The demonisation of migrants and their instrumentalisation for political purposes poses serious dangers for democracy and harms social cohesion, said MEP George Loucaides in his intervention yesterday in a debate on the compatibility of the new EU Pact on Immigration and Asylum with the European framework for the protection of human rights, during the proceedings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
As noted in a statement of the House of Representatives, Mr. Loucaides pointed out that the denial of asylum and the illegal return of migrants and refugees are contrary to international law, while he spoke out against the militarization of the external borders and the enclosure of the Union.
Furthermore, he added, "Mr Loukaidis stressed that the demonisation of migrants and their instrumentalisation for political purposes poses serious risks to democracy and harms social cohesion, underlining that the causes of migratory flows should be identified and all possible assistance should be provided to multiply vulnerable and exposed people who are deprived of basic human rights".
The establishment of control and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that Member States respect their contractual obligations regarding the dignified treatment of refugees and migrants is very important, he added.
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