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Rabat — The United Nations human rights chief has voiced strong concerns over newly approved European Union migration rules that would allow rejected asylum seekers to be transferred to countries outside the bloc while awaiting deportation.
“EU States cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third States in this context,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in a statement issued today.
His remarks come days after the European Parliament approved stricter return policies aimed at increasing deportations of migrants whose asylum applications have been denied.
Adopted on Wednesday, the new rules would allow EU member states to strike agreements with non-EU countries to establish so-called “return centers.” Migrants could be held in these facilities before being sent back to their countries of origin.
Türk warned that the policy raises serious concerns, particularly when it comes to vulnerable groups. He said the detention and transfer of people, including children, to third countries represents a highly sensitive exercise of state power and carries a significant risk of human rights violations.
“There must be front-and-centre emphasis on human rights protection and dignity throughout – in fact and in law,” he stressed. According to the UN rights chief, European authorities should ensure that any migration measures fully comply with international legal standards.
Read also: Spain’s Migrant Regularization Draws 900,000 Applications, 15 Days to Deadline
The debate over migration policy has intensified across Europe in recent years. Supporters of tougher controls have frequently pointed to the low rate of deportations from the EU. Currently, only about 20% of orders requiring irregular migrants to leave the bloc are actually carried out. Advocates of stricter immigration enforcement often cite this figure as further proof of Europe’s dangerous leniency in the migration file.
Against that backdrop, the European Commission presented a proposal last year designed to increase the number of returns. The plan drew criticism from left-wing lawmakers and human rights organizations, which argued that it could weaken protections for migrants and asylum seekers.
Türk reiterated that international human rights and refugee law are clear on one key principle. No individual should be returned to a place where they face a real risk of serious human rights abuses.
“This is the fundamental principle of non-refoulement. It must be fully respected by all countries and all territories under all circumstances,” he said.
The UN official also said deportation decisions should always be based on individual assessments and should not be enforced until all appeal procedures have been completed.
He concluded by calling for an approach to migration that also recognizes the contribution migrants make to European societies and economies.
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