The non-refoulement principle in international law and the law of the European Union: a comparison

1 Abstract This thesis deals with the key principle of international refugee law which is the principle of non-refoulement. In the broadest sense of the term, the principle forbids the forced removal or 'refoulement' of an individual to the territories where he would run a risk of being subjected to the violation of his basic human rights. The non-refoulement principle was enshrined in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees but it was also developed in international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or regional European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Its expression can also be found in Common European Asylum System shared by the Member States of the European Union. The first goal of the thesis is to find out the precise content of the non-refoulement principle with regard to its development and current interpretation in international law. The second aim of the study is to analyze the same principle in the context of European Union law and to assess the compliance of this system with international law. For the sake of clarity, the thesis is composed of two main chapters. Chapter One examines the meaning of the principle in the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and takes into consideration..