15 years Welcome to Europe

In September 2009, in the middle of a noborder struggle on the Greek island of Lesvos, the network Welcome to Europe was born. Nowadays, the network consists of approximately 20 activists from 10 European countries, working on making reliable and independent information available for people on the move, building on the contributions of active friends and collectives from both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. Within the last 15 years we have experienced a lot of ups and downs in the fight for freedom of movement. We also lived through more or less active times with and through our network activities and the web guide https://w2eu.info/.

However, we are still and again very convinced of the necessity of a continuous provision of independent information for refugees and migrants coming and crossing Europe and beyond. We will continue to provide access to counselling and useful contacts to self-organize and to support people on the move.

Since years, Europe has constantly developed more and more repressive migration policies. Determent and criminalization of flight and migration remain the dominant narratives in governments, in relevant parts of European societies and in mainstream media nearly everywhere. For the coming years, we will most likely have to expect a further brutalization of the border regime.

We will never forget and never forgive the permanent racist violence of deportations and exclusion, the ongoing pull- and pushbacks and the left to die practices on sea and on land. We will continue to document, to accuse and to resist against all forms of these stately and deadly border crimes.

We perceive Welcome to Europe as one long-term element of a wider and increasing transnational network of solidarity. Recognizing and following the tenacity of the movements of migration, we promote the concept to build and to extend infrastructures for freedom of movement.

We will go on to welcome all people on the move in their difficult trip, and we wish all of them a successful journey – because freedom of movement is everybody’s right!