The organizations highlighted in their statement that the UK’s intention to deport refugees to Rwanda has failed. They urged the EU to take notice of European countries’ attempts to evade their legal responsibilities. Additionally, they called on European countries to stop making false promises and wasting resources on inhumane and unfeasible plans. Olivia Diez, Amnesty International’s EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum, stated, “Wherever these plans have been put into action, they have been plagued by human rights violations and have subjected countless individuals to prolonged, arbitrary, and illegal detention.” Diez emphasized that low- and middle-income countries currently accommodate 75% of the world’s refugees. She also noted that the plans of European countries signal the EU’s lack of commitment to the rule of law, international treaties, and refugee protection systems.
The ninety organizations have issued a joint statement condemning the European Union’s proposals to deport refugees and outsource asylum processing to external countries. These policies, they argue, directly contravene the Migration Charter and EU law. Instead, the organizations urge the EU to adopt humane and sustainable migration and asylum policies that prioritize the well-being of those seeking safety.
The organizations’ action came after 15 European countries sent a letter to the European Commission. The letter called for exploring the possibility of offshore processing of asylum applications and examining the possibility of amending EU law. “These innovative ideas certainly deserve our attention in the new political cycle,” said Der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
Many European countries are seeking to deter asylum seekers by negotiating agreements with third countries. These deals are often struck without adequate consideration for the human rights records of these nations. Alarmingly, organizations have documented numerous human rights abuses in countries that have agreed to host asylum seekers on behalf of European states and process their claims.
