Statement on elements for the future EU Programme on Asylum and Migration

Project Description

The economic crisis negatively affects the lives of all EU citizens, but especially the lives of migrants and refugees; a loss of jobs and residence status has been accompanied by a rise of racism and xenophobia. Despite EU Member States’ commitment and declarations to uphold human rights standards in creating an area of freedom, security and justice for all, the members of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration (EPAM), observe in their daily work across the European Union and in neighbouring countries that the human rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants are often violated, and they face situations of increased vulnerability, violence, abuse and exploitation.

In 2014, the EU will set the agenda for the forthcoming years in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice, including asylum and migration policies, to succeed the current Stockholm Programme. In this next phase, European institutions should ensure respect for human dignity and human rights, solidarity, pluralism, non-discrimination, equality and the approximation of rights of third-country nationals to those of EU citizens. These principles were contained in the Presidency conclusions of the 1999 Tampere European Council on Asylum and Migration, and the issues at stake merit a further and comprehensive consideration by the heads of EU Member States’ governments. A coordinated and human rights-based approach should be strengthened and promoted amongst relevant DGs of the European Commission and other EU institutions.

With this statement, the members of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration (EPAM) set out key priorities for the future of European migration and asylum policy. These are essential for the creation of an open and inclusive Europe where human beings are put at the centre of policies. These key priorities have been identified as common for the members of this platform, while additional and more detailed recommendations from members of the platform on specific issues in the field of asylum and migration will be submitted in the consultation process leading to the adoption of the future programme.