Afghanistan is considered the most dangerous country in the world, ahead of Syria. Despite this, deportations to Afghanistan are taking place, and despite this the EU has once again adopted an agreement that is intended to further facilitate deportations to Afghanistan. This document, drawn up between the Commission and the Council, was signed at the beginning of February without the EU Parliament being given a say. New Afghanistan agreement The new repatriation agreement …
The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument is launched
I am shadow rapporteur for the future Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. NDICI stands for Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. With a total volume of almost EUR 80 billion, linked to the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 – 2027, the instrument will manage a large part of the EU's external funding. On Thursday, 18 …
Five years of the EU-Turkey deal: How time was bought and not used
Five years ago, the European Council and the Commission agreed on a deal with Turkey. The aim of this deal was to prevent people from Turkey from fleeing to Europe in larger numbers. The peak of the 2015 crisis, in which hundreds of thousands came to Europe, had long since passed and the arrival figures declined;
These legal migration possibilities to the EU exist
There are too few legal migration opportunities to the EU. This is especially a problem for refugees, who often have to risk their lives to apply for asylum. Because the EU fails to create legal escape and migration routes, people die trying to reach Europe. The EU's externalisation policy is designed to make people already …
Question: Frontex and refoulement at sea
In order to be able to exercise my parliamentary control function as an MEP, I have the opportunity to put questions to the European Commission. I have put the following questions to the Commission: Subject: Refoulement at sea and Frontex's call for more lax rules on the disembarkation of rescued persons in third countries In response to media research according to which …
Frontex inquiry group in the European Parliament starts its work
Today, 23 February 2021, the European Parliament's Frontex Inquiry Group met for the first time. It consists of 14 MEPs, of which I am one. The central question is whether the agency has systematically committed human rights violations. The group will present its first report in four months' time. Even after the first investigation, the …
Tagesschau: Investigation group set up against Frontex
The Tagesschau reports on the Frontex audit group set up by the European Parliament's Committee on Home Affairs. I am a member of this group and, together with the Members from the other groups, I will be questioning witnesses and experts. I said to the Tagesschau: „It really has been an absurd situation that in recent months we have learned more from the newspapers about what …
What happens to money that the EU provides to Bosnia and Herzegovina for refugees?
Since the beginning of 2018, the EU has provided Bosnia and Herzegovina with a total of around €89 million for flight and migration. According to the EU Commission, the money is intended to provide humanitarian aid for refugees and support the Bosnian authorities in migration management. Of this money, over €75 million came from the so-called Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Thereby …
This is why it is so difficult to sue when human rights are violated
I am often asked why people on the run do not simply sue in a court of law when their elementary human rights are violated by EU states or Frontex. This question is very legitimate, but not easy to answer. In this text I will address some key points that make it so difficult for people on the run to …
Question: Pushbacks by Frontex in the Aegean Sea
In order to be able to exercise my parliamentary control function as an MEP, I have the opportunity to put questions to the European Commission. Together with other Members, I have put the following questions to the Commission: Subject: Illegal refoulement by Frontex in the Aegean The German news magazine Der Spiegel today published an investigation entitled 'Frontex …