UK-Rwanda deal scrapped

Emmaus welcomes the decision, but warns about the proliferation of this type of agreement impacting the rights of migrants in Europe.

The new UK Prime Minister has scrapped the deal to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, following the Labour Party’s victory in the 4 July 2024 General Election. Emmaus is pleased about this decision, as it stops a dangerous agreement that would violate human rights from coming into force. However, the growing number of such agreements across Europe is concerning.

The UK Parliament adopted the Safety of Rwanda Bill on 23 April. Rishi Sunak’s government ignored the appeals made by civil society organisations, Lords and even UN experts, as well as circumventing the opinion expressed by the country’s Supreme Court (the court unanimously ruled that the Rwanda deal was “illegal” on 15 November 2023), in order to implement an agreement enabling the UK to deport to Rwanda people who arrived in the UK without authorisation. Emmaus is delighted that this plan has been axed.

However, we wish to sound the alarm about the rising number of agreements of this type. The Rwanda deal is in keeping with a dynamic similar to that which led to other agreements being adopted, such as the 6 November 2023 Italy-Albania deal. This deal allows Italy to outsource to Albania the processing of asylum applications submitted by some foreign nationals picked up or rescued at sea by the Italian authorities.

This trend is particularly worrying as 15 EU Member States[1] have asked the European Commission to adopt a similar mechanism in Europe. In a letter dated 15 May, these States went as far as suggesting a revision of the “safe third country” concept in order to further restrict migrants’ guaranteed rights. This adds to the legislative framework already applied by many Member States to prevent, whatever the cost, people from moving around and settling in their territory, demonstrating an increasing disregard for human rights.

The European Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted on 14 May is not an exception to this rule, as it openly seeks to speed up the removal of people in irregular situations and increase outsourcing of border control. Security and removal mechanisms, rather than actual reception and solidarity mechanisms, are increasingly holding sway in the Rwanda and Albania deals, and in the EU Pact. Motivated by short-term electioneering, the States are totally ignoring the lived experiences of migrants and their supporters, and are deploying policies that exclude, dehumanize, and make migrants vulnerable. Far from the advocated sharing of responsibility, successive legislative instruments are increasingly contravening international agreements and rights that the States have pledged to respect.

At a time when the European elections have led to a worrying rise of the far right, the current trend of isolationism combined with an increase in the number of authoritarian and conservative governments should be a serious warning.

The Emmaus Movement has member organisations in 43 countries, including 21 European and nine African countries, and brings to life the principles of solidarity, and shelter and support, on a daily basis. Depending on the local context, these principles may take the form of providing proper shelter and support for people who have migrated in search of a better life, as well as running social and income-generating activities involving the most socially-excluded people, enabling them to have decent living conditions, wherever they are. Emmaus champions freedom of movement and settlement for all, but also works on a daily basis to ensure that people have the prospect of a decent life wherever Emmaus is located.

These deals are in keeping with a continuum of agreements that push back Europe’s borders a little further, while viewing human lives as a bargaining chip. We refuse to stay silent in the face of these illegal agreements that threaten the integrity of migrants who are only asking for the freedom to move around, just like any human being.

Emmaus International and Emmaus Europe are calling for the following measures to be implemented:

Compliance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention.
Abolition of the policy of outsourcing border control.
A return to a proper visa policy.
Migrant detention to be scrapped.

We are calling for alternative global migration governance, based on respect for fundamental rights and the principle of universal citizenship!

[1] Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland and Romania.

Defending human rights / Migration News United Kingdom

Credit: Emmaus International.

Traceability: a strategic asset for Emmaus initiatives?

Increasingly in Europe, politicians are aiming to introduce a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) to manage waste and promote reuse in different sectors, such as electronics, textiles and furniture. In practice, this means that manufacturers of new products will become financially responsible for managing the products at the end of their lifecycle. As a result, our Emmaus groups can get involved and benefit from funding or facilities for our work thanks to the traceability system.

To find out more, we met Elsa Delouche, Traceability and Reuse Officer at Emmaus France. Elsa supports groups towards establishing the traceability of donations.

Could you tell us what traceability is and what types of “products” it applies to?

Definitions are varied, but the one I use, on which there seems to be a consensus, is as follows: an organisation system and tools that allow us to obtain data on activities, an efficient process (simple, accessible and stable).

In certain sectors, the data is expected by eco-organisations*, and provides access to different opportunities (financial support, free return of waste, access to deposits). In France (and shortly in all EU countries), this will apply to furniture and furnishings, toys and games, DIY and garden equipment, household appliances, sports and leisure goods, along with textiles, bedding and footwear.

What is the purpose of traceability for Emmaus groups?

I see traceability as an opportunity for groups and the movement:

It encourages us to improve working conditions by questioning the tools used, workstation safety and ergonomics.
It allows people to diversify their tasks (for example, using weighing equipment).
It encourages people to develop their skills (e.g. mastering software).
It contributes to steering the business and decision-making by providing objective, reliable data.
It enables us to promote our activities in the field to external stakeholders and partners, and to ensure that they are aware of the volume of donations received and processed.
It confirms Emmaus’ position in the reuse sector through reliable, quantitative data, fuelling the advocacy work carried out by Emmaus France and Emmaus Europe.

How and why was traceability introduced in our groups? How do the groups use it and what work does it entail?

The Emmaus France Federation promotes the freedom of groups to decide whether to introduce traceability or not. Its mission is to raise awareness among groups so that they can make an informed choice (the benefits or otherwise that they could enjoy). Furthermore, it encourages each group to define its own method, it does not advocate a single method. As a result, a wide variety of practices can be observed today:

On the choice of sectors tracked: track all sectors or select a few (often depending on the effort/gain ratio).
Regarding the method chosen: weighing? Counting? By combining both depending on the sector?
In terms of tools: paper materials? Software? A combination of both?

Traceability does not necessarily entail additional work; it all depends on the method and tools chosen by the group. Similarly, it is not a question of creating new tasks or developing our traditional reuse activities. The aim is to find a system to collect data on the key stages of our activity, collecting it during the activity, and then finding the tools to make it easier to use the data.

What is the Spanish viewpoint?

First-hand account by Eduardo Sanchez, director of Emaús Gipuzkoa within the group Emaús Fundación Social

In our group, we have always believed that it was very important to be able to provide reliable data about what we do with the waste we manage. We see this as an obligation to the public and to the public and private entities that place their trust in us to collect and manage waste.There are an increasing number of obligations to ensure the traceability of the waste we manage. For calls for tender launched by public authorities for the collection of textiles this is compulsory, and current legislation is increasing the obligations of waste managers.

For the past four years, we have been processing environmental documents electronically with public authorities. Today, a waste treatment contract must be signed with the entity generating the waste in order to collect it with our lorries, and we must have an identification document in the collection vehicle.

In addition, in the case of hazardous waste, we have to prepare a consignment note for each type of waste to be transported (each code requires a different consignment note). This notification enables us to draw up the documents to be carried by the lorry transporting the hazardous waste.

The requirements of European regulations and the presence of SCRAP (Scrap metal) mean that this issue will be essential in meeting the needs of public administrations and community systems, as well as public demand for information.

* In France (under the “polluter pays” principle) this is the name given to organisations that are financed by manufacturers to take care of managing the end-of-life of the equipment they put on the market.

Circular economy / The environment European Union News

Traceability at Emmaus Défi (France). Credit: Emmaus Europe.

A worrying shift to the right for the future of Europe and Emmaus

On 9 June 2024, Europeans headed to the ballot boxes to elect their MEPs for the next five years. The results are clear: the conservative right has been significantly strengthened and the far right has gained ground. In contrast, all of the left-wing parties have lost seats, with the green parties hardest hit with a loss of 19 seats.

Within our movement, we firmly believe in a greener, more supportive and inclusive Europe. However, depending on the composition of future alliances between political groups, these choices may jeopardise our efforts to build a fairer society.

An alarming surge by the far right

In France, Italy, Austria and Hungary, far-right parties came out on top in the elections. In other countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Latvia, they took second place.

At the European level, there are two far-right parties (ID and ECR), which obtained a total of 141 out of 720 seats. Although they have not yet formed an alliance, this option cannot be ruled out. These two parties are now the third and fifth most represented in the European Parliament. However, together they would constitute the second largest political force. In addition, around 90 elected MEPs have not yet joined political parties. Although these MEPs are currently unaffiliated, they broadly identify with far-right ideas.

The far right’s agenda is clearly the opposite of ours when it comes to Emmaus’ issues: putting the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum back on the table to make it even more restrictive for potential migrants, challenging the Green Pact and reducing pressure on Vladimir Putin.

A major strengthening of the European right

The major winners of these elections are without a doubt the members of the political group of the European conservative right (EPP). With a minimum of 190 out of 720 seats, they now form the largest political group in the European Parliament. The message sent to Europe is clear in terms of this party’s priorities: putting growth and a competitive economy first, focusing on insecurity, less attention on the environment and little focus on social issues.

A glimmer of hope?

In the Netherlands, although the far right won the general election at the start of the year, the alliance of social democrat and green groups came out on top at the European elections. In Finland, the far right only won a single seat and were ranked sixth, despite their presence in government. In Portugal, the social democrats dominated the elections, with the far right only winning two seats out of twenty-one. In Sweden, the social democrats took first place, relegating the far right to fourth position, with only three seats out of twenty-one. In Denmark, the social democrats and greens came top, while the far right finished in fifth place with a single seat.

Awaiting the formation of alliances and nominations for top jobs

MEPs must now form political groups before the next plenary session of the European Parliament which will be held on 16 July. On this occasion, they will choose the theme-based committees on which they will sit.

The European heads of state are expected to present their candidate for the presidency of the European Commission at the plenary on 28 July. It will be up to Members of Parliament to decide whether or not to validate this choice.

Once elected, the president will have the task of composing the College of Commissioners, made up of 27 commissioners appointed by the Member States, one from each country. The European Parliament will have the opportunity to hold hearings with its future commissioners and is expected to vote on whether or not to approve this choice in October.

The outgoing commission president, Ursula Von der Leyen, is in the running to be re-elected. Although she comes from the ranks of the EPP conservative right, she supported the Green Pact at a time when parties supporting environmental issues were a more significant political force. Will she turn her back on these issues given the new composition of Parliament?

European Union News

Source: Provided by Verian for the European Parliament. Credit: European Parliament.

Summer camps: committed youth and new vocations

Summer camps have been at the heart of the Emmaus movement since the 1960s. These gatherings have shaped the movement as it is today and were the starting point for many “vocations” within Emmaus. Let us take a look at how these social and solidarity events work.

Before we delve into the history of the summer camps, what camps are available for young people in 2024?

This year once again, several groups in Europe and in France are opening their doors to young people who would like to get involved!

Emmaus Lisbon is one of them, offering a two-week immersion within the community, between 1^st July and 1^st September. This immersion will involve participating in community life with the Emmaus companions and getting involved in the organisation’s business activities: collecting donations, sorting stock, shop management, upcycling and gardening. This year, Emmaus Lisbon is also organising a Solidarity Festival throughout the summer: each group of volunteers will be actively involved in highlighting forgotten causes! Every fortnight will end with a concert (DJ set, jam sessions, etc.). Getting involved in a solidarity project is above all meaningful, but it is also about sharing unforgettable moments!

Other Emmaus groups in Italy, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in France organise camps throughout the summer months.

How can I find out more and apply, or sign up for a camp?

For summer camps outside of France, all the groups’ initiatives can be found on the Emmaus Europe web page devoted to this topic. For France, all the information can be found on this page on Emmaus France’s website. And to find out more, you can also contact Emmanuel!

How did the summer camps begin?

It is impossible to dissociate the growth of the Emmaus movement around the world from the development of the summer camps. They started during the 1960s in Normandy to encourage young people to get involved and combat poverty.

During the summer, these “international work camps” operated like real Emmaus communities: door-to-door collections of donations, and sorting, repairing or reselling of second-hand goods. At the time, the summer camps were organised voluntarily by young people for other young people, “out of thin air” (with no budget). They raised funds that were redistributed to benefit solidarity projects within the country and internationally, with a portion used to develop new Emmaus projects. They could also be used to set up a fund and a group of volunteers to create a friends’ committee or a community on a new site.

These international youth camps quickly resulted in thousands of young people of different nationalities gathering together, in France as well as in Italy and Denmark. Between June and October 1972, the camp in Bourgogne drew 4,500 young people of 44 nationalities together!

After an international camp, it was not unusual for young people who had discovered Emmaus to become leaders of a new community and/or meet the love of their life! Little by little, these camps led to the development of many groups in France and abroad.

Is it dangerous to get involved in a summer camp?

Very dangerous! Even today, there is a significant risk of getting stuck in the Emmaus galaxy and dedicating your life (or at least a large part of it) to fighting poverty and exclusion after you have been at a summer camp, bringing meaning to your life in the long term.

In fact, after experiencing their first summer camp, many decide to get more involved and even go on to set up an Emmaus living community or a friends’ committee!

Word to the wise….will we meet again on the ground?

Discover the 2024 summer camps

News Summer camps Tackling Poverty / Solidarity

Camps internationaux de jeunes au Danemark, 1969. Photo issue des archives de l’abbé Pierre et d’Emmaüs International déposées aux ANMT (Roubaix).