OULX – The Piedmont Alps on the border with France have for years been a place of passage for thousands of people in transit arriving from the Balkan or Mediterranean route who have the aim and hope of reaching Northern Europe. In 2023 alone, 18 thousand people passed through the Massi refuge in Oulx, mostly people from Central Africa and North Africa. Since 2015 the Schengen Code has been suspended at the Italian-French border and on a daily basis we witnessed systematic rejections of people in transit, effectively denying their will to ask for asylum in France. There is a note released today by HONEY (Doctors for Human Rights) who talks about it
What does the Schengen agreement provide? The Schengen Borders Code (EU Regulation 399/2016) provides for “the adoption of measures […] aimed at ensuring that there are no checks on persons when crossing internal borders, is a constituent element of the Union’s objective […] to establish an area without internal borders in which the free movement of people is ensured”.
The ruling of the French Council of State was ignored. Since the ruling of the French Council of State on 2 February 2024 (in continuity with the previous ruling of the EU Court of Justice) there has been a clear decline in cases of rejections at the border. From February to October 2024, in fact – we read in the MEDU document – the majority of people in transit who presented themselves to the border police, declaring they wanted to ask for asylum in France, were allowed to enter French territory to continue the process of possible regularization . “For a few days – states MEDU – we have once again witnessed massive rejections, on November 12th alone 37 people were rejected including minors, families and a woman enclosure. The rejected people were not given documentation during the rejection or clear reasons regarding the decision.”
The risks to the safety of people in transit. The militarization of the Alpine border represents a clear risk factor for the safety of people in transit, those who risk the most are precisely the most fragile and vulnerable. In fact, unfortunately, there have been numerous deaths of migrants in the mountains in recent years. A situation that is still unclear, a wall that seems to rise again just at the gates of winter, a period in which ice and snow make crossing even more impervious and dangerous.
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**PAA Questions:**
As a website editor for world-today-news.com, I would like to conduct an interview with two distinguished guests regarding the current situation at the Piedmont Alps border between Italy and France. The following interview revolves around the topic of border controls, the Schengen agreement, and the impact on migrants’ safety.
Guest 1: Dr. Maggie Dorian, Director of HONEY (Doctors for Human Rights)
Guest 2: Commander Olivier Beauvais, French Border Police
**Section 1: Understanding the Schengen Agreement and its Relevance**
Editor: Can you please explain to our viewers the significance of the Schengen Agreement and how it affects border controls in Europe?
Dr. Maggie Dorian: The Schengen Agreement allows for an open border system within the European Union, meaning that citizens of any member state can travel freely within the 26 countries without passport checks. The Schengen Borders Code (EU Regulation 399/2016) specifically states that there should be no checks on persons when crossing internal borders, ensuring free movement of people. This policy is crucial for maintaining the unity and integrity of the EU.
**Section 2: Recent Developments at the Border**
Editor: How have border controls been implemented at the Italian-French border since the Schengen Code was suspended?
Cmdr. Olivier Beauvais: Following the suspension of the Schengen Code, Italian border police have been systematically pushing migrants back into France, effectively denying their right to ask for asylum. This has resulted in daily rejections, as documented by our guest from HONEY. Despite recent rulings by the French Council of State and the EU Court of Justice, the situation has not improved significantly.
**Section 3: Impact on Migrants’ Safety**
Editor: What risks do you believe these border controls pose to the safety of migrants?
Dr. Maggie Dorian: The militarization of the Alpine border puts vulnerable migrants in danger. The harsh weather conditions during winter make crossing the mountains even more treacherous, increasing the risk of injury or death. Moreover, the lack of documentation and clear reasons for rejection can lead to confusion and desperation, further jeopardizing
