Returns Regulation vote marks a shameful turn for Europe
Return Regulation
Today, Members of the European Parliament have just voted on the Returns Regulation ahead of inter-institutional negotiations with the Council. Thanks to the EPP cooperation with the far-right, the Parliament’s position includes efforts to lock up unaccompanied children, indefinite detention and deportation to offshore camps known as return hubs. The Greens/EFA Group strongly oppose the parliament’s position.
Mélissa Camara MEP, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur for the Returns Regulation, comments:
“It’s disgraceful to see EPP MEPs celebrating their efforts to lock up children and throw away the key. The same MEPs have shamefully been doing shady backroom deals with the extreme right, namely ECR, Patriots and ESN, just to make life miserable for those seeking safety on our shores.
“The EPP have been working hand-in-glove with the far-right to pursue racist and populist migration policies at the EU level. The rapporteur and some liberal MEPs bear some responsibility here for not playing procedural games properly standing up to the EPP and their far-right friends on this draconian turn in migration policy. By refusing to oppose the mandate in order to stay in charge of the file, they are legitimising an inhumane text
“Longer and possibly indefinite detention, entry bans, the weakening of legal safeguards and the use of offshore return hubs neglect the EU’s commitment to human rights and international obligations and mark a shameful turn for Europe. The Greens/EFA Group will never stop fighting for people’s rights and a fair and effective European asylum system.”
