Dame Margaret Drabble and Nobel Laureates Günter Grass and Elfride Jelinek are among over 1,000 leading writers supporting PEN’s call for greater protection for refugees in Europe.
On 14 April, a delegation including English PEN, PEN International and German PEN, will meet the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, in Brussels to deliver the appeal officially, to share concerns about the fate of refugees in Europe and to call for effective action.
Jo Glanville, director of English PEN said:
This is a powerful message to European leaders at a time of continuing crisis for refugees and an important opportunity for the European Union to play a leading humanitarian role. It’s time for the member states to work together with the EU to find a humane solution.
John Ralston Saul, PEN International president said:
We go to the European Parliament with a simple message: We and our civilization will be judged by the solidarity we show with people in crisis.
Elfriede Jelinek, writer and Nobel Laureate said:
Refugees often accept unbelievable hardships in search of a life worthy of human dignity. We must show ourselves worthy of these people.
Joseph Haslinger, president of German PEN said:
Until our continent regards the protection of refugees as a common duty there will be no such thing as a “European community”