Twenty European organizations have asked governments in Europe to respect the rights of migrants and refugees crossing borders. The appeal comes ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit on May 17.
Twenty European NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the Children, launched the appeal to European governments through a joint statement ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit on Thursday.
"Following an increase in the arrival of refugees and migrants in the western Balkans and the EU, the issue of border control has gained importance with the result of more investments and cooperation agreements between the Union and Western Balkan countries," the statement said.
''At the same time, refugees and migrants, including children and other vulnerable groups, are dealing with serious risks in the western Balkans and the EU, including violence, repeated rejections and collective expulsions."
The organizations made a number of recommendations for governments that will attend the summit, stressing that ''protecting borders should not be detrimental to the protection of people."
Respecting asylum rights and more human borders
The NGOs appealed to European countries to respect the right to apply for asylum. ''Asylum applicants are often sent away from the border and existing laws are not implemented in a correct manner, with many denying the right to access asylum procedures.''
''The EU and Balkan countries should deploy all necessary measures, including more investments in asylum systems, free legal assistance, in developing capabilities and the institution of monitoring mechanisms that work well to respect obligations on fundamental rights."
The organizations also asked for more sensibility in the management of borders to support trafficking victims with systems to report cases, investigations and to punish border agents that violate their legal obligations.
Safe paths and respect
The NGOs asked in their document for ''safe and regular pathways'' for migrants and refugees who are often ''stuck in limbo in the western Balkans."
''We ask EU member states to open safe, legal and effective pathways also by quickly uniting families, resettling refugees, through humanitarian visas and other forms of support."
The NGOs also asked for funding for asylum and integration systems, to protect organizations working with refugees and migrants, ''withdrawing laws that could arbitrarily limit the rights and fundamental freedoms of civil society."