The European Union is witnessing an unprecedented influx of refugees displaced by the ongoing conflicts in the middle east region. Families with children have lost their homes and every day is a fight for survival. These people are doing what any of us would do if faced with such atrocities –fleeing to a safer environment where they have a chance of a future, where they do not have to fear brutality and death to themselves or their children.

Already traumatized, they are making a perilous journey across Turkey and southern Europe to reach the European Union in the hope of a better life, in the hope that western society will act with humanity, yet they are faced with uncertainty of acceptance. The European Union has underestimated the scale of the situation and are slow to react, Hungary has poorly managed the crisis as people are left to sleep out in the open with their children due to overcrowded camps and transit zones where there is no running water and very limited number of toilets. Now, winter is approaching and harsher conditions are on the horizon. We are calling on the EU to act.

Taking into account this situation, and being aware that the CONSOLIDATED VERSION OF THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, calls for the adoption of “measures for a common European asylum system comprising: a common system of temporary protection for displaced persons in the event of a massive inflow” (Art. 78. 2 (c )),

Having also taken note that Art. 1 of COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 clarifies: The purpose of this Directive is to establish minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who are unable to return to their country of origin and to promote a balance of effort between Member States in receiving and bearing the consequences of receiving such persons,

We want all EU member states to adhere to the following:

- To recognize the mass influx of refugees as set out in the COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001

- To provide the minimum standards of obligated protection for displaced persons

- To ensure a swift enforcement of the mechanism of obliged protection to refugees

- To ensure the transparent and fair procedure according to COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001  for seekers of asylum from worn torn countries

- To ensure full protection of Unaccompanied Minors

- To ensure the full process of family reunification where appropriate

Please join us by signing this petition and spreading it around the world to demand a more transparent and coordinated response at the level of the European Union dealing with refugees and to ensure the well-being of the people being displaced.