In order to be able to exercise my parliamentary control function as an MEP, I have the possibility to put questions to the EU Commission. The Commission must answer these questions. On 4 March 2020, I received answers from the Commission to the following questions: Written answer question E-004414/2019 to the Commission Subject: Questions on the use of EU aid to Greece and Italy in the field of asylum …
Request: Attack on rescue ship Alan Kurdi by Libyan militias
In order to be able to exercise my parliamentary control function as an MEP, I have the possibility to put questions to the EU Commission. On 28 February 2020, I received answers from the Commission to the following questions: Written answer question E-003535/2019 to the Commission Subject: Attack on rescue ship Alan Kurdi by Libyan militias Men fired warning shots …
Pushbacks in Spain: ECtHR gives a judgement that is far removed from reality
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that the deportation of two refugees without asylum proceedings was lawful. Hardly anyone had expected this ruling, as the Small Chamber of the ECtHR had ruled completely differently in 2017. The Grand Chamber of the ECtHR claims in the reasons for the judgment that there are legal alternatives to violent, illegal border crossing, which exist in …
Frankfurter Rundschau guest article on the situation at the EU's external border
I wrote for the Frankfurter Rundschau about the daily breach of law at the EU's external border. You can read the guest article here.
Thick board 2 - Criminalisation of civil society and refugee helpers
In this episode I talk to Hendrik Simon, who is facing up to 20 years in prison for saving lives in the Mediterranean as part of the Iuventa crew, and Sean Binder, who was in prison in Greece for over three months for saving and helping people in the Aegean.
Study proves: Migration to Europe independent of sea rescue
In its study "Sea Rescue NGOs: a Pull Factor of Irregular Migration?", the "Migration Policy Center" comes to the conclusion that people do not climb onto rubber dinghies in the Mediterranean because rescue ships are on the way there. This confirms the findings of previous studies, such as Death by Rescue. And Border Deaths in the Mediterranean. The study now available has …
Interview on the situation at the EU external border with the SZ
I spoke with the Süddeutsche Zeitung about the terrible conditions on the Balkan route. You can read the interview here.
Inhumane conditions at Croatia's external EU border
At the beginning of August, I visited the Bosnian town of Bihać on the EU's external border and saw conditions there that are absolutely inhumane. The place has become a bottleneck for those seeking protection, because they cannot get anywhere from here. In Bihać, you see homeless protection seekers everywhere on the streets because there is not enough space in the shelters.
„Scaling Fences“: Migration to Europe scientifically investigated
Earlier this week, the UN published a study entitled "Scaling Fences". Around 3,000 people from 43 African countries who have come to Europe in recent years were interviewed for the study. What is special about the study is that it is not about people who cite war and persecution as the reason for fleeing, but about those who left their homeland in search of a better life but had no legal means of entry.
Sea Rescue – My first speech in the European Parliament
I will continue to fight for search and rescue at sea and for safe and legal channels for asylum seekers and migrants to Europe.