Oxfam Report Slams EU Migration Policies in North Africa, Citing Human Rights Concerns

In a report entitled "The Converging Agendas of the Migration Policies of the European Union and North Africa: What Place for the Interests of the Populations?", the NGO severely criticizes Europe. Moreover, it has focused its report on Morocco and Tunisia. These two countries are taking on a great responsibility with regard to the implications of EU policies to the detriment of their own priorities. This thus jeopardizes the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers and the safety of people seeking to immigrate between North African countries and those of the EU each year, reports panorapost.com.

Over the past five years, the EU’s migration policy has completely set aside the protection of people. Thus, with this policy, Tunisia and Morocco have not been able to strengthen their own migration and asylum systems. The aim of the EU’s policy is to reduce migration to its Member States, while supporting the improvement of migration and asylum laws in neighboring countries. As for the migration systems of Morocco and Tunisia, they remain obsolete and unreformed. This does not allow migrants and asylum seekers to benefit from a structured legal protection.

To reverse migration policies that often lead to racism, xenophobia and human rights violations against populations, Oxfam has recommended reforming the migration policies of Morocco and Tunisia. An objective that will be made possible with additional funding. For this, a complete reform of the EU’s migration approach in compliance with human rights and its laws is necessary.

The report also emphasized other recommendations to solve the problem. For the institutions and member states of the European Union, the NGO stresses that promotional work in accordance with international refugee law be carried out in the Mediterranean region in cooperation with the Maghreb countries and in full respect of human rights. It also proposes regular publication of assessments on the impact of European migration policies on the population.

As for the Moroccan and Tunisian governments, they must proceed to develop a new migration policy that advocates rapid, effective and compliant asylum application with international refugee rights in each country. The establishment of national asylum systems, for the fulfillment of refugees, is a good prospect. In the same dynamic, the restructuring of national migration legislation to provide protection and create opportunities for integration into citizenship and to fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination against migrants is also required, according to the NGO Oxfam.