12/10/2022 Session
PACE has noted that border pushbacks have taken on worrying proportions, both at land and sea, and that they render the plight of migrants and refugees even harsher, heightening the risk to lose one’s life in a very perilous journey.
It therefore called on member States to “change the law and practice to stop pushbacks at land and sea” and to “codify the principle of non-refoulement in national legislation”.
In a resolution adopted today, on the basis of a report by Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC), it proposed a set of measures to prevent pushbacks, to protect the victims and prosecute those responsible for pushbacks, and to improve international co-operation and co-ordination between border authorities, police and other bodies in charge of border protection.
The parliamentarians also stressed the importance of well-functioning independent monitoring mechanisms for border operations at national and European levels, while involving civil society.
Finally, according to the adopted text, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) should enhance its capacity to deal with allegations of pushbacks and allow for thorough investigation to bring those responsible for pushbacks to justice.