On 17 February 2025, nine human rights organisations released a report analysing data on pushbacks from EU Member States to third countries in 2024. The data was sourced from NGO reports, research groups, human rights organisations, UN organisations and government services. This information was further enriched with interviews with human rights organisations operating in Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Poland, Croatia, Finland and Bulgaria.

The report highlights some progress, including greater awareness of the issue of pushbacks, with more human rights organisations and the media documenting these practices. Also, some legal challenges have been brought against EU Member States involved in pushbacks (e.g. the landmark January 2025 ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on pushbacks in Greece) and there have been some limited successes in holding authorities accountable for their actions.

However, the report stresses that pushbacks have become a routine and systematic practice at several EU borders, rather than isolated incidents. According to the organisations, pushbacks have become normalised, for example from Greece to Turkey, from Hungary to Serbia, from Croatia to Bosnia, and from Poland to Belarus. The report underlines that pushbacks are often accompanied by violence and the destruction or confiscation of personal belongings. 

The report ultimately calls for significant reforms to address the ongoing issue of pushbacks. These reforms include the creation of independent monitoring bodies to oversee border practices and ensure compliance with human rights standards. It also emphasizes the need for greater accountability for EU Member States involved in pushbacks. The report advocates for the implementation of stronger mechanisms to uphold migrants' rights, ensuring that individuals are allowed to seek asylum and are not forcibly returned to countries where they face danger. 

For further details, please read the report attached below.