THE European Union was warned today that its restrictive migration policies are a “violation of international law” as it was urged to step up sea rescue operations to save lives.

The Council of Europe (CoE) issued the warning to Brussels before the bloc’s 28 national leaders meet Thursday and Friday to discuss a new five-year plan which will tighten the already restrictive measures.

“Effective control of the external borders is an absolute prerequisite for guaranteeing security, upholding law and order, and ensuring properly functioning EU policies,” the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024 plan reads.

However the CoE warned the EU that it was failing in its duty to save lives and was returning people to regions where they were at risk.

“[EU member states] have adopted laws, policies and practices which have often been contrary to their legal obligations to ensure effective search and rescue operations, the prompt and safe disembarkation and treatment of rescued people, and the prevention of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment,” a statement said.

United Nations data shows that as many as 15,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean since 2015.

The CoE detailed 35 recommendations for the EU to “reframe their response according to human rights standards,” including reversing the scaling back of its sea rescue operations and ending pressure on groups and individuals that have been filling their role. Some of these face the threat of 20 years in Italian jail on charges of “human trafficking.”

“Outsourcing” border controls came at a “terrible human cost,” the CoE report warned.

“Not only do migrants continue to die at sea, but in some cases they are intercepted and brought to countries — like Libya — where they are often subjected to torture, rape, slavery, exploitation or indefinite and unlawful detention.”

The EU had not responded to the recommendations at the time the Star went to print.