Pushback Policies and Practice in Council of Europe Member States

Despite the Common European Asylum Acquis, which obliges Member States to guarantee access to a proper asylum procedure and to grant a right to asylum, the tendency of push backs is only growing and becoming more persistent. As this also directly affects the rights enshrined in the European Convention and Refugee Convention, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had appointed a rapporteur on push back practices and policies. As a rapporteur, Tineke Strik has investigated all push backs taking place in Europe and formulated recommendations for both Member States, EU institutes and the Council of Europe. Her resolution has been adopted by the migration committee, and will hopefully adopted in the plenary meeting of PACE in June. At the event, Strik will present her findings and recommendations.