Spain: One Dead and Several Injured Following Attempt to Cross the Border of the Melilla Enclave
On 20 August 2020, around 300 people attempted to cross the border fence of the Melilla enclave on the Spain – Morocco border. One man died, after falling from the fence, and eight others were injured in the process. It is unknown whether the man’s death was a result...
Belgium: Legal Challenge of Prolonged COVID Measures Leaving Asylum Seekers Destitute
Several Belgian organisations have initiated legal proceedings against the Belgian state over the lack of immediate provision of shelter to applicants for international protection. Due to prolonged COVID-19 measures access to the asylum procedure and reception system...
Balkans: New Report Details Illegal Pushbacks and Border Violence
The Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) published its monthly report highlighting 21 incidents of illegal pushbacks during July across the Balkan region. The report shares the experience of 389 people and details rights violations occurring at the external...
The implementation of the Dublin III Regulation in 2019 and During COVID-19: Different figures, Same Conclusions
ECRE’s report on the implementation of the Dublin III Regulation in 2019 and the first half of 2020 demonstrates that the European Union’s rules on allocation of responsibility are not functioning in practice, resulting in unnecessary, lengthy, and costly procedures...
Op-ed: Are Most Asylum Seekers Really Not Credible?
By Michala Clante Bendixen, founder of the Danish organisation Refugees Welcome and the information website REFUGEES.DK. ”Rejected asylum seekers must respect the decision and return home” – it sounds plausible enough to be the political consensus. But a prerequisite...
Med: Series of Deadly Shipwrecks While Civilian Search and Rescue Fleet is Blocked
Four shipwrecks off Libya cost the lives of more than 100 people over the last weeks and Alarm phone has reported numerous additional incidents of boats in distress or unaccounted for. After rescuing more than 200 people in 48 hours the crew of Sea Watch 4, currently...
Greece: Border Fence Extension, Denial of Push-backs, Anti-migrant Violence, Continued Destitution, Drop in Protection Rate
Greek authorities have announced the extension of a barbed-wire fence on the border with Turkey to cover a total of 40 kilometres. Mounting evidence of push-backs rejected as misinformation by the Greek government. Anti-migrant protestors have attacked health...
Asylum in Europe 2019: human rights under pressure
Evidence from the Asylum Information Database (AIDA) shows that compliance with existing EU asylum law should be a priority The Asylum Information Database (AIDA) is a database managed by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), containing up-to-date and...