Brussels, 23/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to examine more closely the accusations made at the start of July by two NGOs - PRO ASYL, of Germany, and the Greek Refugee Council - against Italy and its practice of systematically returning migrants arriving on its shores to Greece. The Commission will investigate the situation described by the two NGOs in a report published on 3 July, the spokesperson's department of Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said on Monday 23 July. It was made clear, however, that, at this stage, it will not be a formal investigation.
In their report, the two NGOs accused Italy of systematically sending migrants arriving in Italian ports back to Greece, where reception conditions are notoriously bad, with no prior assessment of their situation. The NGOs accuse the Italian authorities of failing to meet basic standards of international protection by not interviewing the people who arrive in Italy and also of being guilty of maltreatment of the migrants. Equally, the Italian authorities make no distinction between adults and children. Even unaccompanied children are treated as if they were adults, the NGOs claimed. They say that Italy's actions are in total violation of European and international laws, such as the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Commission has taken note of the report and will, if necessary, make use of all that is allowed by the Treaty, it says. The Commission reminds member states of their obligations on international protection, with the needs of asylum applicants always having to be assessed and the right of appeal made available. Member states must also never lose sight of the over-riding interest of the child. (SP/transl.rt)