International

On 20th March Amnesty International staged the ´SOS Europe Beach Protest´, an action to demand decent treatment for asylum seekers. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong attended and signed the manifesto. `For years I have been trying in the European Parliament to set in motion a reform process in relation to European asylum policies,’ he explained. ‘Existing policies lead to degrading situations, especially in countries with long exterior borders, because they have to process the most requests for asylum. That’s why the SP advocates a European asylum centre which should guarantee proper treatment of requests for asylum.’

Dennis de Jong en collega parlementariërs staan achter de oproep

The action took place next to the European Council building, where government leaders were gathering. The demonstrators were there to show what was happening on the beaches of southern Europe, where many migrants first set foot ashore on the continent. The demonstrators used whistles to signal the internationally-recognised SOS code and activists read testimonies from refugees.

Activists at the demonstration lie on the ground in protest

By signing the Amnesty manifesto De Jong undertook, should he be reelected, to do all in his power to bring about humane European asylum and immigration policies. The manifesto advocates in addition a proactive policy which would ensure sound preparation for asylum applications, a policy in which human rights would take centre stage. ‘Five months after the appalling tragedy at Lampedusa, in which more than five hundred refugees lost their lives, it’s clear that EU member states are still not doing enough to protect people or to save people’s lives on Europe’s frontiers,’ said De Jong. ‘At my request the European Parliament is currently conducting a study of European asylum centres. In October this study will be ready and in my view the new parliament should get down to work on it straight away.’

De Jong signing the Amnesty International manifesto