Brussels, 08/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - In January the EU Office of the Red Cross published a declaration of the Red Cross Member States of the European Union and Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland and Norway in which it expressed its grave concern about the precarious humanitarian situation facing migrants at EU borders and “other situations of serious vulnerability created by some migration policies in a number of EU states”. The declaration asserts that it recognises the right of all states to set up rules of entry to their territory and to protect their citizens but these states must also protect vulnerable migrants. It also underlines the fact that certain repressive measures could lead to the repatriation of people legitimately fleeing persecution. The declaration is therefore appealing to all Member States and European institutions to ensure that their legislation in this matter assures protection of the fundamental rights of vulnerable people and helps to “formulate and implement a coherent and long-term development and migration policy which also includes the humanitarian dimension of migration”.