HUNGARY: ‘Humiliating’ Portfolio for Hungarian Commissioner-designate Reflects Country’s Marginalisation Within EU, Opposition Says ― ECtHR Rules Against Hungarian State in Transit Zone Case ― EU Triggers ‘Offsetting Procedure’ to Recoup  €200 Million Unpaid Fine ― Hungary Ready to File Lawsuit Against Commission ― Commission to Use ‘All Powers’ to Stop Budapest Bus Threat ― Hungary Joins Netherlands in Requesting Opt-out from EU Asylum Rules

HUNGARY: ‘Humiliating’ Portfolio for Hungarian Commissioner-designate Reflects Country’s Marginalisation Within EU, Opposition Says ― ECtHR Rules Against Hungarian State in Transit Zone Case ― EU Triggers ‘Offsetting Procedure’ to Recoup  €200 Million Unpaid Fine ― Hungary Ready to File Lawsuit Against Commission ― Commission to Use ‘All Powers’ to Stop Budapest Bus Threat ― Hungary Joins Netherlands in Requesting Opt-out from EU Asylum Rules

20th September 2024 | News

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen has allocated the health and animal welfare portfolio to Hungary’s Commissioner-designate Oliver Várhelyi in a move that the Hungarian opposition has described as ‘humiliating’ and a sign of Hungary’s increasing...
UK: More Deaths in Channel ― France Calls for EU-UK Migration Treaty ― Prime Minister Praises Italy’s Efforts in Reducing Irregular Migration ― NGOs Denounce Government Proposal to Involve them in Resettling Deportees ― Inquiry Chair Criticises Government for Failing to Agree on Recommendations Following Abuse at Removal Centre ― Home Office Scraps Plans to Use Former Military Base as Asylum Accommodation

UK: More Deaths in Channel ― France Calls for EU-UK Migration Treaty ― Prime Minister Praises Italy’s Efforts in Reducing Irregular Migration ― NGOs Denounce Government Proposal to Involve them in Resettling Deportees ― Inquiry Chair Criticises Government for Failing to Agree on Recommendations Following Abuse at Removal Centre ― Home Office Scraps Plans to Use Former Military Base as Asylum Accommodation

20th September 2024 | News

Twenty people have died in two separate incidents in the Channel in September. France’s interior minister has called for a for a migration treaty between the UK and the EU, while the UK has announced additional funding for border security. Prime Minister Keir Starmer...
ECRE Comments Paper: Reception Conditions Directive (Recast)

ECRE Comments Paper: Reception Conditions Directive (Recast)

13th September 2024 | News

ECRE has published a comments paper on the recast Directive Laying Down Standards for the Reception of Applicants for International Protection, commonly known as the Reception Conditions Directive (RCD). The RCD was adopted in May 2024 as one of the central pillars of...
GERMANY: Government Announces Plans to Tighten Controls at All Borders ― First Deportation to Afghanistan Since Taliban Takeover ― Senior Official Proposes Deportations to Rwanda ― NGO Raises Concerns About Possible Misinterpretation of Court Ruling Relating to Syrian Refugees

GERMANY: Government Announces Plans to Tighten Controls at All Borders ― First Deportation to Afghanistan Since Taliban Takeover ― Senior Official Proposes Deportations to Rwanda ― NGO Raises Concerns About Possible Misinterpretation of Court Ruling Relating to Syrian Refugees

13th September 2024 | News

The government has announced plans to introduce tighter controls at all of its border crossings. Germany has carried out its first deportation to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements Joachim Stamp has...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Frontex Denies Involvement in Pushbacks and Defends €400 Million ‘Expansion’ Tender ― Thousands Pushed Back to Niger from Algeria, Libya and Tunisia ― Discussions on Closer EU-Egypt Co-operation on Migration ― NGO Report Reveals Pushbacks and Pullbacks in Cyprus and Lebanon ― UN Increases Aid for Sudanese Refugees in Libya

EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Frontex Denies Involvement in Pushbacks and Defends €400 Million ‘Expansion’ Tender ― Thousands Pushed Back to Niger from Algeria, Libya and Tunisia ― Discussions on Closer EU-Egypt Co-operation on Migration ― NGO Report Reveals Pushbacks and Pullbacks in Cyprus and Lebanon ― UN Increases Aid for Sudanese Refugees in Libya

13th September 2024 | News

The executive director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has denied allegations of the agency’s involvement in pushbacks and defended the need for €400 million of surveillance equipment. Alarme Phone Sahara has reported that nearly 20,000 people...
BALKAN ROUTE: Decrease in Number of People Using Balkan Route ― More Deaths in Drina River on Serbia-Bosnia & Herzegovina Border ― Frontex Officers Intimidated Into Silence Over Migrant Abuse in Bulgaria ― Immigration ‘Most Significant Challenge’ for Croatia, Says President ― Criticism Over Closure of Reception Centres in Serbia ― Slight Decrease in Number of Irregular Arrivals in Slovenia

BALKAN ROUTE: Decrease in Number of People Using Balkan Route ― More Deaths in Drina River on Serbia-Bosnia & Herzegovina Border ― Frontex Officers Intimidated Into Silence Over Migrant Abuse in Bulgaria ― Immigration ‘Most Significant Challenge’ for Croatia, Says President ― Criticism Over Closure of Reception Centres in Serbia ― Slight Decrease in Number of Irregular Arrivals in Slovenia

13th September 2024 | News

The European Union Coast Guard and Border Agency (Frontex) has reported a major decrease in the number of irregular border crossings along the Balkan Route At least 12 people have died while trying to cross the Drina river that forms part of the border between Serbia...
MEDITERRANEAN: Over 1,000 Recorded Deaths in Central Mediterranean Sea in 2024 ― NGOs Mark Ten Years of Civilian Sea Rescue in Central Mediterranean Sea Amid Accusations of ‘Double Standards’ Surrounding Bayesian Yacht Tragedy ― Human Rights NGO Accuses Cyprus of ‘Secondary Refoulement’ of Syrian Refugees ― Greek Coastguard Warns of Dangerous New Tactics Used By People Smugglers; Stands Accused of Causing Death of Migrant By Firing on Boat ― Third Detention Order for Geo Barents Rescue Ship ― Human Rights Award for Maltese NGO

MEDITERRANEAN: Over 1,000 Recorded Deaths in Central Mediterranean Sea in 2024 ― NGOs Mark Ten Years of Civilian Sea Rescue in Central Mediterranean Sea Amid Accusations of ‘Double Standards’ Surrounding Bayesian Yacht Tragedy ― Human Rights NGO Accuses Cyprus of ‘Secondary Refoulement’ of Syrian Refugees ― Greek Coastguard Warns of Dangerous New Tactics Used By People Smugglers; Stands Accused of Causing Death of Migrant By Firing on Boat ― Third Detention Order for Geo Barents Rescue Ship ― Human Rights Award for Maltese NGO

6th September 2024 | News

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated that more than 1,000 people have died or been reported missing in the central Mediterranean Sea since the start of 2024. Civilian search and rescue (SAR) organisations have commemorated the tenth...