Draft Bill 8684, designed to implement the European migration and asylum pact in Luxembourg, represents a clear backsliding in terms of basic rights, according to the Luxembourg Refugee Council.
During a press conference on Tuesday morning, representatives of the Refugee Council warned that the bill mainly focuses on control, retention, and stricter regulations. The collective expressed particular concern regarding three areas: the protection of minors, the shortening of appeal deadlines, and the treatment of sensitive data.
The council also criticised that the draft bill leaves too much room for restrictions and during checks, while not providing sufficient guarantees for affected individuals. For this reason, the Refugee Council is calling for the bill – expected to be voted on in the summer – to be amended in order to better protect the rights of asylum seekers, especially children and other vulnerable individuals.
