Critics argue that the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, recently approved by the EU Council and Parliament, violates human rights and is unlikely to meet its goals. The pact, lauded as a significant achievement, aims to strengthen the EU’s external borders and ensure that no member state bears the burden of migratory pressure alone. However, non-governmental organizations, legal experts, and migration researchers are skeptical about the claims of safeguarding fundamental rights under the new regulations.
Migration researcher Franck Duvell has expressed concerns that the new pact could lead to more situations like the ill-fated Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, where new closed centers are planned at the EU’s borders. The pact’s approach to faster processing and detaining migrants, particularly those from “safe countries of origin,” has been met with strong opposition. Critics argue that these measures, designed to expedite deportations, are both inhumane and ineffective.
In Italy, where closed centers known as CPRs are already in operation, there are warnings that these facilities are both costly and inhumane. Immigration rights lawyer Francesca Venturin criticizes the policy, stating that despite the establishment of these centers, migration has not ceased, rendering the solution ineffective. Venturin argues that the fast-tracking of asylum procedures and the detention of asylum seekers are unjust and unworkable. She compares the conditions in CPRs to jails, highlighting the lack of rights for detainees.
The new EU regulations also raise concerns about the impact on asylum seekers’ rights. Many migrants will not have access to necessary legal and support services during the accelerated assessment process. Venturin fears that the rapid processing could lead to wrongful detentions and deportations, without proper consideration of asylum claims.
The pact also includes measures to expand the use of digital surveillance and biometric data collection. Civil society groups are worried about the increased deployment of surveillance technologies, which are intended to track, filter, and control migrants. Matthias Spielkamp, executive director of AlgorithmWatch, warns about the normalization of artificial intelligence (AI) and surveillance in migration and border control. He criticizes the use of unreliable AI tools, such as AI-based lie detectors, in making critical decisions about migrants’ entry and asylum applications.
Spielkamp also highlights the misuse of digital technologies, which are often employed for deterrence rather than humanitarian assistance. He points to recent incidents in the Mediterranean, where migrants drowned despite being monitored by border authorities, as evidence of the misplaced priorities in using these technologies.
The expanded use of biometric data collection, under changes to the Eurodac Regulation, is another area of concern. Organizations like the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) warn about the implications of such measures. The potential deployment of AI in decision-making processes further exacerbates these concerns, as the reliability and ethical considerations of these technologies remain questionable.
In summary, while the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum aims to address migratory pressures and enhance border security, its implementation raises significant human rights concerns. Critics argue that the measures could lead to more inhumane conditions, ineffective solutions, and increased surveillance, rather than achieving the intended objectives of the pact.