Europe’s rulers are split between those who want stronger external borders and those who back stronger national borders. But all their policies are deadly, says Tomáš Tengely-Evans
The European Union (EU) is pushing for stronger border controls in a bid to make it harder for refugees to make it to safety.
The European Parliament backed proposals to beef up the Frontex border police last Wednesday. The move will increase the force from 1,500 guards to 10,000 by 2027—and give it more powers.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Commissioner for Migration and Citizenship, said Frontex would now be able to turn migrants away at the border.
The beefed-up agency will make it easier to deport refugees who have made it into Europe. This will include Frontex “identifying irregularly staying non-EU nationals”.And it will also allow for “stronger cooperation with non-EU countries” to send refugees back.
Guy Verhofstadt, chief Brexit coordinator for the European parliament, hailed the “10,000 extra border officers” as a step forward.
“For four years we fought to get a European Border & Coast Guard,” he said. “EU countries were blocking, but we managed to get it done.
Verhofstadt added that the new immigration rules should be implemented now, not by 2027.
He said, “We need to better protect our external borders to keep our internal EU borders open.”
Some EU member states have resisted attempts to increase the powers of Frontex.
Powers
This includes far right and racist governments in Austria, Hungary and Italy, which fear their national border forces losing powers.
And they oppose any attempts to help refugees who have made it into Europe—even the most meagre ones by the EU.
But the Frontex policy shows that the brutal treatment of refugees isn’t just down to national governments.
The EU is a regional capitalist bloc that helps member states to compete internationally with larger rivals such as the US and China.
This means it wants money, goods and services and labour to move relatively freely within its borders, but tight control of what’s allowed in and out of its territory.
The EU’s rulers are split between “centrist” politicians who want stronger external borders and far right and racist politicians who want stronger national borders.
Either way, refugees die in the Mediterranean.
And those who make it across the Mediterranean face police brutality and desperate living conditions.
The European Parliament’s decision came just as refugee charities warned of a surge in the number of unaccompanied children trapped at Britain’s border in Calais.
The number has almost doubled from 150 to 281 in the last three months. Stand Up To Racism and Care4Calais plan a delegation to northern France on Saturday.
The aim is to build a movement in solidarity with refugees and to force the government to open the border.
SOURCE: Socialist Worker
