'Alarming tends' in treatment of asylum seekers in member states

The European Commissioner for Human Rights has warned of alarming trends in the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, as well as of irregular migrants in all parts of Europe.

Some 50 to 60 European and African leaders are gathering on the Mediterranean island of Malta today for a special summit on migration.

But the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, said states were engaging ever more intensely in extensive border patrols, trying to deter the entry of migrants into their territory.

“Migrants, including asylum seekers, who do manage to enter irregularly member states are often criminalised, locked up in prison-like conditions, and expelled as quickly as possible – even to countries where they risk persecution and torture. However, irregular migration is not a criminal act and irregular migrants also enjoy certain rights under international law, which need to be respected.”

Muižnieks warned that in an attempt to fight abusive asylum requests, states undermine the rights of genuine asylum seekers, who are frequently detained and unable to access fair and efficient asylum procedures.

“One of the most vulnerable groups in Europe today is migrant children, who often are denied basic health care and education, and run the risk of being exploited by traffickers or smugglers.”

Figures made available by the Malta-based European Asylum Support Office during a technical briefing on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that asylum sought by unaccompanied minors was on the rise - in November, a 5% increase was registered. The majority of them were from Afghanistan, Eritrea and Syria.

The European Union is now offering African countries €1.8 billion in new aid to African countries, although critics questioning Europe’s response see the EU as trying to push people back to areas where serious questions on human rights and lack of economic opportunities arise.

One example is Turkey, where Europe wants to obtain the country’s cooperation in stemming the flow of refugees and asylum seekers. At the same time, a report published only yesterday saw the EU accusing Turkey of backsliding on the rule of law, rights and the media.

A sensitive report on Turkey’s candidacy for the bloc slammed Recep Tayyip Erdogan under whose watch was some “serious backsliding” on freedom of expression and the judiciary that has been undermined.

"Over the past year, significant shortcomings affected the independence of the judiciary as well as freedom of assembly and freedom of expression," EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said as he unveiled the report.

Hahn praised Turkey's "humanitarian support" in hosting more than two million refugees and said the EU had to step up its cooperation with Ankara to tackle the migration crisis.

But the report said Turkish commitment to joining the 28-nation bloc was "offset" by domestic actions that "ran against European standards".

"The new government formed after the repeat election on 1 November will need to address these urgent priorities," the summary said.