EUROPEAN GREENS ORGANISE COMMON ACTION ON DECEMBER 18th, International Migrants' Day :
The European Green Party is to hold a Common Action throughout Europe on Tuesday 18th December, United Nations International Migrants' Day.
EGP Co-Spokespersons Ulrike Lunacek and Philippe Lamberts said:
"The action will take place in 10 countries and will focus attention on the plight of thousands of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who face detention in prison-like detention centres and families who are often split up by deportations, even though in many cases they have integrated very well into the societies of their host countries. Protecting the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers is a key priority of the EGP and at our last Council Meeting in Vienna in October; we passed a resolution on Migration and Asylum policies. As part of this resolution, the European Greens called for EU Member States to give people who have lived in their country for 5 years a legal and documented status, including the right to stay permanently in the country. The resolution also demands that Member States stop ignoring the exploitation of irregular migrants on the labour market and urgently put in place the necessary protection and control mechanism to cover all of the labour force. The EGP also calls on Member States to stop treating migrants and refugees as criminals by holding them in closed detention centres."
Actions will take place on Tuesday 18th December in the following countries:
Austria : The Austrian Greens(www.gruene.at) are currently campaigning to stop the deportation of the Zogaj family, a family originally from Kosovo whose application for asylum has been rejected . The Austrian Greens are organising a press conference on this issue on Tuesday 18th December and will probably take part in a protest action later in the week.
Belgium: An action will take place at the Petit Château/ Klein Kasteeltje reception Centre in Brussels on Tuesday 18th December at 11 am. MEPs from the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament (www..greens-efa.org) MPs from Groen!(www.groen.be) ,Ecolo(www.ecolo.be)and EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts will take part in the action calling for more humane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers .
Hungary: the Hungarian Greens (zd.hu) are planning to hold an event in Budapest where they will read out a statement focussing on the effect that deportation has on families.
Malta : Alternattiva Demokratika (alternattiva.org.mt) are holding an exciting cultural event where Maltese people will have the opportunity to interact with migrants so as to improve mutual understanding. There will be drama and music from some of the migrants , as well as a forum where the migrants will be explain the problems and difficulties they face to the Maltese people present. The event will aim to show that cultural diversity and the presence of foreign migrants could enhance Maltese culture, rather than destroy it.
Netherlands: Groenlinks (groenlinks.nl) will organise a protest outside the Ministry of Justice to call for a fairer and more humane immigration policy.
Norway: Gronne (gronne.nl) are organising local events where signatures for a petition calling for a more humane immigration policy will be collected. In particular, the Norwegian Greens are calling for a reduction in the cost of applications for family reunions for foreign migrants, which the Greens believe are deliberately expensive so as to prohibit the families of migrants from attempting to travel to Norway. A letter will be presented to the Directorate of Immigration.
Slovenia : SMS (sms.si) is planning a demonstration on Tuesday 18th Dec at 1100 am outside the Ministry of Employment, Family and Social Affairs in Ljubljana where they will focus on the issue of working conditions and pay for workers, both foreign and Slovenian. SMS are campaigning for a change to employment law so that Slovenian and foreign workers would be covered by the same legislation and have equal right to the same working conditions and salaries. This would alleviate the growing tension between foreign workers and Slovenians and benefit all workers: only exploitative employers would lose out!
Sweden: the Swedish Greens (mp.se) plan several actions at local action where they will try to persuade the Christian Democrats to change their position of opposing legislation which would make it easier for the families of foreign migrants living in Sweden to relocate to Sweden to join their families. The Christian Democrats are the only party in the coalition government opposed to this legislation.
Ukraine: The Ukranian Greens (greenparty.ua) will hold a roundtable discussion with leading experts on human rights.
England and Wales: The Green Party (greenparty.org.uk) are organising an event in London to highlight the issues of deportation of individuals and families, both in the UK and throughout Europe.
In Poland, Zieloni 2004 (zieloni2004.pl) organised an event on December 10th, Human rights Day, where they demanded that the newly elected Polish government ratifies the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In Ireland, the Irish Greens (www.greenparty.ie) organised a special conference on "Migration in an extended EU" in Dublin on 8th December.
NOTE FOR EDITORS: For more detailed information about a specific action, please go to the website of the party concerned as shown above or contact Graham Burgess, the EGP's communications officer.
Graham Burgess
Communications Officer
European Green Party
Tel no :+32 2 626 0724
Mobile:+32 477 902 023
email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org
www.europeangreens.org
