This week, @ErnstCornelia and I will be visiting Mauritania and Senegal.
We will particularly focus on the Frontex status agreements that the EU is currently negotiating with both countries, and possible human rights implications for migrants.
Read this thread for more info 👇
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1627345822118555650
What is a "Status Agreement"? Practically, such an agreement will allow Frontex to deploy border guards to a particular country, and perform border management tasks.
It is for the first time in history that the EU plans to conclude these agreements with non-European countries.
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1627345861700100098
The possible deployment of Frontex officers in Mauritania and Senegal fits in a broader trend of externalization: Member States are deeply divided over internal reforms, so instead choose to outsource responsibility to non-EU countries - often at the costs of refugees’ rights.
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1627345880318631936
It is for example questionable whether people will have access to an asylum procedure in Mauritania or Senegal if they are intercepted by Frontex at sea and brought back.
There is a risk that people get stuck without access to protection, which is a basic fundamental right.
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1627345899520155648
I'm also worried about the provision in the EU negotiating mandate that Frontex staff should enjoy immunity, meaning they can't be prosecuted.
Especially with the tasks that border guards perform, this is very risky in terms of accountability and harms a country's sovereignty.
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1627345988624035841
Because of the large implications that a status agreement has, it has to be formally approved by the EP.
@ErnstCornelia is appointed as the Rapporteur for Senegal, I am for Mauritania. That is why we jointly undertake this informal fact-finding mission.
Follow for updates!
🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Tineke_Strik/status/1627346040192999428