EU risks compromising values with Turkey deal: UN’s HR chief

The United Nations (UN)’s human rights chief has slammed the European Union (EU) for potentially compromising its human rights principles by demanding that Turkey take back refugees reaching Europe from its shores.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Tuesday that the demand by the EU, which is being pushed in a deal with Turkey, restricts the Geneva Convention rights for refugees to Europeans only.

“We believe that Turkey should lift all restrictions on Geneva,” Zeid said, referring to the Geneva Convention.

The EU is pushing for an initial accord with Ankara this week to begin taking back refugees that have reached Europe via Turkey.

“The risk is that if, for the sake of expediency, the EU defaults on its human rights obligations, then the reputation as being one of the principle standard-bearers upholding human rights around the world would be affected,” Zeid said.

“If the EU is perceived to cut corners when it comes to international law and European standards, it can have a knock-on effect on other parts of the world,” he warned.

Zeid further said that for any agreement to be in line with international law, it has to ensure that each case is individually evaluated. He also warned that pushing for asylum processing centers offshore could result in them becoming “centers of abuse.”

“We would rather see that full protections are provided,” the UN human rights chief said. “There are many concerns we have about the human rights situation in (Turkey), we need to feel assured that the full protection is given to those who merit it.”

He said Turkey, which currently houses nearly 2.5 million refugees fleeing violence in neighboring Syria, should also take proper care of the people who do not meet the definition of a refugee but require protection, including children, the disabled, as well as victims of trafficking or sexual abuse.

The European refugee crisis has triggered major rifts among the EU’s 28 member nations and stimulated support for nationalists and populists across the continent.

The EU is pushing for an initial agreement this week with Turkey to start taking back refugees reaching Europe from its shores. Although some diplomats in Brussels suggested a certification by Turkey that it would treat everyone in line with the standards of the Geneva Convention would be sufficient, the UN human rights chief disagreed. On November 29, 2015, leaders from EU member states met with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and pledged to provide €3 billion (about $3.19 billion) to Ankara to help it handle over two million refugees in the country. EU leaders also pledged to open fresh negotiations on Turkey's accession process to the European Union.

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