Strasbourg, 08/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 8 September in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted a resolution on the fundamental rights situation in the EU during the 2013-2014 period. In this resolution, they highlight the effects of austerity measures and policies responsible for expelling migrants.
In a non-binding resolution put forward by Laura Ferrara (EFDD, Italy) and adopted by a large majority (369 votes for, 291 against, with 58 abstentions), the European Parliament asserted that “the fundamental rights of asylum seekers in the EU could be under threat by the conditions in reception centres, hasty expulsions, barbed wire and other measures of dissuasion”.
The MEPs highlight “the fears regarding the consequences of austerity measures on the economic, civil, social and cultural rights of citizens”. They also call on the European Commission to draw up a scoreboard in an effort to help ensure respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU. At more general level, they request the EU and member states to “Put solidarity and respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers at the heart of Union migration policies”. They also gave their support to “proactive migratory measures to avoid further tragedies at sea”. They call for “an efficient and harmonised asylum system at a Union level that underpins the fair distribution of asylum seekers between the member states”.
With regard to the financial crisis, MEPs deplore the way in which the sovereign debt crisis, as well as certain budgetary restrictions, have had “a negative impact on economic, civil and social rights”. During the adoption and implementation of the corrective measures and budgetary reductions, the MEPs argue that the EU institutions and member states ought to carry out an impact analysis on fundamental rights and ensure that sufficient resources are available to guarantee respect of fundamental rights. (Solenn Paulic)