Proposed data-sharing deals between Europol and five states in Central and South America needs explicit safeguards if they are to uphold fundamental rights, @EU_EDPS said at the beginning of May.

1/7 @EU_EDPS The proposed deals, with Brazil, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico and Peru, would allow the exchange of personal data between Europol and a series of police forces that have brutal records of violence and torture.

2/7

Frontex takes the lead on deportations

EU border agency Frontex has recently sought to take on a more prominent role in deportations, testing the possibility of organising the "initiative, destination, date" - roles previously reserved for national authorities.

1/6 The pilot phase sought to test "Frontex organised return operations (Frontex RO)," aimed at "[d]ecreasing the burden on [member states] and fostering EU-wide approach [sic]."

2/6

#Frontex to spend hundreds of millions of euros on #surveillance and deportations

The Management Board approved the 2023 Procurement Plan in mid-February. Here's an overview of what's on the shopping list 👇

@Migreurop @abolishfrontex @ecre @Border_Violence @PICUM_post €40 million for deportations

For the purchase of chartered aircraft to enable Frontex to carry out forced returns during the period 2023-2027.

Are you an EU member state looking to divert attention from the human rights abuses you are committing at your border?

Find out how to make fences and influence people - read this simple guide.

1/7 1.Become involved in a “crisis” at your external border

It could be people attempting to cross the leftover colonial border you have with Morocco or waiting to cross from Belarus

Wherever it happens, just make sure you react with extreme force and fuel a narrative of crisis
2/7

Frontex and Morocco
Cooperation between #Frontex and Morocco involves a “special relation”, according to a document we obtained as part of an investigation conducted last year.

1/8 That relation has been developed through the Frontex-Morocco Mixed Committee, which aims to “bring together senior managers and staff of Frontex and Morocco" to share knowledge & discuss technical aspects of border management to foster a trusted and transparent partnership.

2/8

New Report:

Access denied: Secrecy and the externalisation of EU migration control

Published by @boell_eu

A Thread 1/10 European interior ministers signed a secret joint statement in February last year that committed EU and Schengen states to increase financial and material support for deportations from the Balkans,

rb.gy/box8mp

2/10

Tomorrow 17pm CET we present our new report online!

Secrecy and the externalisation of European migration control

with a panel of speakers:

@Tineke_Strik
@giacomo_zando
@luisaizuz

and a discussant @AhNidzara

Register here rb.gy/qpctrj

Some findings👇 We filed access to document requests to investigate the "operationalisation" of the Pact in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco and Niger...

..despite some new information released the conclusion is that secrecy prevails.

For example in this document released by the EU Commission

New report!

Empowering the police, removing protections: the new Europol Regulation

The new #Europol rules massively expand the tasks and powers of the EU’s policing agency whilst reducing external scrutiny and rights protections for individuals.

Key points in a thread: Europol’s primary role is to act as a ‘hub’ for information processing and exchange between EU member states and other entities.

The new rules thus increase the powers of all police forces and other agencies that cooperate with Europol.