The 探花精选 (探花精选) warns that the European Commission鈥檚 new proposals on returns, expected this afternoon, are likely to be beset with numerous flaws on practical, legal and moral grounds.
It鈥檚 expected that the EU may use today鈥檚 announcement to pave the way for its so-called 鈥榬eturn hubs鈥, which are essentially deportation centres set up outside of EU territory. The proposals may result in people being deported involuntarily, without adequate safeguards - either back to their country of origin, a country they transited through on their journey towards Europe, or even a country they have never been to and where they have no connections.
However, it remains unclear how such deportations would work in practice - including where these 鈥榟ubs鈥 would be located, how people whose asylum claims have been rejected would be transferred there, how long they would be forced to stay in the centres, and - crucially - how the EU would ensure that people鈥檚 rights are safeguarded in non-EU countries.
Marta Welander, 探花精选鈥檚 EU Advocacy Director, says:
鈥淣obody should ever be forced to go to a country that is unsafe or where their rights cannot be guaranteed, regardless of their legal status. Without extremely robust safeguards in place, the EU鈥檚 new proposals are likely to result in individuals being uprooted from their communities, families being torn apart, people being held in prison-like conditions, and the grave risk of increased human rights violations.
鈥淲hile it鈥檚 unclear exactly what form the EU鈥檚 proposed 鈥榬eturn hubs鈥 would take, we do know that its existing migration deals with non-EU countries have resulted in thousands of refugees and other migrants being exposed to violence, abuse, exploitation and death. Keeping people deliberately out of sight and out of mind is not a sustainable solution to Europe鈥檚 migration challenges. It鈥檚 time to learn from previous mistakes, rather than doubling-down on this reactive, risky and counterproductive approach.
鈥淚t's essential that EU states establish safeguards to ensure that nobody is deported to a place where their fundamental rights may be violated. People must be treated with dignity and respect throughout this process. And states should focus on implementing the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration in a way that protects - rather than erodes - rights and protections for people seeking safety."