(New York) – The United Nations refugee agency and the world body’s top envoy on international migration, have applauded the European Union (EU) authorities’ proposals for dealing with the refugees and migrants arriving in Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, calling for swift implementation of the reforms “for the urgent purpose of saving lives.”
In a statement issued in New York, Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration and Development, welcomed the “visionary reforms” to the region’s asylum system put forward today in the European Commission’s ‘European Agenda on Migration.’ He went on to comment the EU’s commitment to triple the resources for Operations ‘Triton’ and ‘Poseidon’ in the Mediterranean Sea so that they are at least equal in effect to ‘Mare Nostrum’. However, he said the EU needs to make search-and-rescue the top priority for this effort.
“As the EU pursues its anti-smuggling initiatives, meanwhile, I urge member States not to put any refugees or migrants in the line of fire, and to design any operation in complete conformity with international law,” said the statement.
Southerland notes that the proposals also begin to give prominence to critical issues related to migration and development, especially the vital need for migrants, refugees, and migration to be included in the post-2015 UN development agenda.
(Courtesy WAM)
