10,310 of 25,000 signatures

the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers

As concerned citizens, we demand a European response that is reflective of the reality of the worsening refugee crisis. We urge you to ensure much needed safe and legal access to Europe placing the issue of refugee resettlement firmly at the top of your agenda on October 8, as a first step towards the creation of a comprehensive European scheme to guarantee secure avenues for people in need of protection. [1] Increasing options of safe and legal access is the only way to prevent further deaths in the Mediterranean and to curb human smuggling.

We call on you to reopen the resettlement discussion, and agree on the resettlement of at least 160,000 refugees instead of the proposed 20,000, so as to come closer to a solution proportionate to the scale of the crisis. [2]

Why this is important

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking images and read the news stories. Without further action, the refugee crisis will keep getting worse. The crisis is not only on Europe’s shores. It’s in war-torn Syria, in the Boko-Haram controlled part of Nigeria, in ravaged Libya, in dictatorial Eritrea.

Without safe and legal access to asylum in Europe, deaths will continue on our shores, and millions will live in limbo in refugee camps. At their meeting in July, European Interior Ministers agreed on resettling 20,000 refugees. It was a step in the right direction; now they are meeting in a week again. Let’s ask them to be more ambitious.

Ask Europe’s Interior Ministers to agree on more safe asylum options for refugees in the Middle East and Africa.

Background

Safe and legal access includes: resettlement, humanitarian visas, family reunification, humanitarian evacuation operations, and Protected Entry Procedure. We propose that a step-by-step approach be adopted in order to include these measures at both national and European levels.

160,000 matches the agreed on number for relocation on September 22, 2015 at the JHA meeting. The question of resettlement is just as if not more pressing, but we strongly believe that it deserves the same commitment as relocation.

Refugees of different nationalities should be included in the resettlement proposal, not only those coming from Syria.

[1] JHA Agenda of October 8

[2] European Commission press release

This campaign is being run in partnership with the Italian Council for Refugees.

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10,310

of 25,000 signatures

Recent comments

Emmanuel

Let us give refugees a fighting chance, please.

Claudia

Knowing the situation of refugees in Greece personally, I also do know that it is a shame for Europe and a violation of Human Rights in Europe how refugees are treated since the "Balkan Route" was closed.

Margrit

humanity

Colin

We are an interconnected world so should take care of each other.

People fleeing their country have to be looked after

These are people in desperate need of our help

Simple humanity

As concerned citizens, we demand a European response that is reflective of the reality of the worsening refugee crisis. We urge you to ensure much needed safe and legal access to Europe placing the issue of refugee resettlement firmly at the top of your agenda on October 8, as a first step towards the creation of a comprehensive European scheme to guarantee secure avenues for people in need of protection. [1] Increasing options of safe and legal access is the only way to prevent further deaths in the Mediterranean and to curb human smuggling. We call on you to reopen the resettlement discussion, and agree on the resettlement of at least 160,000 refugees instead of the proposed 20,000, so as to come closer to a solution proportionate to the scale of the crisis. [2]

It is a great problem but we need to be humane and help as many people as possible. We have done this before and we can do it again.

Refugees are people like you and me-They will suffer more as winter approaches out of our common humanity we must help them -do not pass by on the other side.

In the interests of our common humanity I believe it is right that those in need are supported by those who have the power to help them.

People who are suffering are people like us. Europe needs to set a better example than what it has done.

There needs to be a more cohesive approach. Action needs to be speeded up because of the encroaching Winter and the risk to vulnerable lives increasing.

Because these people are fellow human beings experiencing unimaginable suffering. They deserve the chance to live a normal life, free of war and persecution. We in the EU can and should do more.

If the EU “and rest of east” wouldn’t help them to stay in their countries, then we have no other choice but to welcome them in EU

Because I value compassion

Because their country has been destroyed for geopolitical and selfish interests and governments do not care about them and do not want to assume their responsibilities

These refugees are the best asset we all have. They will contribute so much to the countries where they settle.

It is only an accident of birth that we live here in peace and prosperity; we should not deny others that chance as we should share our good fortune.

It's essentially about maintaining human values. If Europe cannot sustain its humanitarian nature, it just becomes another trade bloc. What is there to love or be loyal to in that?

We Have so much-they have so little.

There needs to be a humane response by all European countries to support refugees fleeing horrendous crises in their countries.

Simple human compassion.

There is a moral and legal obligation to give refuge to people seeking safety from war and persecution. There are no limits to this obligation.

It is morally, ethically and just plain right that we accept econimc migrants and refugees fleeing war torn countries. After all, they are in this situation because of we are partly responsible for creating the mess in the middle east because of a combination of poor political decision making and the introduction of free market economic principles on still developing economies

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Why this is important

Background

Next step - spread the word

Ask Europe’s Interior Ministers to adopt more safe asylum options for refugees