Balkan Route: Frontex to Massively Increase Deployment on Bulgaria-Türkiye Border Despite Having Previously Ignored Evidence of Pushbacks ― European Commission to Strengthen Co-operation on Border and Migration Management with Bulgaria and Romania ― Concerns in Serbia About Future of Temporary Protection for Displaced People from Ukraine as Deadline Looms

Balkan Route: Frontex to Massively Increase Deployment on Bulgaria-Türkiye Border Despite Having Previously Ignored Evidence of Pushbacks ― European Commission to Strengthen Co-operation on Border and Migration Management with Bulgaria and Romania ― Concerns in Serbia About Future of Temporary Protection for Displaced People from Ukraine as Deadline Looms

The EU Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is preparing to deploy an additional 500 to 600 officers to guard the Bulgaria-Türkiye Border despite evidence showing that it previously ignored evidence of pushbacks committed by Bulgarian border guards. The European...
EU Eastern Borders: Poland Opposes EU Migration Pact Amid Permanent State of Emergency Along its Border — MSF Concludes its Activities in Belarus After Two Years — Migrants Manage to Reach Finland Despite Tight Border Controls — Human Rights Defender on Trial in Latvia for Assisting Migrants — Lithuania Closes Two More Border Checkpoints while Austria Calls for Talks over Repatriations to Afghanistan and Syria

EU Eastern Borders: Poland Opposes EU Migration Pact Amid Permanent State of Emergency Along its Border — MSF Concludes its Activities in Belarus After Two Years — Migrants Manage to Reach Finland Despite Tight Border Controls — Human Rights Defender on Trial in Latvia for Assisting Migrants — Lithuania Closes Two More Border Checkpoints while Austria Calls for Talks over Repatriations to Afghanistan and Syria

A new report on the situation along the Poland-Belarus border has highlighted the ineffectiveness of the fence while the government looks to secure exemptions from certain elements in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. After two years of providing essential services...
EU External Partners: EU Continues its Co-operation with Repressive Regimes ‘to reduce irregular migration’ ― Commission Refuses to Release Information on its ‘Do No Harm’ Policy in Libya ― Parliament Calls for Unconditional Ceasefire in Gaza and Commission Releases Further Funding to Palestinian Refugees

EU External Partners: EU Continues its Co-operation with Repressive Regimes ‘to reduce irregular migration’ ― Commission Refuses to Release Information on its ‘Do No Harm’ Policy in Libya ― Parliament Calls for Unconditional Ceasefire in Gaza and Commission Releases Further Funding to Palestinian Refugees

The European Commission has transferred €150 million to Tunisia and launched a €210 million new migration partnership with Mauritania despite concerns over human rights violations. The European Ombudsman has reproached the European Commission for a lack of...
Mediterranean: 2023 is Record Year for Number of Migrant Deaths Along Borders ― Obstacles and Delays in Sea Rescue by Libyan and Italian Coastguards Lead to Death ― Cyprus’ Quest to Declare Syria a Safe Country Gains Traction ― The El Hiblu 3 Trial Continues Amid Questions Over Latest Tragedy Off Malta

Mediterranean: 2023 is Record Year for Number of Migrant Deaths Along Borders ― Obstacles and Delays in Sea Rescue by Libyan and Italian Coastguards Lead to Death ― Cyprus’ Quest to Declare Syria a Safe Country Gains Traction ― The El Hiblu 3 Trial Continues Amid Questions Over Latest Tragedy Off Malta

New data has shown that the Mediterranean crossing route remains the deadliest for migrants. Search and rescue organisations have faced yet more dangerous obstruction and delays by Italian authorities and the so-called Libyan Coastguard. Cyprus has voted to appoint a...
UK: Record Number of Asylum Requests Granted but Huge Backlogs Remain and Channel Crossings and Deaths Continue ― Demands for Enquiries into Maritime Search and Rescue Responses and Treatment of Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children ― More Setbacks for Rwanda Bill Amid Revelations About High Costs of Policy ― Agreement to Work with “Calais Group” to Disrupt Supply of Small Boats ― Minister Discusses Possible Migration Co-operation with Libya

UK: Record Number of Asylum Requests Granted but Huge Backlogs Remain and Channel Crossings and Deaths Continue ― Demands for Enquiries into Maritime Search and Rescue Responses and Treatment of Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children ― More Setbacks for Rwanda Bill Amid Revelations About High Costs of Policy ― Agreement to Work with “Calais Group” to Disrupt Supply of Small Boats ― Minister Discusses Possible Migration Co-operation with Libya

The latest Home Office statistics show that over 62,000 people were granted refugee status or other protection in 2023 but that more than 95,000 were still awaiting an initial decision while hundreds more people have crossed the Channel in small boats and a child has...
Balkan Route: Frontex to Massively Increase Deployment on Bulgaria-Türkiye Border Despite Having Previously Ignored Evidence of Pushbacks ― European Commission to Strengthen Co-operation on Border and Migration Management with Bulgaria and Romania ― Concerns in Serbia About Future of Temporary Protection for Displaced People from Ukraine as Deadline Looms

Balkan Route: Increasing Numbers of Syrian Migrants Along the Balkan Route ― Worrying Conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Reception and Detention Centres ― Frontex and European Commission Ignore Human Rights Violations Along Bulgarian-Turkish Border ― Violent Pushbacks Continue on the Serbian-North Macedonian Border

Reports indicate an increase in the number of Syrian refugees moving along the Balkan Route to seek asylum in Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to receive migrants despite the dangers of the journey and the state of its reception centres. Documents reveal that...
Mediterranean: 2023 is Record Year for Number of Migrant Deaths Along Borders ― Obstacles and Delays in Sea Rescue by Libyan and Italian Coastguards Lead to Death ― Cyprus’ Quest to Declare Syria a Safe Country Gains Traction ― The El Hiblu 3 Trial Continues Amid Questions Over Latest Tragedy Off Malta

Mediterranean: NGOs to Italy: Stop Obstructing Our Lifesaving Activities at Sea ― First Anniversary of Cutro Tragedy ― Prosecution in Iuventa Crew Trial Asks for Charges to be Dropped ― European Ombudsman Calls for Changes to EU Search and Rescue Rules and Inquiry into Deaths in Mediterranean

A group of NGOs that undertake search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean have called on the Italian authorities to desist from obstructing their work on the anniversary of the adoption of controversial legislation. Survivors and relatives of the victims of the...
Greece: Migrant Arrivals Increase Despite Deportations, Pushbacks and Criminalisation of Migrants and Humanitarians ― Turkish Authorities Intercept Migrant Boats to Prove Their “Reliability” as Migration Partners, EU Ombudsman Criticises Greek Response Following Pylos Deadly Tragedy

Greece: Migrant Arrivals Increase Despite Deportations, Pushbacks and Criminalisation of Migrants and Humanitarians ― Turkish Authorities Intercept Migrant Boats to Prove Their “Reliability” as Migration Partners, EU Ombudsman Criticises Greek Response Following Pylos Deadly Tragedy

An increase in arrivals on the Greek islands amid deportations of 50 third country nationals. The appeal trial of the four Afghan migrants accused of Moria Camp’s fires will take place on 4 March while 13 refugees accused of attempted arson following Evros wildfires...