CENTRAL EUROPE: Austria to close last remaining arrival centre for Ukrainians ― Protests against German chancellor’s migration comments ― Polish PM criticised for comments about future of ECHR ― Polish court rejects complaint from pushback victim ― Switzerland announces draconian travel ban for people in asylum system and tightens temporary protection regime
The last remaining arrival centre for displaced Ukrainians in Austria is due to close at the end of 2025. Demonstrations have taken place in several German cities in response to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments on migration. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has...
ITALY: Prime Minister joins other EU leaders for informal migration summit – Media investigation into Italy-Albania migration deal – Humanitarians on trial in Sicily – ICC rules on Italy’s handling of Almasri case – Italy-Libya MoU renewed
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has participated in an informal meeting on migration in the margins of the latest European Council summit. A recent media investigation has added to the longstanding criticism of the Italy-Albania migration agreement. Six members of a...
GERMANY: Merz under fire for ‘racist’ comment ― Government possibly close to deportation deal with Taliban ― Coalition disagreement over deportation centres ― Parliament votes to scrap fast-track citizenship ― Council of Europe visit focused on migration and asylum
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under fire following an apparently racist remark he made on a recent visit to the eastern state of Brandenburg. The Federal Government may be close to finalising a deal with the Taliban which would facilitate an increase in deportations to...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: NGO report highlights fatal consequences of EU externalisation policies – ICC asked to examine potential involvement of European officials in crimes committed by Libyan authorities against people on the move – Joint Libyan delegation visits Brussels and Warsaw – Libyan authorities accused of attacking another vessel in the Mediterranean – NGO report reveals increase in violent attacks at sea by Libyan authorities – EU and Egypt hold first-ever summit
A new NGO report has warned that the EU’s externalisation policies have made asylum journeys increasingly deadly. A group of human rights lawyers has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate European officials for their potential involvement in crimes...
Pact for the Mediterranean
The European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) have published a joint communication on the ‘Pact for the Mediterranean’. Together with the creation of the post of Commissioner for the Mediterranean in the current College of Commissioners,...
ECRE Policy Note: All Packed-Up and Ready? Assessment of the State of Play on Pact Implementation
ECRE has published a policy note which assesses the state of play of the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The note analyses how EU member states (MS) are adapting their national legislation, reception systems, and operational capacities to align...
UK: Launch of ‘One in, one out’ people transfer scheme ― More crossings and deaths in the Channel ― Lawyers and NGOs call out threats from far-right ― NGOs urge government to stop scapegoating people on the move ― Government makes several migration and asylum-related policy announcements
The first transfers of people under the recent UK-France migration agreement have taken place. There have been a significant number of small boat crossings of the Channel in recent weeks as well as several deaths. A large group of lawyers and NGOs have said that they...
NETHERLANDS: Anti-migration protest descends into violence — Progress in deal to set up deportation centre in Uganda — Government plans stricter nationality law — Immigration service raises concerns over impact of new asylum laws
An anti-migration protest has resulted in injuries to police officers and journalists, and an estimated € 90,000 of damage. The Netherlands has taken a step closer to establishing a “transit centre” for unsuccessful asylum applicants in Uganda. The caretaker...