The European Union is faced with one of the biggest challenges in recent years: hundreds of people fleeing from war and poverty are risking their lives to get to Europe in search of safety and a better life.
More than a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015, sparking a crisis as countries struggled to cope with the influx, and creating division in the EU over how best to deal with resettling people.
European migration crisis can be identified not only as a defining challenge, but also as an opportunity that can enrich European societies and tackle some of the economic problems that plagued the continent for the past few decades.
As European leaders struggle to find a common solution to the problem the European Liberal Youth takes action to raise awareness about migration challenges and promote liberal solutions to the problem.
LYMEC stands against “Fortress Europe” as free movement is a historical and natural phenomenon, and it is also a constituting character of European culture. We urge European leaders to secure the free movement of people and develop adequate refugee policy on a European level.
THE STATE OF MIGRATION ISSUE:
Since 2015 we have seen some progress with regards to mobilizing European response to the migration crisis. However, the latest data shows that the crisis is not over yet and there is no end in sight.
According to IOM data between January 1 and April 2, 2017, 29,369 persons were recorded as arriving by sea to Europe.
The number of deaths of refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean remains high and unresolved. 2016 with 4,578 losses of life has been the deadliest year yet. The proportion of those refugees and migrants that died while attempting to cross the central Mediterranean in 2016 was 1 death for every 40 persons crossing.
When people make it to the content the problem is not over. The procedure to claim asylum is ineffective and not working. Migrants spend up to or even more than a year before they are relocated.
The crisis requires an immediate and coordinated European response, creating at EU level necessary agencies and common migration and asylum systems.
SETTING THE AGENDA FOR EUROPE is a political LYMEC campaign raising awareness about issues that are important to youth, such as migration challenges, youth unemployment, youth participation and climate change. The main aim of the campaign is to put pressure on European leaders and to promote a liberal youth vision for Europe. Let’s influence the direction for the future of Europe!
