If the EU wants to be the bastion of liberal democracy, it too must stop demonising refugees and migrants

European Union officials have not been shy to express condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s permanent ban in January 2017 on Syrian refugees, and temporary ban on all other refugees.

But, the author argues, we should not lose sight of what the EU and its member states are actually doing on the ground. Huge resources have been deployed to stop refugees and vulnerable migrants from reaching the EU by sealing the Aegean route from Turkey to Greece, the Balkan route from Greece to Germany, and the Western Mediterranean route from Morocco and Senegal to Spain.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Managing migration along the Central Mediterranean Route – Commission contributes to Malta discussion http://www.europeansources.info/record/managing-migration-along-the-central-mediterranean-route-commission-contributes-to-malta-discussion/

ESO: Background information: Trump’s refugee ban stirs European unease, condemnation http://www.europeansources.info/record/trumps-refugee-ban-stirs-european-unease-condemnation/

ESO: Background information: 2017 seen as turning point for liberal democracies http://www.europeansources.info/record/2017-seen-as-turning-point-for-liberal-democracies/

ESO: Background information: Informal meeting of EU heads of state or government, Valletta, Malta, 3 February 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/informal-meeting-of-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-valletta-malta-3-february-2017/

European Council: Press Release, 31.01.17: Invitation letter from President Donald Tusk to the EU heads of state or government before the Malta summit http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/01/31-tusk-invitation-letter-malta/

ECFR: Commentary, 03.02.17: How the EU should respond to Trump's immigration order http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_how_the_eu_should_respond_to_trumps_immigration_order

ESO: Background information: Malta Declaration by the members of the European Council on the external aspects of migration: addressing the Central Mediterranean route http://www.europeansources.info/record/malta-declaration-by-the-members-of-the-european-council-on-the-external-aspects-of-migration-addressing-the-central-mediterranean-route/

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