Migrant crisis: the European Union is responding on several fronts
According to the European Commission, 15,000 migrants are currently stranded in Belarus.
Here near Grodno, on the border with Poland, November 23, 2021 © Andrey Pokumeiko / BelTA via AP
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3 min
Sanctions, humanitarian aid, diplomatic pressure and support for the return of migrants to their countries of origin: the EU announced on Tuesday several measures against the delivery of migrants to its borders, orchestrated according to Westerners by Belarus.
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Europe victim of an attempt at destabilization on the part of the Belarusian regime. The European and American members of the UN Security Council
had said so after an emergency meeting
ten days ago. This Tuesday, in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen repeated it: "
Europe is not confronted with a migratory crisis, but with an attempt of destabilization by a totalitarian regime not recognized by the EU
" . And for the President of the European Commission, "the
whole Union is being challenged
". “
We cannot admit this attempt at intimidation,
” added Council President Charles Michel.
“
The Belarusian regime's strategy is based on the complicity of tour operators and their intermediaries.
There are specialized travel agencies that offer all-inclusive offers: visa, plane ticket, hotel and quite cynically taxis and buses to the border,
”said Ursula von der Leyen.
►
Also to listen: Debate of the day - Have migrants become a bargaining chip?
The European Commission therefore proposes to draw up a blacklist to sanction operators from third countries complicit in the transport of migrants by air, land or sea by limiting their operations in the EU, by suspending licenses and authorizations, by prohibiting the movement of migrants. overflight of the EU, transit and even technical stopovers.
"
This proposal will have to be adopted in codecision by the States and the Parliament
", specified Ursula von der Leyen.
The EU has also announced its intention to ban the leasing of European planes to the Belarusian company Belavia.
European mission in Minsk
At the same time, the Union wants to step up its aid to migrants stranded in Belarus. According to the Vice-President of the Commission, they are almost 15,000, including 2,000 at the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. An envelope of 700,000 euros has been allocated for humanitarian aid by the EU. In addition, 280 million euros have been granted to the three front-line countries - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia - to ensure the protection of their borders with Belarus.
A team from the European Commission's External Action Service was on its way to Belarus on Tuesday to facilitate the repatriation of migrants in the country. “
This mission must assess the needs. It has nothing to do with recognition of the regime and has nothing to do with negotiations,
”assured the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell. Diplomatic action is also being carried out with countries of origin and with EU partners to repatriate migrants, mainly from the Middle East, and to avoid the use of their companies to transport them to Belarus. Iraq has already taken back 432 people and another 600 returns are planned. The EU has earmarked one million euros to help these returns and resettlements.
►
To read also: Lebanon: Syrians who fled Belarus tell the unbearable tragedy experienced
The measures announced on Tuesday constitute the fifth package of sanctions adopted by the EU since the disputed re-election of Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020 and the crackdown on the opposition.
The president and 165 Belarusian regime officials are banned from visas and their assets in the EU are frozen.
Economic sanctions adopted in June hit the potash, petroleum, tobacco industries, and Belarusian airlines are banned in EU airspace and airports.
(
With
AFP)
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