The EU and its Member States, more obsessed with “protecting the EU’s borders”, are turning away from Afghan displaced people. The EU pursues its externalisation of migration control – through support to third countries and reinforcement of border management measures – instead of presenting concrete resettlement pledges and reception for Afghan refugees.
Following the Justice and Home Affairs meeting of 31 August 2021, EU leaders stressed the importance of using third-country national clauses in the readmission agreements between the EU and certain transit countries, such as Turkey and Pakistan. In doing so, they confirmed their commitment to externalise their migration and asylum responsibilities and returning Afghan refugees to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, where they can face serious protection issues.
Examples of this trend are already numerous. Afghan refugees in France are facing increased obstacles in family reunification procedures. Croatia is violently pushing Afghan families attempting to reach Europe back to Bosnia. Bulgaria is stopping and detaining Afghan refugees at the border with Greece and Turkey.
Greece is erecting patrol units and surveillance systems to intercept Afghans crossing into the EU. Its Joint Ministerial Decision on considering Turkey a “safe” third country will directly affect up to 63% of Afghan citizens currently residing in Lesvos’ Mavrovouni camp, where they are at risk of being returned to Turkey. A Greek appeal court already annulled the return decision taken by the Greek regional asylum office in Lesvos on the basis that Turkey could not be considered a safe third country for the applicant family.
And yet, the EU continues to negotiate to include the situation of Afghan refugees in its deal with Turkey. Afghan refugees face serious protection issues in Turkey, as they are entitled neither to a protection under the Geneva Convention 1951 nor to a “temporary protection” as Syrian refugees do. Afghan refugees are constantly deported from Turkey, detained and pushed back at the Iran-Turkey border. Fears of increased hate crimes and racist attacks have already intensified among Afghanis in Turkey.