European Business; at cost of immigration

The issue of immigration and influx of immigrants from Africa have been headache to Europe for the last decades. The EU has been looking down to Libya both for business partnership and cooperation to combat the flow of immigrants from Africa. As business by nature is bilateral, EU is making the bilateral relationship with Libya at the expense of immigrants. This is clearly seen than, EU needs more oil from Libya and less immigrants.

Starting from June 7th, 2010 EU has been in hot debate with Tripoli as so as end with stable agreement that should create sustainable cooperation expected to be signed by the end of this fiscal year. It is good to hear such huge agreement, but as it excluded the issue of mixed migration, it should be condemned. Libya at the same time terminated the presence of UN Refugee Agency in its territory by criticizing its activity is illegal. At the time of its closure, media expressed its concern and the Refugee Agency also expressed its fear of the future of asylum seekers and refugees in Libya left without any help. If concern with words are not followed by some critical step in pressurizing Libya either to sign refugee convention 1951 or allow UNHCR to operate as before, all the official press release will remain as normal word.

It is clear now that, EU firms who are getting much of their revenues from great oil exporter Libya, the issue of immigration at this moment is good most for EU countries. Italy, as the first place where immigrants and potential refugees arrive has already assured its push-back policy and the country is continuing to dump intercepted refugees to Libyan detentions. Last weeks, more than 20 refugees and potential refugee we intercepted and pushed back for detention, UNHCR is already closed- NO MORE PROTECTION!!!

The case of Eritreans and Somalis remain highly volatile and they are always the first to be risked. Eritreans at any moment can’t return to their country due to the threat at home. Yet Somalis are stateless, and they cannot be repatriated back. The only option is to allow UNHCR to function and bring some durable solutions in future.

But, the EU’s step to sign its bilateral relation with Libya should not undermine the case of asylum seekers and refugees in Libya. They either should stop push back or pressurize Libya to allow UNHCR to resume its work in Tripoli. Stop looking revenues at the expense of the life of asylum seekers and refugees!!!