The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has sharply criticized the new rules approved by the European Union regarding the deportation of migrants. Türk warned that these measures could lead to serious human rights violations, especially concerning the transfer of migrants to third countries that do not guarantee their protection.
The UN official expressed deep regret over the adoption of this law, emphasizing that European countries are legally and morally obligated to protect human rights within their territories. He affirmed in his statements that states' obligations towards migrants and refugees cannot be delegated or transferred to other parties outside the continent's borders.
The European Parliament had previously approved a package of stricter laws last week aimed at accelerating deportation processes. These rules include the possibility of concluding agreements with countries outside the bloc to establish so-called 'return centers,' where migrants whose applications have been rejected are detained pending their deportation.
Türk clarified in an official statement that the detention of vulnerable groups, including children, and their transfer to third countries represents a highly sensitive exercise of state power. He noted that this approach entails significant risks that could affect human dignity and violate applicable international conventions.
The High Commissioner stressed the necessity of keeping the protection of human rights and human dignity at the heart of any legislation or practical application of migration policies. He called on European authorities to review these texts to ensure they do not conflict with the fundamental principles upon which the international human rights system was founded.
Current data indicates that the European Union only succeeds in implementing about 20% of deportation orders issued against irregular foreign residents. This low percentage creates widespread political pressure from currents advocating for stricter and more decisive migration policies.
In this context, Türk affirmed that international law and refugee law categorically prohibit the return of any person to a place where they may face persecution or violations. He described the principle of 'non-refoulement' as a cornerstone that all states must respect under all circumstances.
The UN official also pointed out that deportation decisions should not be collective but must be based on a careful individual assessment of each case. He demanded that all legal appeal procedures be completed before any actual step is taken to remove migrants from European territory.
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron entered the crisis, announcing Paris's opposition to the establishment of 'return centers' in third countries. Macron questioned the effectiveness of these centers, noting that he has not yet seen a successful model for them in practice.
The French President questioned the extent to which these policies align with the core values that Europe believes in and defends in international forums. He affirmed that France prefers more effective return policies but within a framework that respects the fundamental principles of the European Union and does not deviate from its humanitarian context.
In the same vein, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez joined the front of opponents, describing the plan as potentially leading to the waste of huge economic resources. Sánchez explained that Europe needs to utilize its limited resources for more sustainable solutions instead of spending them on external detention centers.
These divergent positions reflect a state of deep division within the European Union on how to deal with irregular migration. While some countries push for more strictness, human rights organizations and international parties warn against sliding towards policies that undermine fundamental human rights.
EU countries cannot simply delegate their human rights obligations to third countries.
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UN criticism and French-Spanish opposition to EU plans to establish 'return centers' for migrants