Closed Ports, Dubious Partners

The Covid-19 pandemic has not only led to travel restrictions within the European Union but also to closed external EU borders, with severe consequences for persons at distress in the Mediterranean: Malta, for instance, closed its harbours and waters to rescue vessels unless another EU member state agrees to take in the rescuees after disembarkation. The Maltese Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) ordered Libyan fishing vessels to take in persons in distress and bring them to Libya.

This constitutes a further aggravation of the already precarious situation for migrants crossing the Mediterranean as well as civil rescue organisations. Over the last six years, more than 19,000 people have lost their lives while crossing the Mediterranean. Since March 2019, no EU or national search and rescue vessels have been in place to prevent more deaths. Nongovernmental organisations stepping in and trying to fill this gap have been increasingly criminalised and prosecuted.

Against this background, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung commissioned Prof. Dr. Anuscheh Farahat and Prof. Dr. Nora Markard to evaluate whether the Maltese actions comply with International and European law. The paper complements their study ‘Places of Safety’, presented earlier this year.

On 2 June, the findings of the paper will be presented by the professors. Afterwards we will discuss the political implications on the European level.

Programme

19:00 - 19:10

Welcome

• Dr. Ellen Ueberschär, President Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

19:10 - 19:25               

Paper Presentation

• Prof. Dr. Anuscheh Farahat, Professor of Public Law, Migration Law and Human Rights Law, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Prof. Dr. Nora Markard, Professor for International Public Law and International Human Rights, University of Münster

19:25 - 20:00              

Discussion

• Prof. Dr. Anuscheh Farahat, Professor of Public Law, Migration Law and Human Rights Law, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Dr. Neil Falzon, Director “aditus foundation”, Valletta
• Prof. Dr. Nora Markard, Professor for International Public Law and International Human Rights, University of Münster
• Erik Marquardt, Member of the European Parliament, The Greens/EFA
• Moderation: Anna Schwarz, Head of Global Transformation Programme, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union

20:00 - 20:30                Q&A

Working language: German and English (simultaneous translation)

Note:

The technical requirements for participating in an event are a computer or a tablet or smartphone with a speaker. It is not permitted to record such events. Online events will be held using the Zoom software, which will provide a link for participating. 

The access link will be provided a day prior to the event. The event will be recorded.