In his Observations on the new returns framework published on Monday 2 March, Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, once again warns of the risks to human rights posed by the forthcoming adoption of the future Regulation governing the return of illegal third-country nationals.
While these measures are pertinent in their aim to be more effective, they must not contravene international law, “including the absolute prohibition of refoulement”, he...