Netherlands Government plan to return asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies to Uganda

Priority question for written answer P-002140/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew)

On 16 October, the Netherlands Government announced its intention of holding failed asylum seekers in Uganda - not only Ugandan asylum seekers, but also asylum seekers from other countries. The human rights situation in Uganda has been deteriorating for years, especially for LGBTIQ people, who have been at risk of the death penalty since last year. In addition, a Ugandan citizen was recently given a six-year prison sentence for 'insulting' the President and his family on social media.[1]

• 1.Will the Commission immediately ask the Netherlands Government for more information about this plan?
• 2.Can the Commission confirm that sending failed asylum seekers of different nationalities to Uganda against their will is not in line with the Return Directive?
• 3.Will the Commission, in its capacity as guardian of the Treaties, ensure that European asylum and migration legislation, including effective and humane return of rejected asylum applicants, is properly enforced at all times?

Submitted: 17.10.2024

• [1]^{https://nos.nl/artikel/2540986-kabinet-wil-uitgeprocedeerde-afrikaanse-asielzoekers-naar-uganda-sturen.}