On the ongoing negotiations on a status agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in Senegal

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:

1. Supports the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Senegal on the establishment of a status agreement that provides for Frontex deployment in Senegal; notes however that a status agreement can only be established under the condition that it enshrines and adheres to strict fundamental human rights guarantees;

2. Calls on the Commission and the Fundamental Rights Officer to conduct an independent assessment of the human rights situation in Senegal as regards the treatment of migrants and refugees;

3. Maintains that the launch of Frontex operational activities under a status agreement should promote fundamental human rights and EU values;

4. Considers that Frontex staff who are granted immunity for their activities in Senegal must continue to be held accountable under EU or Member State law;

5. Calls for clear guidelines and training to be provided to Frontex staff deployed in Senegal;

6. Calls for consistent, regular and transparent reporting on Frontex activities concerning migration and asylum in Senegal;

7. Notes the efforts made by Senegalese authorities in receiving and processing migrants and refugees in the region; calls for the EU to continue to support Senegal in providing adequate protection for migrants and refugees in transit and to assist in capacity building;

8. Calls for the establishment of a robust complaint mechanism that is publicly accessible and for an incident reporting mechanism for Frontex activities;

9. Calls for the EU and Senegalese authorities to enable inclusive dialogue in the preparation of the status agreement;

10. Considers that the EU and Frontex should suspend their activities on migration and asylum carried out in cooperation with Senegalese authorities in the event of persistent human rights violations;

11. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the conclusion of this status agreement with Senegal and the Frontex’s activities in migration management in Senegal do not impede the right to freedom of movement of individuals as guaranteed under the Economic Community of West African States Treaty, which provides for the long-term establishment of a free movement zone for goods, capital and people.