The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and Commissioners Johannes Hahn (Neighbourhood Policy) and Dimitris Avramopoulos (Migration) called on Member States and international organisations in a joint statement on Friday 26 July to “ensure adequate search and rescue capabilities, as well as safe and dignified alternatives to dangerous sea crossings, in the form of resettlement and voluntary returns outside Libya, to avoid further loss of life”, as 100 to 150 migrants were reported missing off Libya after another shipwreck according to information received the day before.
For the three leaders, this shipwreck is “a terrible reminder of the risks faced by migrants seeking to arrive in Europe”.
The EU, they say, is “ready to assist the Libyan authorities in developing solutions to create safe and dignified alternatives to detention”. It will continue to work with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to protect and evacuate migrants detained in Libya.
According to IOM, which collected testimonies from the 145 migrants rescued by the Libyan coastguard and brought back to Khoms, there were still some 150 migrants on board. This shipwreck is therefore reportedly the most significant since the beginning of the year.
Review the ‘facilitation’ directive
In addition, more than 100 organisations from various European countries, including CIRÉ, the League for Human Rights, Oxfam Solidarité-Solidariteit and Médecins du Monde Belgium called for an end to the criminalisation of solidarity with migrants in Europe on 26 July. They call on the newly elected President, Ursula von der Leyen, to reform the 2002 Facilitation Directive (Directive on the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence), which allows Member States to criminalise humanitarian aid. These NGOs indicate that 158 Europeans have been prosecuted since 2015. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)