Wednesday 15 April 2015

Jean Lambert MEP statement on drowned migrants in the Mediterranean

STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF JEAN LAMBERT, GREEN MEP FOR LONDON

15.04.2015 For Immediate Release

Dying for Freedom
With 8 000 desperate people being picked up in the Mediterranean in under a
week, it is clear that we have a humanitarian problem. People will always
try and escape miserable conditions, political and civil unrest,
environmental disaster, and persecution. For them to drown trying to reach
European shores and safety only indicates their desperation.

Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London said:

'This is why we need greater search and rescue at sea to be able to prevent
catastrophe. Riskier and ever more treacherous sea routes are attempted
because land borders are increasingly restrictive. If safe access routes
existed, we would have one way of avoiding this. Not everyone travelling in
unsafe and dangerous overcrowded boats claims asylum, but whether they do
or don’t we should not turn away from people who view the EU as offering
hope and safety.


'Many of us have been working for a long time for solidarity among the EU’s
member states so that humane and effective rescue-at-sea, and land
follow-up can be provided. We have argued for ways in which people seeking
asylum can get safe access routes to the territory of the EU to lodge
claims, and for countries to offer resettlement possibilities for
recognised refugees.'

Jean concluded:

'Another practical and achievable step is that all member states must be
willing to contribute resources so that other member states, with main
ports of entry on their borders, can cope. What is missing is political
will and solidarity from across the EU, and all too often, genuine empathy
– stop the crocodile tears and take concrete action. Until this happens, we
can only respectfully remember the 400 people who died overnight, unable to
find sanctuary in their home country, or at our borders.'

For more information please contact:

Claire Norman

Media and PR Officer to Jean Lambert, MEP

Green Member of the European Parliament for London

Can Mezzanine

49-51 East Road

London

N1 6AH



Office: 020 7250 8417

Mobile: 07917 881 648



Email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk

Website: http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
<http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/>

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GreenJeanMEP

Twitter: @GreenJeanMEP <http://twitter.com/GreenJeanMEP>

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