Brussels, 06/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 May, the EU Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, put forward a number of proposals for the Frontex common border agency, so that it ensures more respect for the fundamental rights of migrants subject to forced return procedures to their home countries. Between 2006 and 2015, Frontex coordinated 267 joint return flights and returned a total of 13,000 people, explained the Ombudsman in a press release.
Her recommendations particularly focus on the situation involving children and pregnant women, whose cases will have to be processed separately from other repatriations. Frontex also has to promote common rules on constraint and compel member states to improve their complaints procedures. The Ombudsman says that she is disappointed that Frontex is still refusing to develop its own complaints mechanism. Her suggestions also focus on medical examinations for migrants and human rights training for personnel escorting those being repatriated. (Solenn Paulic)