SPAIN: Government suspends plans for special law to accelerate asylum procedures ― Human rights NGO accuses Spanish armed forces of violence against undocumented people ― Makeshift shelters destroyed by fire ― Demonstration in Madrid

SPAIN: Government suspends plans for special law to accelerate asylum procedures ― Human rights NGO accuses Spanish armed forces of violence against undocumented people ― Makeshift shelters destroyed by fire ― Demonstration in Madrid

The government has suspended a planned royal decree-law aimed at facilitating the expulsion or return of people who have remained in Ceuta two months after the mass arrival at the end of July. A human rights NGO has reported that members of Spain’s armed forces have...
UK: More deaths in the Channel ― Legal proceedings relating to small boat crossings ― End of ‘One in, one out’ migration scheme ― NGO documents injuries on people returned to France ― NGO reports disappearance of ‘hundreds’ of returnees ― Government announces (re)opening of refugee resettlement routes

UK: More deaths in the Channel ― Legal proceedings relating to small boat crossings ― End of ‘One in, one out’ migration scheme ― NGO documents injuries on people returned to France ― NGO reports disappearance of ‘hundreds’ of returnees ― Government announces (re)opening of refugee resettlement routes

At least four people have died in separate incidents in the Channel in September. There have been several legal proceedings relating to small boat Channel crossings in recent weeks. The UK-France migration deal has been scrapped. An NGO has reported multiple injuries...
Advanced ELENA Course 2026

Advanced ELENA Course 2026

The 2026 Advanced ELENA Course will take place 20-21 November in Malaga, Spain. This year’s course will explore recent jurisprudence and practices of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights, while additionally informing and...
CENTRAL EUROPE: Civil society legal complaint about new quota system for family reunification in Austria ― Far right election successes increase fears for people with migrant backgrounds in Germany― Fall in number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland ― Swiss government rejects ‘extreme’ border control and asylum initiative from populist party

CENTRAL EUROPE: Civil society legal complaint about new quota system for family reunification in Austria ― Far right election successes increase fears for people with migrant backgrounds in Germany― Fall in number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland ― Swiss government rejects ‘extreme’ border control and asylum initiative from populist party

A group of NGOs and legal academics have filed a complaint with the European Commission against Austria over its laws restricting the rights of refugees to family reunification. People with migrant backgrounds and migration-focused NGOs in Germany have expressed...
MEDITERRANEAN: Fewer arrivals but more deaths on migration routes ― Cyprus looks to migrant workers to replace repatriated Syrian refugees in construction sector ― Greek Council of State rules key provisions of NGO Registry law ‘unconstitutional’ ― Two NGOs accuse authorities in Greece of ignoring landmark ECtHR pushback ruling ― Investigations into issuing of ‘fake’ medical certificates to help asylum applicants in Italy ― Fears of pushbacks in Malta’s search and rescue zone

MEDITERRANEAN: Fewer arrivals but more deaths on migration routes ― Cyprus looks to migrant workers to replace repatriated Syrian refugees in construction sector ― Greek Council of State rules key provisions of NGO Registry law ‘unconstitutional’ ― Two NGOs accuse authorities in Greece of ignoring landmark ECtHR pushback ruling ― Investigations into issuing of ‘fake’ medical certificates to help asylum applicants in Italy ― Fears of pushbacks in Malta’s search and rescue zone

There has been a fall in the number of irregular arrivals to Europe in 2026 but more people on the move have died. The Cypriot government is looking to recruit foreign workers to fill labour shortages in the construction sector as it continues its programme of...
Latest European asylum trends

Latest European asylum trends

On 10 September, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) published its mid-year report on the latest European asylum trends. The report is based on data collected January-June 2026 in EU+ countries (EU member states plus Norway and Switzerland). A number of key...
State of the European Union 2026

State of the European Union 2026

On 16 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered the annual State of the Union (SOTEU) speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She made the following asylum- and migration-related points: Pact on Migration and Asylum: “After years...
Second Caring to Include Toolkit

Second Caring to Include Toolkit

Putting trauma-informed approaches into practice Following the publication of the first Caring to Include toolkit on staff and volunteer well-being, we are pleased to announce the publication of the second toolkit in the series, focusing on trauma-informed approaches....
EU EASTERN BORDERS: Finland completes 200km border fence ― Finnish government planning to extend ‘Pushback Law’ ― Latvian NGO accuses government of repression ― Polish parliament approves ninth extension of asylum ban ― NGO report highlights deaths and disappearances on Poland-Belarus border

EU EASTERN BORDERS: Finland completes 200km border fence ― Finnish government planning to extend ‘Pushback Law’ ― Latvian NGO accuses government of repression ― Polish parliament approves ninth extension of asylum ban ― NGO report highlights deaths and disappearances on Poland-Belarus border

Finland has completed a 200-kilometre-long fence along its border with Russia. The Finnish government is planning to extend its controversial border law until 2028. An NGO in Latvia has accused the government of withdrawing financial support because of a legal case...