Jorrit Rijpma appeared before the European Parliament’s Working Group on Frontex Scrutiny
On Friday 23 April, Jorrit Rijpma appeared before the European Parliament’s Working Group on Frontex Scrutiny. This working group was set up by the Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in response to allegations of serious fundamental rights violations taking place in the context of joint operational activity, coordinated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
The working group is headed by Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta), while Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, The Netherlands) will draft the report outlining its recommendations.
In his intervention Rijpma discussed the legal framework for border controls at sea, the problematic nature of so-called push-backs, as well as the need for more transparency and more proactive monitoring of fundamental rights compliance by the Agency. He joined professor Takis Tridimas (Kings College London) and representatives of Refugee Support Aegean and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee.
On Thursday 22 April, the Standing Committee of Experts in International Immigration, Refugee and Criminal Law (Meijers Committee) published a note on the alleged pushbacks and Frontex responsibility under EU and international human rights law. Rijpma, as well as Europa Institute’s member Melanie Fink, are part of the Meijers Committee and contributed to this note.
The recording of the hearing is available here.