Presentation of the Border Observatory

The Migreurop network has been committed since 2002 to documenting and analysing the European system for controlling migratory movements, which have led in particular to the increase in the number of removal centres (detention centres, waiting zones or reception centres) for foreigners who are illegally on European territory. The diversity of these administrative systems set up by States leads us also to consider the informal forced enclosures (Calais, France, Patras, Greece) as means of keeping foreigners at a distance. This tendency to remove foreigners has to be analysed within the international context of the closing and surveillance of borders.

The development of a “European Border Observation” project reflects the likely further increase in such tendencies.

The work of Migreurop’s European network (i.e. 29 member associations in eight countries, and partner associations in about 10 countries) focuses currently on three main ideas :

  gathering information so as to document the phenomena of the removal and detention of foreigners, and the conditions of access to European territory by migrants ;

  analysing European policies which, in the name of border surveillance, deny migrants’ fundamental rights ;

  defending migrants’ fundamental rights, by any means available including legal action.

This Border Observation project was born of the conclusions drawn from the network’s daily activity (investigations, international meetings and partnerships). It is also the result of a recent involvement by several members of Migreurop in a European Parliament study on “the conditions of nationals from non-member countries in Centres (detention centres, open centres, as well as transit zones) within the 25 member States of the EU” : the appalling conditions of entry and integration of foreigners, the numerous violations of fundamental human rights and the vulnerability of migrants detained at the borders of Europe, are very little documented and known by the general public, by politicians, by society at large. A system of regular, organised information is urgently needed so that the situation may be brought to the attention of all. The Observation system, in which Migreurop partners and members will take part, will be set up in various stages :

  Firstly, the network will define a model of the data to be observed at the borders, which will be based on the conditions of access to the borders, the removal policies and their consequences, and a detailed description of the detention centres.

  The data collected and the interviews undertaken by members in the field will lead to the creation of a database describing the conditions experienced by migrants at the borders. The database will be accessible on the Migreurop web site and will be updated for the duration of the project. Intermediate reports based on the field interviews will enhance the site through country specific information.

  Following the phases of systematization and analysis of the data collected, the publicizing of the information will be done through the web site, the publication of a Migrants’ Atlas and annual reports on the human rights situation at the frontiers of Europe.