More than 110 organisations urge MEPs to vote against the European Return Regulation
A total of 110 anti-racist organisations, social entities and human rights groups from across the Spanish state have signed a letter addressed to Members of the European Parliament warning about the impact that the European Return Regulation would have on fundamental rights and calling for it not to pass in the vote scheduled for next March.
At the same time, the organisations promoting the initiative — AlgoRace Irídia and Novact, together with CEAR and Red Acoge — have also sent a letter to the Presidency of the Spanish Government requesting that Spain position itself against the proposal.
Among the organisations signing the letter addressed to MEPs are, among others, SOS Racismo, Espacio Afro, the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), Médecins du Monde, Oxfam and the Jesuit Migrant Service. In the text, the organisations warn that the proposal opens the door to a deportation model characterised by reduced legal safeguards, increased detention — including of children — and practices that could violate basic principles of International Law, including the principle of non-refoulement.
Racial profiling, detention and expanded surveillance
Likewise, one of the most concerning aspects of the Regulation is the introduction of an obligation for Member States to “detect” people in an irregular administrative situation. In practice, this would mean an increase in identity checks and detentions based on racial profiling as detection measures.
Specifically, the Regulation currently under debate opens the door to police raids in public and private spaces, including offices and humanitarian assistance centres managed by humanitarian organisations. These raids further normalise racial profiling: checks and verifications based on appearance, language or perceived origin, rather than individual conduct, leading to discrimination against racialised communities. Furthermore, the development and use of technology to track people’s movements and increase surveillance of undocumented migrants and racialised persons is also a matter of concern.
The organisations warn that these discriminatory measures generate fear and break social and community ties. They also hinder access to essential services such as healthcare, education and social services.
Deportations to third countries and external return centres
In the letter, the organisations express particular concern about allowing deportations to “safe third countries” (including countries with questionable human rights protection standards, but which have been included on the list of “safe third countries”, such as Egypt, Morocco or Colombia), without the person having any link to that country, as well as about the creation of return centres in third countries.
A Regulation directly applicable in Member States
Furthermore, the organisations warn that, as a Regulation, the text would automatically become part of the legal order of EU countries once adopted.
“We are deeply concerned about the normalisation of measures that reinforce the criminalisation of migration, racial profiling and the erosion of fundamental safeguards inherent to the rule of law,” state the signatory organisations.
At Spanish level, the organisations call on the political groups in the European Parliament and on the Presidency of the Government — to whom they have addressed a letter — to vote against the Regulation.
Call to vote against and defence of human rights
In conclusion, at a time of racist and xenophobic drift within European institutions and their Member States, and in response to a global trend of criminalisation and persecution of migrants, it is essential to maintain a firm commitment to the human rights of all people, regardless of their origin or administrative status, and to the rule of law.
Read the full letter to the Presidency.
Read the full letter to MEPs.