Council of Europe: Stop removals to unsafe countries

Member states urged to promote assisted voluntary returns

European Union member States have been called upon to only apply readmission agreements in the cases of countries which respect human rights and have a fully functioning asylum system.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said this is fundamental to protect irregular immigrants, especially third-country nationals who may risk finding themselves in a country which is not theirs of origin and where they have limited social rights and no opportunities to submit an asylum application.

According to the rapporteur Tineke Strik (Netherlands), "the chain of readmission agreements will hinder the chances of refugees to reach a safe haven”.

The adopted text based on her proposals urges towards greater transparency by compiling statistics on and monitoring the implementation of readmission agreements.

In a second text also adopted, based on a report by Ozlem Turkone (Turkey), PACE invited member states to promote assisted voluntary returns favouring programmes suggested by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which include: pre-departure counselling, giving current information about their home region and assistance in obtaining the necessary documents; then transportation assistance whether financially or in practical terms according to need; and finally post arrival assistance which ensures a sustainable return and helps development in the country of origin through training and employment opportunities.