MEPs warn against abusing migrants' fundamental rights

The European Parliament (EP) warned Tuesday against infringing the fundamental rights of asylum seekers in the European Union (EU).

Ahead of a major EP debate on Wednesday about the EU's migrant crisis, MEPs said the rights of asylum seekers could be infringed by reception centre conditions, summary expulsions, sometimes called "hot returns", barbed wire and other deterrence measures.

The non-binding resolution was approved on Tuesday by 360 votes to 291, with 58 abstentions. MEPs stated that the EU and the member states should put "solidarity and respect for fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers" at the core of EU migration policies.

They also called on EU institutions and member states to take "energetic and compulsory measures to prevent further tragedies at sea."

In addition, MEPs insisted on the establishment of a harmonised EU asylum system for the fair distribution of asylum seekers among member states.

MEPs similarly expressed concern over negative stereotypes and misinformation about migrants, and the resolution specifically condemned some security measures at EU borders "which now sometimes even take the form of walls and barbed wire", a reference to Hungary's newly constructed fencing on that country's border with Serbia.

The resolution followed a debate Monday during which the Parliament deplored the way in which austerity measures and budgetary restrictions have "negatively affected economic, civil, social and cultural rights".

Socialists and Democrats spokesperson on civil liberties, Birgit Sippel, said: "We welcome the report's condemnation of the lack of humanity shown on European borders, showing those fleeing war and persecution not compassion but walls and barbed wire. Hopefully national governments will listen to this message and finally agree to a humane response to the refugee crisis." Endit