EU pact could stop ‘hostile' states from using migrants for politics: Rights agency
Some countries outside the European Union have repeatedly funneled migrants and refugees to the bloc's external borders to put pressure on the EU, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) said in a paper on the topic.
The EU migration pact is due to come into force in mid-2026 and would allow countries to return rejected asylum applicants more quickly, the FRA said.
'The effective and speedy implementation of return procedures in full respect of applicable safeguards may discourage the instrumentalization of migrants and refugees,' the FRA paper noted.
It said that EU countries could impose sanctions on 'hostile' states or restrict the visas of people from those countries as part of a raft of measures to discourage the practice.
Poland, for instance, has accused Belarus and Russia of flying in or bussing people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Ethiopia and other nations to their borders with the EU member state before trying to direct them across.
Rights groups have subsequently accused Warsaw of unlawfully, and sometimes violently, forcing people back across its borders.
In 2023 and 2024, almost 60 people died along the EU land border with Belarus, many from hypothermia while stranded there, according to the FRA.
The new pact will allow EU members to prioritize the processing of asylum claims by those subject to this sort of instrumentalization, deploying additional staff to help, the FRA added.
'Instead of punishing migrants and refugees who are being used and abused for political gains, EU countries need to direct their measures towards the hostile actors,' FRA director Sirpa Rautio said.
'Some of the current responses to instrumentalization may undermine the protection of fundamental rights at the EU's borders, including the right to asylum,' she added.
In its paper, the FRA said that 'certain rights, such as the prohibition of torture or sending people back to where their lives and freedom are at risk, are absolute'.
'They cannot be limited under any circumstances,' the group said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump says EU and US have ‘reached a deal' on trade
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had reached a trade agreement with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen. 'We have reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody,' Trump told reporters after talks with von der Leyen at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland. The EU chief also hailed it as a 'good deal.'


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Europe can build its own social media
When I built my first website back in 1998, the internet felt expansive. You could publish something in Berlin and someone in Boston or Belgrade might stumble on it within seconds. But today, as a small number of tech monopolies hoover up attention and strangle innovation, that spirit of connection has been lost. Through their powerful platforms, social media giants control a large share of the digital world's underlying architecture. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, X and others operate as walled gardens and their algorithms discourage users from leaving by deprioritizing posts with outgoing links. People end up stuck on one platform, scrolling mindlessly — an outcome diametrically opposed to the early vision of the internet as a web of interlinked sites and communities. Europe should recognize this for what it is: a systemic dependency that threatens the continent's digital sovereignty. Just as the EU seeks to reduce its reliance on external providers for semiconductors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, it must do the same for social media. The dominant platforms extract value from European users by capturing their attention and selling their data, while paying little in taxes and skirting regulations. Their proprietary infrastructure increasingly shapes our lives, from the news we see to the way we speak online. While European policymakers have long expressed concern about the concentration of corporate power among the big social media companies, and their outsize influence on society and politics, last year's US presidential election should be sounding alarm bells across the continent. Tech billionaire Elon Musk weaponized X, the platform formerly known as Twitter that he acquired in 2022, to help Donald Trump win reelection by promoting content favorable to him. He has since threatened to interfere in European elections. One solution is to invest in EU-based alternatives. But time and again, policymakers trot out the same excuse that there are no viable options. The European Commission's new International Digital Strategy is likewise skeptical that the bloc can wean itself off Big Tech, instead calling for collaboration with the US to address its dependency. But this stance ignores the emergence in recent years of social media sites built on decentralized, open protocols. These new platforms are fundamentally different, in principle and design, from American behemoths such as Instagram and X. They restore control to users, reduce gatekeeping and encourage innovation. Open protocols are poised to upend the status quo, creating a more democratic digital world. Sebastian Vogelsang Perhaps the best example is the AT Protocol, which serves as the foundation for Bluesky, a fast-growing platform that has amassed almost 36 million users. Designed for interoperability, the AT Protocol allows users to own their data and control the algorithms that curate their feeds. Anyone can develop apps on the decentralized system — which means that no single company can dominate — and users can easily move between platforms, taking their followers and content with them. That means they never have to start over from scratch. This dedication to pluralism helps break Big Tech's monopoly power over social media, which has stifled European innovation for decades. Europe-based firms have already used the AT Protocol to create platforms such as SkyFeed and Graysky. Others are trying to protect and build out this social ecosystem free from Big Tech's grip. The Free Our Feeds campaign is working to ensure that the underlying infrastructure continues to be governed in the public interest. Eurosky is a new pro bono effort by a group of European technologists, including myself, to create tools, such as built-in content moderation aligned with EU laws, and infrastructure on the AT Protocol that help European developers build and scale platforms that can rival the social media giants. Open protocols are not some utopian project. They are poised to upend the status quo of social media, creating a more democratic digital world. That is why European policymakers should designate these social networking frameworks as critical infrastructure and invest in developing them. Social media should be at the heart of Europe's digital sovereignty agenda. Building platforms in Europe that rely on an open-source framework would help safeguard democratic discourse from foreign manipulation, create economic value for the continent and ensure European social media users control the algorithms that shape what they see. Countries outside the EU could also benefit from these efforts to challenge Big Tech's dominance. The online world has gone astray, with America's tech sector largely calling the shots on how it is developed and used. Europe can help return the internet to its roots by fostering a social media ecosystem built for pluralism, not polarization, but it needs political leaders who are willing to fight for a new, truly social digital infrastructure.


Leaders
a day ago
- Leaders
Trump, EU Chief Set for Crucial Trade Talks in Scotland
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet in Scotland on Sunday, with the aim to resolve a prolonged transatlantic trade standoff that has persisted for months. Both leaders hope to establish a trade deal that benefits their respective economies. In a bid to reduce the United States' trade deficits, Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs on numerous countries, insisting that these tariffs will take effect if a trade agreement is not finalized by 1 August, as the EU faces a potential 30% levy, prompting them to negotiate vigorously with the Trump administration. Announcement of the Meeting Von der Leyen announced the meeting on X, stating, 'Following a good call with POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations,' in what could a critical step in maintaining strong economic ties between the US and the EU. Trump arrived in the UK late Friday and confirmed his meeting with von der Leyen, expressing optimism about the discussions, stating, 'I'll be meeting with the EU on Sunday, and we'll be working on a deal.' He praised von der Leyen, calling her 'a highly respected woman,' and emphasized the importance of the upcoming negotiations. The Stakes of the Meeting Trump acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that the chances of reaching a deal stand at '50-50,' mentioning that sticking points remain on 'maybe 20 different things.' However, he remains hopeful, stating, 'If we make it, that would be, actually, the biggest deal of them all.' This high-level meeting follows extensive negotiations between top EU and US trade officials, with recent signals suggest that both sides are moving closer to an agreement. European diplomats indicate that the proposed deal may involve a baseline 15% US levy on EU goods, similar to the agreement reached with Japan earlier this week. Paula Pinho, von der Leyen's spokesperson, confirmed that 'intensive negotiations' have occurred at both technical and political levels leading up to the meeting, stating, 'Leaders will now take stock and consider the scope for a balanced outcome that provides stability and predictability for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.' Impact of Tariffs on the EU The EU has faced multiple waves of tariffs since Trump returned to the White House, with the EU currently endures a 25% levy on cars, a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, and a 10% tariff on various goods as Trump threatens to increase this tariff to 30% if no deal is reached. The EU aims to avoid sweeping tariffs that could further harm its already sluggish economy. The trading relationship between the US and the EU is worth approximately 1.6 trillion euros ($1.9 trillion) annually. EU member states have authorized the European Commission to pursue a deal to prevent hefty US tariffs, with retaliation considered a last resort. To maintain pressure during negotiations, EU states recently supported a package of retaliatory measures on $109 billion (93 billion euros) worth of US goods, which will begin in stages from 7 August if no agreement is reached. Most EU states prefer a deal over no deal, even if it involves undesirable levies of 15%. Key Exemptions Under Discussion Exemptions for specific sectors remain crucial in negotiations as diplomatic discussions include potential carve-outs for aircraft, steel, lumber, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural goods. Regarding steel, a compromise may allow a certain quota to enter the US, with amounts exceeding that subject to a 50% tax. Since initiating its tariffs campaign, Trump's administration has announced only five agreements, including those with Britain, Japan, and the Philippines. While EU hopes for a deal have risen, the looming 1 August deadline brings a sense of déjà vu. Earlier this month, EU officials believed they were close to an agreement before Trump escalated his tariff threats. An EU diplomat emphasized, 'The final decision is in the hands of President Trump.' Short link : Post Views: 28