UK joins EU pledge to make it easier to deport migrants in bid to curb illegal crossings
Britain has joined EU ministers in pledging to make it easier to deport foreign nationals as the continent grapples with the problem of illegal immigration.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper and other European ministers will make a joint political declaration on Friday agreeing on stricter enforcement of human rights law and reasserting states’ sovereign rights to deport people from their countries.
The declaration, prepared under the leadership of the United Kingdom, Denmark and Italy, will be published by the foreign ministers of the European Council, which consists of 46 member countries.
Ministers agreed on an updated interpretation of Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The UK and other member states hope this statement will help courts independent of the government to ensure serious criminals do not escape deportation.
Article 3 of the ECHR protects against deportation to a country where a person would be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment. The UK and others are understood to think that the threshold for what constitutes “inhuman or degrading treatment” is too high and should be lowered so that it cannot stop people being deported to countries that have long respected democracy and the rule of law.
Article 8 of the ECHR guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, and EU ministers are expected to say the family rights of serious foreign criminals must be appropriately balanced against the public interest in deporting them.
Human rights organizations warned that the political statement would lead to a “gradual weakening of human rights protections.”
Akiko Hart, director of Liberty, said this was a “hugely important moment”, adding: “We are deeply concerned that changing the way the ECHR is used by UK courts will open the door to a gradual weakening of human rights protections.
“The ECHR affects our lives every day. It acts as a vital safety net and its undermining jeopardizes the legal framework that protects us all.
“At a time when we see increasing threats to human rights and civil liberties across Europe, now is the time to strengthen frameworks such as the ECHR, not weaken them.”
Ahead of meetings in Moldova on Friday, Ms Cooper said the UK was “working with neighbors across Europe to ensure countries can take strong action against illegal immigration, control borders, uphold the rule of law and respect international standards”.
He continued: “The ECHR has been protecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe for 75 years. To ensure the continuation of this, we need a common-sense approach that reflects today’s realities.
“We want to ensure that immigration systems are not unfairly manipulated to prevent the lawful return of foreign criminals or those accused of crimes abroad.”
Attorney-General Richard Hermer said the UK was proud to be part of “modernising the way the ECtHR works”. “Including how we will protect our borders in the national interest to ensure that the Convention survives for 75 years and more.”
