UN: Huge Risks at Land and Sea Routes – Resettlement Places in Dire Need
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warns that migrants are even more likely to lose their life on the land routes in Africa attempting to reach the Mediterranean than attempting to cross it. Yet alternatives remain limited. In Libya hundreds of vulnerable people were...
Germany: Constitutional Court Strengthens Rights of Asylum Seekers Subject to Dublin
The Federal Constitutional Court (BVG) strengthened the rights of asylum seekers subject to the Dublin procedure in two important cases concerning Italy and Greece. Notably, the BVG confirmed a ruling of the European Court for Human Rights (ECtHR) holding that the...
Serbia: Report Denounces Poor Quality of Asylum Decisions and Obstacles to Integration
ECRE member Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) has published its periodic report on the right to asylum in the Republic of Serbia, containing an overview of key concerns relating to the asylum procedure in the country during the period from July to September...
Greece: New Strasbourg Interim Measures to Halt “Protective Custody” of Unaccompanied Children*
On 4 November 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) granted interim measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of the Court, ordering Greece to release two unaccompanied children from detention (“protective custody”) and to transfer them to suitable accommodation....
Netherlands: Persisting Delays in the Procedure Put Strain on Reception*
Asylum seekers in the Netherlands are confronted with a shortage of reception places, in addition to long delays in accessing the procedure. As of 28 October 2019, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) counted 26,975 accommodation places. The...
Advocate General: Refusal to Relocate Asylum Seekers “Breached EU Law”
In the Opinion issued by Eleanor Sharpston, Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (the Court), Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have failed to fulfil their obligation under EU law by refusing to implement the mandatory Relocation...
The Future of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Our Call for More Humane, Transparent and Effective Resources for Asylum and Migration in the Union
Last October, the EU institutions have resumed discussions on the new Asylum and Migration Fund (AMF) proposal, part of the wider negotiations on the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF 2021-2027) of the EU. Together with a number of other NGOs, UNHCR and IOM,...
The IRC Calls for a Renewed and Improved EU Action Plan on Integration
In its latest policy brief, “Getting Back on Track” the International Rescue Committee (IRC) calls for the renewal of the EU Action Plan on Integration to complement and coordinate efforts aimed at fostering the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers in the EU....