In Deep Water: Towards a Greater Commitment for Human Rights in Sea Operations Coordinated by Frontex?

Abstract:

Frontex and the EU Member States have been criticised for not carrying out sea surveillance operations coordinated by the Agency in full compliance with human rights obligations. While Frontex and the Member States are clearly obliged to respect human rights when carrying out maritime surveillance operations within their territorial waters and contiguous zone, the question is much more complex on the high seas and especially in the territorial waters of a third country. Therefore, the most problematic question in Frontex operations is the extraterritorial application of human rights obligations of the EU and its Member States.

The aim of this paper is to determine to what extent Regulation 656/2014 has introduced a clear regulation of the interception and rescue operations coordinated by Frontex while at the same time fully respecting fundamental rights and, in particular, the principle of non-refoulement.