What we are:
We are a small collective of individuals active in solidarity with illegalized migrants. From our work within the context of direct violence against illegalized migrants we see the necessity to target the border regime from within the EU. We work towards structural political change, based on the demands of those we stand in solidarity with.
Our approach:
At the European border, violence occurs everyday in different forms. Violent push-backs, neglection of human rights, evictions and restriction of movement, and much more. This systematic violence not only needs to be reported, but also must be connected to a political call for action. Our initiative provides a joint call for political demands and actions, to target the European border system from within the European Union – where the policies and trade deals are made.
Practically, we aim for a coordinated approach, on which we connect our reporting around daily violence with our political calls.
Why this approach:
We share the understanding that the European Border and its violence is not only limited to direct force at the border. Restrictions of refugees’ movements reach beyond the border line, for instance through the European Unions funding of camp structures, police repression, evictions and more. At the same time European tax money and their elected representatives enforce this violence causing reasons for persons to flee by exploiting countries of the global south. We aim to bring these violations and injustice back to its origin, the European Union, and demand political change here.
Our demands:
1. Defund Securitisation
From the militarization of the European border. Outside of the border, states, militias and non-governmental organizations are paid to restrict the freedom of movement. We need to stop the spending of tax money into deadly borders and invest it into the European declared values – access to asylum and the preservation of human dignity.
2. Stop Criminalization
The criminalization of migration into the European Union builds upon the distorted imagination that those seeking safety are an external threat. European border guards have reportedly violated European and International Law, for instance through illegal pushbacks, physical violence and torture. Yet, the persecution of the perpetrators is largely hindered, while civilians trying to reach the safe harbors become the target for state repression. We demand the end of the illegalization of migration, and the persecution of Europe’s violations of law.
3. Defund the root causes of flight
Targeting the „root causes of flight” became a popular phrase among politicians in Europe. A brief look into main root causes of flight – war, economic inequality, exploitation and climate change – makes clear, that the European Union is rather enhancing the need to seek refuge. We demand an end to the European Union policy of restricting the ability to seek refuge, for instance through cooperation with authoritarian regimes and rather work towards a world in which people can choose to and not have to migrate.
Our understanding of the border:
We believe that the European Union holds the responsibility for the current political crisis at its borders. Everyone inside the European Union thereby is part of these violations, through his:her tax-money and political belonging. Meanwhile everyone inside the European Union also can take up his:her responsibility and resist this system of violence from where she:he is.
The border is not simply a geographical line, but also a cultural and social barrier, which creates an understanding of Europe as sealed system disconnected from the world. We want to challenge this flaw image and highlight how the border is “our” border, this violence is “our” violence. Because borders are an instrument of exclusion created and maintained by political systems based on exploitation of others. We neglect the dislocation of responsibility, for instance to third countries. “Our” border in this sense does not imply Eurocentric ownership of the border, but rather highlights existing power asymmetries.
The Border Starts Here 