inempfangnahme legitimate refugees organize" pro-asylum-man Kopp recommends fundamentally opposed to avert the humanitarian crisis situation in Lampedusa with police operations - and thus also against Frontex.
"Instead of security forces it needs a rule of law, how to deal with the refugees," he says and pushes behind ".
Just as in 2006 when EU Frontex border guards had their first big gig. At that time she stood up to refugees seeking the way from Africa to Malta and the Canary Islands - mainly Europe. Even before Lampedusa crossed the Frontex people at the time. The Italian island in the Mediterranean, halfway between Tunisia and Sicily, situated in the coming days once the application of EU border troops.
"The operation will begin in a few days," said Frontex director Ilkka Laitinen, a commission spokesman in Brussels said the same amount. Not until after thousands of Tunisians sent in recent days to Lampedusa Italy translated and calls for help to Europe, Frontex has become a buzz word in politics.
Since there are the border guards, military rule over their operations. Some see in the agency an appropriate means of deterrence, an effective tool to keep unwanted refugees from the continent. Others think Frontex for a symbol of the EU-foreclosure policy, which remains questionable actions against human rights does not stop.
Laitinen, Frontex Director does not understand this criticism. And who on Tuesday witnessed a press conference in Berlin, can the friendly gentleman from Finland actually difficult to imagine as the head of a brutal gang grabs. Laitinen, rimless glasses, gray hair, side parting is the guy-friendly Nokia manager.
He speaks on the edge of the 14th European police congress of the "very serious situation" around Lampedusa, which is why "operation of its employees" was imminent. Of course that emphasizes Laitinen, only in support of the Italian police and border guards. A day or two it will probably take some time before his men were already in Italy.
Frontex is on the border with Greece for months in operation, and this in a moment in which Frontex already on the edge of its capacity a few hundred kilometers to the northeast in use: In the autumn of last year, the EU force of Greece was called in to help: The local authorities could not cope with the growing refugee flows, which flowed over the Turkish-Greek border into Europe.
Since then, there are also German police officers in action, according to the Interior Ministry is currently 23 out of federal and state governments. For since the start of 2005, Frontex staff of the organization, based in Warsaw, although grown to around 220 - but with operations in Greece and now in front of Lampedusa is to rely almost exclusively on police from the EU countries.
Frontex has also not own boats or helicopters, which also lends to the member countries. Still lies in the interior ministry apparently no request for the use of Lampedusa. But he could not "imagine" that German police would not participate in it, says Laitinen, Frontex director at his press conference and a smile.
All the more understandable that the Frontex debate now boils up again in Germany. And some even take the example of Lampedusa as an opportunity to be in principle. Hans-Peter Uhl, for example, internal expert of the CDU. He has a lot left over for EU border guards. Moreover, he wants to expand their powers and ensure that refugee flows can be warded off even better.
His demand: more staff, more responsibilities. But the opponents move. Especially human rights organizations fear that the use of border guards will once again be controlled by anyone really. The Frontex mandates were "deliberately airy, criticized Karl Kopp, European expert at the refugee organization Pro Asyl.
Critics complain again and again the lack of transparency of the operations. Frontex was operating independently often as brutal defensive struggle is being waged, is not really apparent. Kopp asks: "Frontex must be made clear at last, errors must be justiciable." The Green MEP and former Germany-head of Amnesty International, Barbara Lochbihler, and on a Frontex "a high lack of transparency.
You have doubts as to whether the Authority is going more with human rights." Tom Koenigs, Member of Parliament of the Green Party, speaks of "weak "Mechanisms for the control of the operations. the end of the week he will travel to Warsaw to discuss with the Frontex management, as the mandates could be expanded to make them less vulnerable.
If it were up to him, the border guards should in future do not only defensive actions but also the ". Inempfangnahme legitimate refugees organize" pro-asylum-man Kopp recommends fundamentally opposed to avert the humanitarian crisis situation in Lampedusa with police operations - and thus also against Frontex.
"Instead of security forces it needs a rule of law, how to deal with the refugees," he says and pushes behind ".
- Italy alert over Tunisia migrants (14/02/2011)
- Italy alert over Tunisia migrants - BBC News (14/02/2011)
- Italy asks EU for ¿100m to tackle Tunisia's 'biblical exodus' immigrants (15/02/2011)
- Tunisians thank Italy as EU responds to exodus - USA Today (15/02/2011)
- Italy asks for 100m euros to tackle 'biblical exodus' of Tunisians heading to Europe (15/02/2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment