Europe has witnessed a significant wave of asylum seekers and refugees from Africa over the past two years. The reasons are not far to seek- the economic falloutof the COVID-19, conflicts and political repression in the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa,poor living conditions, drought,andfinally the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the global economy and food supplies. This has sparked a political movement across Europedemanding sweepingchanges in the policy to halt the flows of migrants from Africa to Europe.
Italy has beenone of the front-line destinations for undocumented immigrantscrossing from North Africa to Europe along the central Mediterranean route. As a result,anti-migration campaign had become a hard-core political manifesto by the coalition that has come to power this month after elections. The new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hadstated that halting the asylum seekers is one of her top priorities. In short, Italy is expected to jointhe European efforts to keep out refugees by pursuing policies to deport asylum seekers and migrants to their home countries or countries they transited through without adequate human rights safeguards.
In 2017 Italy took a leading role in EU-backed efforts to provide equipment, training, and logistical support to the Libyan Coast to intercept asylum seekers and migrants at sea and return them to Libya. The move was condemned by many human right activists asLibya is not considered a safe country for asylum seekers.Further, it also breached the international law of non-refoulement prohibits states from sending people to a country where they are at risk of human rights violations.
One of the cardinal principles enshrined in the WTO is free movement of people beyond nationalities, still a non -starter in every sense. Discussions on such issues, are blocked by the developed world by giving flimsy reasons.
Life has been tough for asylum seekers from Africa in Europe. Most of them face discrimination,are denied refugee status, barred from legal employment and polls. Now the situation looks even worse creating fear that xenophobia and racism and discrimination willerupt to unprecedented levels.
When one observes the current resistance to African Migrants to the EU countries,one cannot help remembering the forced migration during and before the colonial past, when native Africans were taken to the west and other geographies as indentured labour. Itis a commentary of how economic exploitation was carried out.Colonisation had not only sapped the economic resources of the continent; but caused huge gaps in every conceivable aspect of human interface, be it social, cultural and political. Only such skills that were relevant to their colonial masters were allowed to grow and nurture.
Africa supplies over 70 percent of mineral resources needed for world production including rare earth like cadmium, lithium, silica, copper, diamonds, gold, platinum etc. Europe’s chocolate industry with a market size of US$ 100 billion is built on Africa’s cocoa. Of that huge revenue realisation, Africa gets only 7 percent.There are many more such illustrations that speak of skewed balance in trading.
Today, migration has assumed a different narrative and import. Given soaring energy bills, a looming recession in Europe and other challenges sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine, EU is in no mood to accommodatemore migrants.At the same time, Europe is also facing labour shortages as reportedbya 2022 survey by the European Labour Authority. The COVID pandemic disrupted the intra-EU migration. Most of the workers from Eastern Europe returned home during the pandemic and chose to stay back.Europe, experts sayneeds not only the traditional “high-skilled workers”, but also workersin the low skilled sectors. Some of the sectors hit hardest by the labour shortage are the construction sector, as well as tourism and food where Africans can step in.
The question that comes to themind is, Has the dynamics of migration been understood in the right perspective? In the cacophony of west’s clamour to shut the door for the migrants, are they overlooking the economic gains of the migration?With proper training and skill development, these refugees could become an asset rather than a liability for Europe.
It is high time that Europe puts an end to its inhuman approach which shows a complete disregard for African people’s lives and dignity. Welcoming people on the basis of where they come from, or the colour of their skin goes against the fundamentals of global partnerships.Given a level playing field, the continent can fuel global growth.
