"This new Partnership Framework risks cementing a shift towards a foreign policy that serves one single objective, to curb migration, at the expense of European credibility and leverage in defence of fundamental values and human rights," the letter said.
According to the letter, the approach proposed by the Commission will not only fail to break the business-model of migrant smugglers but increase human suffering as people will be forced to take more dangerous routes to reach Europe.
"There are no safeguards envisaged to ensure that human rights, rule of law standards and protection mechanisms are in place. As a result, people risk being deported to countries where their rights are not safeguarded. Responsibility and liability for human rights violations do not end at Europe’s borders."
The 109 signatories of the letter include prominent watchdogs and humanitarian organizations, such as the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam.
Since 2015, Europe has faced a massive influx of migrants and refugees. According to the latest data by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 214,00 migrants arrived in Europe having crossed the Mediterranean Sea so far in 2016.
