Medici per i Diritti Umani denounces push backs from Italy to Greece

2nd December 2013 | News

In a new report, Medici per I Diritti Humani (Doctors for Human Rights) has documented over a hundred accounts of push-backs of migrants and asylum seekers from the Italian Adriatic ports to Greece, under a readmission agreement between the two countries. The...

UN Committee against Torture criticises Belgium’s detention of asylum seekers in ‘Dublin’ procedures

2nd December 2013 | News

In its Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Belgium published this week, the Committee Against Torture (CAT) acknowledged Belgium’s efforts to improve the situation for asylum seekers and refugees since the last report, but expressed concern regarding the...

Child detention and lack of legal assistance for asylum seekers in Poland criticised by Committee against Torture

2nd December 2013 | News

On 19 November, the Committee against Torture provided its concluding observations and recommendations on Poland’s implementation of the Convention against Torture. The Committee recommends that Poland guarantees fair treatment of asylum seekers at all stage of...

The scars of war on Syria’s children

2nd December 2013 | News

UNHCR research published today has found that Syrian refugee children are out of school, either working as breadwinners or confined to their homes, which are often crammed apartments, makeshift shelters or tents. The research, conducted in Lebanon and Jordan over four...

EU withholds visa waiver for Ukraine and Georgia until problems with asylum systems are resolved

2nd December 2013 | News

As part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership, the European Commission is engaged in ‘Visa Liberalisation Dialogues’ with Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Before the visa requirement to enter the EU can be waived for citizens of these countries,...

ECRE/ELENA publishes Information Note on Syrians seeking protection in Europe

2nd December 2013 | News

The ECRE/ELENA Information Note on Syrians seeking protection in Europe, originally published on 29 November 2013, now incorporates information concerning the decision by the Swiss government on 29 November 2013 to end visa facilitation for non-immediate family...

EU adopts budget for 2014

22nd November 2013 | News

The EU has adopted this week the budget for 2014 and the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020. While the budget of the EU Borders Agency Frontex has been increased by 2 million Euros, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) will receive 130,000 extra...

EASO analyses reasons why people from Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia seek asylum in the EU

22nd November 2013 | News

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) published this week a report on asylum applications from the Western Balkans, in which it examined the factors influencing asylum seekers from the Western Balkan region applying to EU Member States and Associated Countries...

ECRE Interview with Melissa Phillips – Danish Refugee Council Libya

22nd November 2013 | News

Melissa Phillips at a detention centre for migrants, Libya ©Danish Refugee Council “There needs to be some resettlement opportunities for refugees in Libya, because until such time they will continue to get on boats, as their only chance of finding permanent...

Spain illegally pushing back migrants to Morocco

22nd November 2013 | News

Spanish newspaper El País has shown this week that the Spanish Guardia Civil (Spanish policing authorities) continues to push back migrants to Morocco from Melilla, the Spanish city on the northern coast of Morocco. These renewed revelations were made through the...