The PEMA kills for “Europe Fortress”
The European Parliament approved the Migration and Asylum Pact (PEMA) that toughens conditions for migrants entering the EU. Different social sectors and organizations reject the racist and anti-human course towards “Fortress Europe”. We must unite the struggles at the state and intercontinental level. We fight for a world without borders, exploitation and oppression. The dilemma is Socialism or Barbarism.
By Flor Salgueiro and Santiago González
Euro shame
He 10 In April the European Parliament approved the PEMA, decision that must be ratified by the States, predictably, at the end of April. The debate was very polarized, what was expressed in the narrow margin that decided the vote. The three major groups PPE, S&D Y Renew They supported the pact, although with some dissidence motivated by their national realities and the proximity of the European elections (6 al 9 of June). The groups of the Verdes and the Left, considering it a violation of human rights and the extreme right, considering it too soft.
History…by racist
The debate and legislative process lasted almost 10 years, since the peak of the refugee crisis 2015-2016. For the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (Nationalist party, Malta), the result was positive, “History has been made” and is guaranteed “a balance between solidarity and responsibility”. The truth is that they have made history by writing a racist and anti-human page that hardens the already shameful reception conditions for migrants. They don't care about the needs of those fleeing wars, of hungry, of rapes and other horrors that prevent them from living with dignity and condition the future of their children.
From bad to worse
Many people they die in the sea. For those arriving in the EU, The pact implies stricter controls than the current ones: taking fingerprints and facial images upon arrival, even children older than 6 years. The rejection of people who come from countries with asylum recognition rates lower than 20%. Confinement during the management of requests and a quick return. The voluntary distribution between 27 EU states of at least 30.000 migrants per year, avoidable with the payment of 20.000 euros per year per asylum seeker or the sending of material and/or equipment to the country of arrival. That is to say, more power for the repressive management of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
nuanced, but with “Fortress Europe”
Socialdemocrats, christian democrats, right and far right fight, but they agree when it comes to raising the walls of “Fortress Europe”. Some do it disguised as “progressives” or cynically regretting having to choose the “lesser evil.”, others pushing for the adoption of even more racist and anti-human measures. In the Spanish State the same thing happens: PSOE, PP, Citizens and Vox dispute electorally and confront each other in harsh discursive terms. Nevertheless, they do not question European institutional racism. ERC and Junts do not question the imperialist Bloc either and, when legislating on immigration, his speeches for “freedom” and “democratic rights” become reactionary decisions. Both groups want Pedro Sánchez to give the Generalitat comprehensive powers to be the ones who limit the quotas of migrants that Catalonia should accept.. He tuned, the former president and current MEP Carles Puigdemont, persecuted and exiled, did not challenge the agreement as a whole, nor did it postulate a progressive alternative throughout the entire process.
Protests in Brussels, Valencia and Barcelona
Human and cultural rights groups, political and union organizations reject the racist course of the EU. For this reason initiatives were prepared that on voting day led to actions. In Brussels there were activists who in the chamber demanded “Vote no, “This pact kills.”. Protests were held in more than 30 territories of the Spanish State: in Valencia 22 organizations and groups organized artistic interventions and a rally in the Plaza de la Virgen. In Barcelona they protested in front of the EU headquarters and a declaration was read. In both cases, The MEPs who voted in favor of the pact were named, their photographs were trampled and burned, to the cry of “Racists and fascists”.
The fight continues with an unavoidable dilemma
There's a fight going on, The actions of the right and the extreme right are opposed by the mobilized response of broad social sectors. This is the solidarity path to continue in defense of democratic rights, human and social of migrants. Coordination of protests with the working class and the people mobilized at the state level is needed. And also the intercontinental unit, together with African movements and groups, Latin Americans and other continents. It is necessary to organize to defeat capitalism, which will only bring more exploitation, poverty, oppression, inequality and racism. From SOL and the International Socialist League (LIS) we fight for a world without borders, fair and supportive that can only occur with another system, socialism. The iron dilemma that determines the future of humanity and the planet is summarized in Socialism or Barbarism.
