All summer long we will be treated to the spectacle of the wretched haggling of European leaders over the sharing out of the 40,000 Syrian and Eritrean migrants who have arrived on Europe's shores. All summer long they will lament the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean – nearly 2,000 have died since the start of the year – even as they call for a strengthening of the Schengen Area's external borders. A recent illustration of this selfishness took place at the European summit held on June 25th and 26th, when leaders spoke of expulsions rather than how to welcome migrants, reaffirming their vision of a fortress Europe that remains impervious behind its walls.
These leaders show disdain for our values of hospitality, asylum and solidarity by claiming that the European Union, the world's leading economic power with 500 million inhabitants, cannot accommodate a few dozen thousand migrants. Since the start of the year around 100,000 people have arrived on the Old Continent (54,000 in Italy and 48,000 in Greece), according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), against 219,000 for the whole of 2014. So in no sense are there “hordes” of migrants, still less “floods” as some political leaders would have us believe. Do we need to be reminded that Turkey alone accommodates 1.7 million Syrians; that Libya has received 1.1 million, a figure equivalent to nearly a third of its population?
Enlargement : Illustration 2
Faced with the tragedy experienced by these women, men and entire families fleeing wars we, as Europeans, do not want to be mere spectators of our nations' selfishness. We can no longer accept that thousands of exiles who come from the Horn of Africa, West Africa and the Middle East in the hope of reaching our shores are simply left to die.
We reject the shame that the European member states heap on us when they promise to “save the migrants” while at the same time building walls and blocking borders.
We don't want that kind of 'solidarity'. Instead, solidarity of an entirely different nature is taking place in Europe along the routes taken by migrants. This movement is bringing together a mass of citizens who have chosen to help the migrants with all the means at their disposal.
During the summer these are the acts that operation #OpenEurope wants to talk about and highlight. We wanted to launch this operation in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), associations and European and Tunisian media outlets to draw maximum attention to the tragedy that is unfolding and the many initiatives that are emerging to tackle the issue.
As of now here are the media outlets that are taking part in this operation:
Mediapart (France)
Infolibre (Spain)
Correct!v (Germany)
Internazionale (Italy)
Le Courrier des Balkans (the Balkans)
Hulala (Hungary)
Efimerida ton syntakton (Greece)
Inkyfada (Tunisia)
Cafebabel (France and Europe)
Babelmed (Mediterranean)
East Journal (Italy, Europe)
- And here are the main associations, collectives and large NGOs who are also partners in this project:
Médecins du Monde/Doctors of the World – Provides care to the most vulnerable
Amnesty International - Global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally.
Migreurop – European and African network against migrant camps
La Cimade – Support body helping refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
Gisti – Immigration support group
Fasti - Federation of associations for solidarity of all immigrants
Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso (OBC) - Think Tank from focused on South-East Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus
Centre Primo Levi - Association taking care of victims of torture
Enlargement : Illustration 3
As part of the #OpenEurope project we and our partners will publish reports that will show the routes taken and the welcome accorded in Turkey, the Balkans, France, Italy, Sweden, Germany and elsewhere.
Alongside this journalism, which will take the form of analysis and photo-reportage, there will be a news feed with practical information for migrants, local collectives and for citizens who are getting involved, with details on: reception centres; humanitarian aid; legal and help centres; guides and manuals. This feed will be written by the NGOs, associations and collectives as well as by journalists.
Finally, a participative area will bring together the stories and accounts of the migrants and of citizens involved in concrete initiatives.
We think that this mobilisation of the people might even make its impact felt on EU member states. And to force them, at long last, to act. For political solutions do need to be found. More than 20,000 people have perished in the Mediterranean in 15 years! The migrants do not take all these risks for no reason. They do it – and spend more money than travelling by plane in doing so – because the paths to asylum and legal immigration have been closed to them.
European leaders justify their restrictive policies by blaming public opinion in their countries. Yet in wanting to court public opinion they simply create the – false – image of a Europe that is under siege and thus provide ammunition to the right and the extreme right. In reality the several hundred thousand migrants involved are a drop in the ocean compared with we 500 million Europeans. The Old Continent has the means to welcome them. It even has need of them demographically and economically. Let us work to change the way people look at the issue and to consider them as Europeans rather than fuelling fear and rejection.
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- As part of this operation, Mediapart has created a special series of stories.
- An appeal for people's stories has been launched on The Club, Mediapart's blog section. Write your story on your own blog or in the special participative section.
- If you want to send in your story, alert us to something, provide information or issue a press release you can use this email address: openeurope@mediapart.fr
- You can find operation '#OpenEurope' on Facebook and Twitter.