European Coordination for Foreigners' Right to Family Life - press release

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European Coordination for Foreigners’ Right to Family Life
Coordination Européenne pour le Droit des Etrangers à vivre en Famille

PRESS RELEASE

"The European Coordination for Foreigners' Right to Family Life, meeting in General Assembly in Paris on 28 February and 1 March, learned of the political agreement reached by the fifteen European Union member states on the proposed directive concerning family reunification for third-country nationals.

We are surprised and dismayed that this is presented as an accomplishment when the European Parliament, the only democratically elected European organ, has not yet made its declaration on the matter; it is scheduled to do so shortly.

The European Coordination deplores the extent to which the ministers of the "Justice and Home Affairs" Council not only disregarded the opinion of the major representative organizations for immigrants' rights but also scorned the role of the European Parliament.

We of the European Coordination repeat our opposition to the measures of this directive, which has been officially presented as an outstanding political instrument for integration. In fact, it denies the fundamental principles in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We consider that the right to family life is an inalienable right that should not be subordinated to policies controlling the flow of immigration.

More than ever, the European Coordination intends to pursue our action appealing for the European institutions (Commission, Parliament) as well as the member States to respect this fundamental right.

Paris, 1 March 2003"

The European Coordination regroups about 40 associations, organisations and networks from 5 EU countries. It is in contact with more than 2000 associations and organisations in the 15 EU countries.

For more information, please write to coordeurop.campagne@libero.it (English, French or Italian).

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