European Commission infringement procedures against Hungary and others for failure to comply with European asylum law

11th December 2015 | News

11 December 2015 On 10 December 2015, the European Commission sent a formal notice to Hungary which is the first step of infringement proceedings, in relation to recent reforms to its asylum laws. It previously raised concerns that they are incompatible with EU law on...

Security situation in Afghanistan calls into question deportation policies of EU Member States

11th December 2015 | News

11 December 2015 According to the latest quarterly statistics released by EUROSTAT, Afghan nationals make up the second largest group seeking asylum in Europe, with 56,700 first time applications, which includes a large number of unaccompanied and separated children....

AIDA update: Croatia substantially reforms asylum system and plans special facilities for vulnerable groups

10th December 2015 | News

10 December 2015 The updated AIDA report on Croatia documents the reform of the asylum system brought about by the Law on International and Temporary Protection, which entered into force in July 2015. The law has introduced numerous changes, including a reduction of...

AIDA Belgium update: asylum seekers access to international protection and reception remains a struggle

10th December 2015 | News

10 December 2015 The lastest AIDA update on Belgium highlights several shortcomings that asylum seekers face relating to accessing procedures and suitable reception; while the number of people seeking asylum in the country has significantly augmented since late summer...

ECRE interviews Chris Nash, Director of the European Network on Statelessness: ‘The impact of statelessness is profound and enduring.’

4th December 2015 | News

4 December 2015   “Imagine what life would be like if you did not have a passport and were not considered to belong anywhere.”   The ECRE Weekly Bulletin has spoken to Chris Nash, Director of the European Network on Statelessness (ENS), a civil society alliance...

Asylum seekers stranded at Greek-FYROM border with limited assistance

4th December 2015 | News

4 December 2015 Since 18 November, authorities in the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have prevented asylum seekers from certain nationalities (excluding Iraqis, Syrians and Afghans) from crossing the Greek-FYROM border. This arbitrary triage leaves,...

Belgium restricts access to protection and leaves hundreds of asylum seekers without shelter

4th December 2015 | News

4 December 2015 In the past week, many asylum seekers in Belgium were prevented access to asylum procedures, including unaccompanied children and families. According to NGOs, certain measures have specifically targeted Afghan asylum seekers. In addition, hundreds of...

Indefinite conscription in Eritrea has created a generation of refugees

4th December 2015 | News

4 December 2015 A report from Amnesty International has investigated the duration of conscription into national service in Eritrea, finding that it continues to be extended indefinitely, with the result that conscripts continue to be deployed in civilian roles as well...

Irish Refugee Council: Practical guide on providing early legal advice to people in the asylum process

4th December 2015 | News

4 December 2015 ECRE member, the Irish Refugee Council (IRC), has launched a manual on providing early legal advice (ELA) to persons seeking international protection. With ELA helping people in the asylum procedure to be identified and recognised at the earliest...

The EU-Turkey deal poses serious threats to refugees’ and migrants’ human rights

4th December 2015 | News

4 December 2015 The 29 November meeting between EU Heads of State and the Turkish Prime Minister finalised the agreement between the EU and Turkey for the control of migratory flows. On the basis of the Joint Action Plan, the EU is offering 3 billion euros under the...