The International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns that the European Commission’s new proposals on returns, expected this afternoon, are likely to be beset with numerous flaws on practical, legal and moral grounds.
It’s expected that the EU may use today’s announcement to pave the way for its so-called ‘return hubs’, 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 ‘hubs’ 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’s rights are safeguarded in non-EU countries.
Marta Welander, IRC’s EU Advocacy Director, says:
“Nobody 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’s 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.
“While it’s unclear exactly what form the EU’s proposed ‘return hubs’ 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’s migration challenges. It’s time to learn from previous mistakes, rather than doubling-down on this reactive, risky and counterproductive approach.
“It'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."