HUMAN RIGHTS organisations urged the European Commission to reform its “unworkable” and “untenable” migration and asylum policies today, ahead of the EU’s announcement of a new deal with member states.

United Nations refugee agency the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) called on the EU’s executive branch to ensure that its new Pact for Migration and Asylum, due to be announced on Tuesday, will “provide a fresh start to move from an ad hoc crisis-driven approach to asylum and migration in Europe to … one that is more comprehensive, well-managed and predictable, both within and beyond the EU.”

The UN agencies said that the recent stand-off with NGO refugee rescue ships, reports of pushbacks and the Greek authorities’ handling of the devastating fire at the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, which made 13,000 people homeless, had highlighted the urgent need for reform.