What is UNHCRs stance on interception by Frontex or European Union (EU) member state patrols?
Practice differs depending on the member states involved but, in any case, UNHCR expects operations by Frontex – the external border security agency of the EU – to be in line with international and EU standards. In practice, interception by either Frontex or by EU member states does not always take into account the different reasons why people cross the Mediterranean by boat. UNHCR’s main concern is that there are no adequate mechanisms in place to ensure that asylum seekers are not pushed back to the territories of third countries without the possibility of their protection needs being properly examined and regardless of whether the responsibility for providing protection to the refugees among them lies more appropriately with an EU member state.
