ECRE Statement: European Parliament Vote on the Return Regulation
ECRE expresses profound disappointment and alarm at the position adopted today (26 March) by the European Parliament on the mandate for the Return Regulation. The outcome of the vote represents a clear regression from fundamental rights standards and risks undermining...
OP-ED: Firm without Fairness – The dangerous drift of the Return Regulation
By Catherine Warin and Anna Smolinska On 26 March, MEPs will vote on the mandate to enter into interinstitutional negotiations regarding the future ‘Return Regulation’. There is a consensus on the need to modernise the EU’s legal framework for removing unauthorised...
UK: Government introduces more asylum reforms ― ‘One in, one out’ scheme faces new obstacles ― Legal experts question use of AI in asylum assessments ― Asylum appeals backlog almost doubles in 12 months ― Poll shows UK ‘leads world’ in concern about migration
The government has introduced more reforms to the UK asylum system. The current UK-France migration agreement has faced a number of setbacks in recent weeks. Legal experts have warned that the Home Office’s use of AI in assessing asylum applications may be unlawful....
CENTRAL EUROPE: Austria to start negotiations on migration agreement with Uzbekistan ― NGOs denounce ‘Russian style’ draft law ― Germany to cut funding for independent legal counselling ― Work starting on new fence on Poland-Belarus border ― Swiss government rejects population cap proposal
The Austrian government has given the green light to open negotiations with Uzbekistan on a possible migration agreement. The Czech government is preparing controversial legislation that could tighten rules for NGOs. The German ministry of the interior has announced...
OP-ED: EU Return Policy at a Crossroads
By Reshad Jalali The existing EU Return Directive (2008) – although far from perfect (see ECRE’s previous analysis) – does contain a number of safeguards intended to prevent arbitrary decision-making, guarantee access to justice and protect individuals from being...
OP-ED: Belgian Migration Minister ignores Constitutional Court ruling…and is met with almost no political resistance
By Helene Asselman One may wonder why it still comes as a surprise that measures aimed at deterring people on the move not only cross every boundary of decency but increasingly also breach legal limits. However, many a lawyer both in and outside the migration sector...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: UN expresses alarm over violations against people on the move in Egypt ― Israeli court suspends government’s ban on NGOs operating in Gaza and West Bank ― UN reports almost 700,000 people displaced in Lebanon ― NGO raises concerns about integration of people on the move in Morocco
A group of experts from the United Nations (UN) has expressed alarm over violations against people on the move in Egypt. The Supreme Court of Israel has suspended the government’s recent decision to order a large number of NGOs to halt their operations in Gaza and the...
BELGIUM: Constitutional Court suspends restrictive asylum procedures; Minister refuses to comply ― More than 43,000 unaccompanied minors reported in 10 years ― Increase in small boat departures from coast
A federal government minister has defied a court ruling that ordered the suspension of a number of asylum measures. A new report has revealed that more than 43,000 unaccompanied minors were reported to the Federal Public Service Justice’s Guardianship Service between...