EU toughens stance on non-EU countries taking back citizens denied right to stay

Campaigners say bloc's plan to use development aid, trade policy and access to visas as leverage' fails to put human rights first

The European Union could use development aid, trade policy and access to visas as leverage" over non-EU countries that are deemed to be failing to take back their citizens denied the right to stay in Europe, according to a draft communique seen by the Guardian.

The EU's 27 national leaders could endorse a plan at a summit in Brussels next month to use all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including development, trade and visas as well as opportunities for legal migration" as leverage" over migrants' countries of origin.