EU EASTERN BORDERS: Major Event for People with Migrant Backgrounds in Estonia ― Council of Europe Urges Finland to ‘Reconsider’ New Migration Law ― Hungarian Prime Minister Repeats Threat to Send Migrants to Brussels ― Prosecutors in Latvia Request 18-Month Prison Sentence for Human Rights Activist ― NGO Sues Polish President Over Asylum Seeker Film Remarks ― Council of Europe Urges Poland to Respect Human Rights Obligations on Border with Belarus
The Tallinn Migration Centre is organising a two-day conference and fair in the Estonian capital for residents with a migrant background. The Council of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights has urged Finland to strengthen the protection of Roma and people who...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Investigation Reveals EU Funding Security Forces Accused of Migrant Abuse in Tunisia ― Leaked Report Reveals EU Concerns About Credibility Risk of Migration Co-operation with Tunisia ― European Court of Auditors Report Criticises Use of EU Trust Fund for Africa in Libya ― NGOs Denounce Morocco and Spain for Forced Returns from Ceuta
An investigation by the Guardian newspaper has revealed that EU funding has been used to support security forces that are accused of widespread abuse against people on the move in Tunisia. A leaked internal report from the European External Action Service has revealed...
NETHERLANDS: Government Announces ‘Strictest Asylum Policy Ever’ and Requests Opt-Out from EU Migration Pact ― Government Announces End to State-funded Housing for Rejected Asylum Applicants ― Demonstration Against Self-declared ‘Asylum Crisis’ ― Emergency Shelter Required After Asylum Centre Exceeds Capacity
The government has announced its intention to introduce the strictest asylum policy in the Netherlands’ history and has requested an opt-out from the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The government has announced that it will end housing payments for people whose...
ITALY: Recent Increase in Arrivals But Overall Decrease from 2023 ― Albanian PM Rejects Any Replicas of Italy-Albania Protocol ― Prosecutors Demand Six-Year Jail Term for Deputy PM in Rescue Vessel ‘Kidnapping’ Case ― New Security Decree Creates Concerns for People Seeking Asylum ― Citizenship Law Referendum Passes First Hurdle
More than 1,200 people arrived in Italy irregularly on 21-22 September but the overall number in 2024 is significantly lower than the previous year. Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama has reminded EU leaders that the Italy-Albania Protocol is a one-off and that his...
EDITORIAL: The new Commission: Jobs for the boys and bigger jobs for the girls; an unwanted job for Austria
By Catherine Woollard The big news of the rentrée in Brussels is the new Commission. EU member states (MS) put forward their nominees during the summer and this week returning Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, presented her proposal for the allocation of...
NORDIC REGION: Doctors in Finland Warn Against Healthcare Restrictions for Undocumented People ― Norway Proposes Reforms to Increase Refugee Employment ― Sweden Planning € 30,000 Allowance for Voluntary Returns― Chinese Activist Denied Asylum in Denmark Seeks Refuge in Sweden
Doctors in Finland have criticised the government’s proposal to withhold healthcare from undocumented people. Norway is planning to introduce significant amendments to the Integration Act to speed up the integration of refugees into the workforce. The Swedish...
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
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
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...