Falcon powers – A group of non-governmental organizations working both internally in Italy and at sea, officially launched a new coalition on May 15th in the Italian capital Rome, aiming to support migrants wherever they are. The coalition is called the “Freedom of Movement Solidarity Network”.
The “Freedom of Movement Solidarity Network” is a new alliance that brings together groups working along migration routes, in populated areas, forests, stations, and at sea, as well as in mountain passages, to assist mobile individuals.
The list of promoters of the new network, which was officially launched on May 15th at the headquarters of the Foreign Press Association, includes the following associations: Baobab Experience, Buon Samaritano, the Balkan Alto Vicentino Route group, Como Senza Frontiere, Linea d’Ombra, Mensa Senza Nome, On the Road, Refugees in Libya, RESC, People Saving People, Rete Milano, SeaWatch, and Small Axe. Individuals such as Father Massimo Biancalani, Loredana Crivellari, Father Giusto Della Valle, Francesco Della Santi, Filippo Lombardi Tiziano Rosetti, and Tommaso Stella also participated.
An international meeting in Ripio in June 2024
Andrea Costa, the president of the Baobab Experience organization, said “Today, the Freedom of Movement Network sees the light, after two years of meetings in Ripio, between Como and the Swiss border, during which experiences, opinions and discussions on how to achieve solidarity with migrants were exchanged.”
Costa added that this network will not lead to the disintegration of its members, but rather represents “a step forward towards joint work, and a way of working in which everyone participates, regardless of the group they belong to.”
The head of Baobab Experience stated that the new network was presented “after the approval of the European Union’s Pact on Migration, and before the upcoming European elections, which seem designed to make Europe less friendly towards migrants.”
Costa announced that an international meeting will be held on June 29th and 30th in Ripio, with Italian associations and their counterparts working in other European countries.
The “Baobab Experience” organization issued a statement on its website on platform (X), stating, “The organized response of wild and marine NGOs to European death policies and the rejection of migrants. The network is the self-declaration of those who are building safe corridors in the field every day.” It also expressed its opposition “to the Libyan model created in 2017, which was replicated in Egypt, Tunisia, and Albania,” before affirming, “We clearly support the creation of safe corridors, and that is why we are engaged in our work to support people on the move.”
For his part, Biro Gurtza, a member of the “On Border” organization, said, “We are offering the network as a collective choice to stand with people on the move,” before adding, “We have responded to the need to bring together many representatives of solidarity: large and small associations, shelters, and activists, all working on the ground to help people on the move.”
He continued, “We are not establishing a new association, but a coalition between associations, which turns the difference between associations into an element of richness, and the sharing of human, material and experiential resources, to deal with a situation that is undoubtedly difficult.” Gurtza pointed out that an event was organized on June 2 in Naples to discuss how to build networks that connect the North and the South.
Accusing the European Union of Reinforcing Security Policies
The “Sea Watch” organization, which announced a few days ago that the fast rescue ship “Aurora”, which it operates, “helped 51 people on board two Kanza boats facing difficulties in the Mediterranean and brought everyone to safety,” and Luca Morelli, the official who joined the network launch meeting via video from Lampedusa, stated that all participants in the establishment of the network are accusing the European Union of reinforcing “security policies, the rampant external tendency, which is a model launched in 2017 under a memorandum of understanding between Italy and the Libyans by the then Interior Minister Marco Minniti.”
He said, “We must establish another model against the deportation model, and create a common front to support the journey of people on the move,” and highlighted the “fragmented protection system” at the present time.
