Left says tragedies at sea highlight 'hardline approach to migration'

A Greek coast guard boat collided with a boat of “fleeing” people off the island of Chios on Tuesday (3 February), leaving at least 15 dead and more injured.

Meanwhile, up to 1,000 people are feared dead or missing in the central Mediterranean during extreme weather conditions caused by Cyclone Harry in mid-January, according to the Italian NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans.

MEPs have been quick to respond, alleging that the Greek incident “marks yet more deaths resulting from the EU and Member States’ hardline approach to migration in the Mediterranean.”

They said this “would indicate a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions and a deadly indictment of the EU’s ‘Fortress Europe’ policies”.

Greek MEP Kostas Arvanitis said: "We demand a full, independent and transparent investigation into the deadly boat collision off Chios involving the Coast Guard and migrants. Maritime law requires rescue — not pursuit or pushbacks. Greece must stop being a country of tragedies. The truth must come out."

Spanish MEP Estrella Galán, also speaking on Wednesday, said: “The shipwreck off the Greek coast, where at least 15 people lost their lives, is not an isolated accident. It adds to the estimated 1,000 deaths that have occurred in the Mediterranean during Cyclone Harry.

“These tragedies result from the EU’s lack of search and rescue mechanisms and safe legal pathways, while lifesaving NGOs are criminalised and billions flow to Frontex. This is political failure at its deadliest.”

Next week the European Parliament will vote on the final outcome of negotiations on the so-called “safe third country” and “safe countries of origin” reports, which MEPs say will end the right to asylum on EU soil and “allow for mass deportation to prison camps elsewhere.”

The Left Group in the parliament said it will demand an immediate debate “on the need to save lives at sea.”

A group spokesman said: “The Left will always fight against disgraceful, racist and continuous attacks on the freedom of movement and the right to asylum by the European Union and far-right forces.”

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