Pushbacks and the European migration policy

Under European law, everyone has the right to apply for asylum. In practice, however, illegal pushbacks are increasingly becoming part of European migration policy. Countries at Europe’s external borders are violently forcing asylum seekers back across the border, both on land and at sea. The European border agency Frontex does not intervene against these abuses and is even complicit in them.

Strict migration policies in the Netherlands and other northern EU Member States contribute to these illegal pushbacks. Proposals for a fair distribution of asylum seekers across the European Union are being blocked, and there is a deafening silence when human rights are violated. We consider this unacceptable and inhumane.

Pushbacks, pullbacks and driftbacks

In addition to pushbacks, the terms pullbacks and driftbacks are also sometimes used. What do these terms mean?

• Pushback: forcing refugees back across European borders. This is carried out by EU countries such as Bulgaria and is often accompanied by severe violence.
• Pullback: the return of refugees from European countries by third countries, for example, by Turkey or Libya. Violence is also frequently involved in these situations.
• Driftback: abandoning refugees at sea in unsteerable rubber boats. Sometimes these boats are deliberately sunk, or the people on board are thrown into the sea.

In all cases, these are illegal practices in which people fleeing are denied the opportunity to apply for asylum in Europe.