Workshop 1: “EU Borderregime and externalisation policy”

“EU Borderregime and externalisation policy”
 
It was an introductional workshop with all guests/activists from outside of the EU (Eastern Europe, Turkey, Africa) and also with groups from some EU countries who are present. All of them:

• gave a short presentation of themselves, their organisations and activities,
• pointed out the major problems they are dealing with and
• proposed topics, demands and actions for the debate with activists from other countries in order to come to some common points and strategies. Afterwards a short discussion took place, which is going to be continued in the different workshops next days.

Concerning the further workshops, some questions, which could motivate people from different countries to prepare some comments for the discussions in order to get much information and many opinions to talk about and find common points for our strategies. Probably there are much more questions, but here are some which came in mind reading about struggles in places like Rabat, Oujda, Calais, Lampedusa, Libya, Patras, Ukraine etc.:

• How is the situation of migrants in the respective country? Where do the migrants come from, where do they stay, how do they live/survive, (how) are they organised?
• What does “borderregime” mean completely? Which measures are being taken by the government and other institutions and how is the reality?
• Are there camps, raids, deportations?
• How do the the border patrols look like and which consequences do they have?
• Where and how is Frontex involved?
• What does “externalisation” mean concretely, concerning borders, asylum procedures, camps etc.?
• What is the role of the UNHCR and other organisations like IOM?
• Are there asylum procedures and which importance do they have? What are the rights of recognised refugees?
• Is there a separation between recognised refugees and so called “illegal” migrants and how do organisations deal with this problem?
• How did the EU succeed (or not?) to reach a collaboration of countries of transit and origin concerning borderregime?
• What did the EU offer in exchange, like quota for “legal” migration, money for NGOs, “development aid”, trade contracts...and what do organisations say about this?
• Which contradictions exist between interests, e.g. concerning remittances/money transfer of migrants and migration control or conflicts between neighbour countries (like Turkey-Greece, Algeria-Morocco) and which importance do they have, also for our strategies?
• How is the attitude and behaviour of the population towards migrants and (how) is racism produced by governments, media, etc.?
• What kind of resistance exists? Organisations, networks, demands, actions, success?achievements, criminalisation?
• Which proposals do people have for a (better) transnational networking? Which topics, demands, actions do they think are important?