A new report reveals that pushbacks in Europe have surged in recent years, becoming a “systematic” practice. In 2024, over 120,000 pushbacks were recorded at the European Union’s external borders, with national authorities preventing irregular migrants from accessing the asylum process, a right protected under EU and international law.
The report, compiled by nine human rights organisations using data from government sources, NGOs, and research groups, estimates at least 120,457 migrants were expelled without the opportunity for individual assessment. Many of these pushbacks were reportedly conducted with violence, including beatings by border guards, abandonment at sea, or exposure to harsh conditions.
Bulgaria topped the 2024 list with 52,534 pushbacks to Turkey, followed by Greece, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Croatia, and Lithuania. The report also examined Libya and Lebanon, where interceptions were conducted with substantial support from Italy, Cyprus, and EU institutions.
Pushbacks have been a contentious issue in the EU since the 2015-2016 migration crisis, leading to internal investigations, media scrutiny, and legal challenges.
via Euronews