ATLANTIC ROUTE and SPAIN: Canary Islands Government Accuses Spanish State of Abandoning Its Responsibilities Amid Serious Migration ‘Crisis’; Invites European Commission President to Witness Situation ― Up to 1,500 People Swim to Ceuta ― Spanish Prime Minister Visits West Africa; Signs New Agreements ― Spanish Police Boat Runs Over Migrant Boat Near Melilla

ATLANTIC ROUTE and SPAIN: Canary Islands Government Accuses Spanish State of Abandoning Its Responsibilities Amid Serious Migration ‘Crisis’; Invites European Commission President to Witness Situation ― Up to 1,500 People Swim to Ceuta ― Spanish Prime Minister Visits West Africa; Signs New Agreements ― Spanish Police Boat Runs Over Migrant Boat Near Melilla

The Canary Islands government has accused the Spanish state of ‘abandoning’ its responsibility towards the archipelago as it faces a serious migration “crisis”, and has invited European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to witness the situation. Up to 1,500...
In Memoriam: Frits Florin (1937 – 2024)

In Memoriam: Frits Florin (1937 – 2024)

The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) is sorry to share the sad news about its co-founder Frits Florin who died on 15 August 2024 aged 87. Frits was the director of the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF) from 1969 to 1976 and co-founded ECRE in 1974....
Advanced ELENA Course 2024

Advanced ELENA Course 2024

The 2024 Advanced ELENA Course will take place on 22-23 November in Porto, Portugal. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in European asylum and migration law and to engage with practitioners, academics and decision-makers from...
AIDA Country Report on Serbia – 2023 Update

AIDA Country Report on Serbia – 2023 Update

The updated AIDA Country Report on Serbia provides a detailed overview of legislative and practice-related developments in asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention of asylum seekers and content of international protection in 2023. It also includes an annex...
AIDA Country Report on Türkiye – 2023 Update

AIDA Country Report on Türkiye – 2023 Update

The updated AIDA Country Report on Türkiye provides a detailed overview of legislative and practice-related developments in asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention of asylum seekers and content of international protection in 2023. In 2023, 19,017...
GREECE: NGOs Renew Criticism of Conditions in Greek Centres ― FRA Accuses Greece of Failing to Investigate ‘Ill-Treatment’ of People Trying to Cross Greece-Türkiye Border ― NGOs Object to ‘Overly Positive’ EC Rule of Law Report on Greece ― Child Arrivals in Greece Quadruple in 2024 ― Hellenic Coast Guard Rejects Turkish Accusations of Pushbacks ― Court Convicts Vigilantes for Illegally Detaining Migrants

GREECE: NGOs Renew Criticism of Conditions in Greek Centres ― FRA Accuses Greece of Failing to Investigate ‘Ill-Treatment’ of People Trying to Cross Greece-Türkiye Border ― NGOs Object to ‘Overly Positive’ EC Rule of Law Report on Greece ― Child Arrivals in Greece Quadruple in 2024 ― Hellenic Coast Guard Rejects Turkish Accusations of Pushbacks ― Court Convicts Vigilantes for Illegally Detaining Migrants

Amnesty International and Mobile Info Team and Refugee Legal Support have published damning reports on ‘closed controlled access centres’ (CCACs) in Greece. A new report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) into alleged ill-treatment at the EU’s borders has...
EU EASTERN BORDERS: Estonian Border Guards to Support Latvian Colleagues on Latvia-Russia Border ― Finland Enacts Controversial New ‘Pushback Law’ ― Hungary Faces Renewed Criticism from Both EC and FRA ― Lithuanian Border Guards to Support Latvian Colleagues on Latvia-Russia Border ― Poland Allows Border Guards to Use Firearms Against People Trying to Cross Poland-Russia Border

EU EASTERN BORDERS: Estonian Border Guards to Support Latvian Colleagues on Latvia-Russia Border ― Finland Enacts Controversial New ‘Pushback Law’ ― Hungary Faces Renewed Criticism from Both EC and FRA ― Lithuanian Border Guards to Support Latvian Colleagues on Latvia-Russia Border ― Poland Allows Border Guards to Use Firearms Against People Trying to Cross Poland-Russia Border

Officers from Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) will be sent to the Latvia-Belarus border to help their Latvian counterparts to prevent irregular crossings. On 22 July, Finland’s new law aimed at preventing people seeking asylum from entering the country...