The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, has made a passionate defence of European values and accused critics of the continent’s response to a wave of refugees from the Middle East of hypocrisy.
In a speech to the UN general assembly, Tusk said Europe is confronting challenges it has not seen for decades including wars close to its frontiers, an “unprecedented refugee and migrant crisis” and the “consequences of borders being changed on our continent by force, like in Ukraine”.
But while he acknowledged what he termed “animated discussion” within the EU over quotas for resettling refugees, with several countries strongly opposed to accepting them, Tusk said that should not be misinterpreted as evidence the continent is turning its back on its ideals.
“I am here today to reassure you that Europe is as committed to its values and objectives now, as it has ever been,” he said. “For Europe, isolationism has never been, and will not be, an option.”
Noting that people are fleeing to Europe not from it, Tusk said that critics should ask themselves why it is so many migrants headed there and not elsewhere.
“The myth prevails that Europe is the only rich place on Earth. This is not true; there are other places comparable to us in terms of wealth. But for some reason, refugees and migrants are not flowing there,” he said.
“This is because wealth is not the only element that determines where people choose the future for their children; such values like tolerance, openness, respect for diversity, freedom, human rights and the Geneva convention are also a magnet attracting them to us.”
Tusk contrasted the situation in Europe with what he termed the “indifference” of the continent’s critics who choose not to admit refugees – a stab perhaps aimed at Russia and at rich Gulf states run by oppressive regimes, which rarely grant refugee status to people fleeing conflict in the Middle East.
“If in Europe we are engaged in animated discussions on relocation quotas, it is because we care. It is because we seek to be as effective and as inclusive as possible. But quotas are just a fraction of what Europe is already doing to help those who flee wars and persecution,” he said.
“By contrast, many countries represented here deal with this problem in a much more simple way; namely by not allowing migrants and refugees to enter their territories at all.
“This is why suggesting that Europe is an example of poor treatment or indifference towards asylum-seekers is sheer hypocrisy.
“Everyone can offer help to the refugees. Those who do not want to, at least shouldn’t hide their indifference by criticising Europe for doing too little.”
Tusk said that ultimately the refugee crisis will be resolved by ending the conflicts underpinning it. He challenged attempts by Russia to promote a settlement in Syria with a political deal that would allow its leader, Bashar al-Assad, to remain in power – an idea that is gaining currency among some European governments as a preferable alternative to a takeover by the Islamic State.
“Today the circle of proponents of the idea that Bashar al-Assad should be part of Syria’s transition is growing. Yet we cannot forget that millions of people have fled his horrific methods of trying to secure stability in Syria. During my trips to the region, I was told that Assad’s victory would only lead to another exodus. The only goal and intention of a peace plan for Syria must be to make it possible for the people to again start leading normal lives in the region,” he said.
In a speech to the UN general assembly, Tusk said Europe is confronting challenges it has not seen for decades including wars close to its frontiers, an “unprecedented refugee and migrant crisis” and the “consequences of borders being changed on our continent by force, like in Ukraine”.
But while he acknowledged what he termed “animated discussion” within the EU over quotas for resettling refugees, with several countries strongly opposed to accepting them, Tusk said that should not be misinterpreted as evidence the continent is turning its back on its ideals.
“I am here today to reassure you that Europe is as committed to its values and objectives now, as it has ever been,” he said. “For Europe, isolationism has never been, and will not be, an option.”
Noting that people are fleeing to Europe not from it, Tusk said that critics should ask themselves why it is so many migrants headed there and not elsewhere.
“The myth prevails that Europe is the only rich place on Earth. This is not true; there are other places comparable to us in terms of wealth. But for some reason, refugees and migrants are not flowing there,” he said.
“This is because wealth is not the only element that determines where people choose the future for their children; such values like tolerance, openness, respect for diversity, freedom, human rights and the Geneva convention are also a magnet attracting them to us.”
Tusk contrasted the situation in Europe with what he termed the “indifference” of the continent’s critics who choose not to admit refugees – a stab perhaps aimed at Russia and at rich Gulf states run by oppressive regimes, which rarely grant refugee status to people fleeing conflict in the Middle East.
“If in Europe we are engaged in animated discussions on relocation quotas, it is because we care. It is because we seek to be as effective and as inclusive as possible. But quotas are just a fraction of what Europe is already doing to help those who flee wars and persecution,” he said.
“By contrast, many countries represented here deal with this problem in a much more simple way; namely by not allowing migrants and refugees to enter their territories at all.
“This is why suggesting that Europe is an example of poor treatment or indifference towards asylum-seekers is sheer hypocrisy.
“Everyone can offer help to the refugees. Those who do not want to, at least shouldn’t hide their indifference by criticising Europe for doing too little.”
Tusk said that ultimately the refugee crisis will be resolved by ending the conflicts underpinning it. He challenged attempts by Russia to promote a settlement in Syria with a political deal that would allow its leader, Bashar al-Assad, to remain in power – an idea that is gaining currency among some European governments as a preferable alternative to a takeover by the Islamic State.
“Today the circle of proponents of the idea that Bashar al-Assad should be part of Syria’s transition is growing. Yet we cannot forget that millions of people have fled his horrific methods of trying to secure stability in Syria. During my trips to the region, I was told that Assad’s victory would only lead to another exodus. The only goal and intention of a peace plan for Syria must be to make it possible for the people to again start leading normal lives in the region,” he said.
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