EU Eastern Borders: Member States Approve Extension of Temporary Protection for Ukrainians, Crisis Package Agreed by Council Despite Poland and Hungary Veto, Lithuania to Install Physical Barriers in Marshy Border Areas with Belarus and Russia
The Council extends the implementation of Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) until March 2025. On 4 October member states agreed mandate on EU law dealing with crisis situations despite vetoes from Hungary and Poland. Lithuania plans to add physical barriers to its...
Mediterranean: In Advance of Council Agreement on Crisis Package Med 9 Urged Support to “Front-line” States as Greece Praised own Deterrence Policies and Italy Attempted to Broaden Instrumentalisation Scope Amid New National Decrees, Maltese Non-response Continues – NGOs Save Lives
Prior to the Council agreement on a regulation on crisis situations, including instrumentalisation of migration, and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum, nine southern member states urged support to “front-line” countries and increased surveillance...
Editorial: So that’s it Then? Agreement(s) on the EU Asylum Reform
On Wednesday the anticipated announcement came that the Member States had reached an agreement on final piece of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, specifically the merged Crisis and Instrumentalisation Regulations. A few key points to be noted: This is the...
Vacancy: National AIDA Expert (Romania)
ECRE is looking for a National Expert to draft the 2023 update of the AIDA Country Report on Romania. The main responsibilities include: conducting one update of the country report on Romania; attending and participating in AIDA National Experts’ coordination...
Editorial: Be Careful What You Wish For: EU and SAR in the Med
Since Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Lampedusa last week, rumours have circulated that the EU is considering a new naval mission in the Mediterranean. Even before the recent arrivals, Italy had requested EU action, faced with a challenging situation and the perennial...
EU External Partners: Europe Remains Focused on Deterrence Amid Ongoing Controversy over Tunisia Deal, Floods Add Risk for Migrants in Libya as So-called Coast Guard Continues Pullback Operations
The focus of the EU remains deterrence rather than development and human rights amid new heated debate over EU Tunisia deal. As hundreds of migrants have lost their lives in floods, the EU supported so-called Libyan Coast Guard continues abuse and pullbacks of...
Mediterranean: Arrivals to Lampedusa Spark New Crack-down from Italy, Commission 10-Point Plan Denounced by NGOs, Germany Gives Up Suspension of Relocation
Italian government increases detention after thousands of people arrive to Lampedusa. Commission 10-point plan with focus on prevention and return sparks critique by civil society. In light of Lampedusa arrivals, Germany ends suspension of relocation from Italy....
EU Eastern Borders: Poland’s Conservative Party Shaken by Visa-for-Cash Scandal, Polish Doctor Treating Refugees Say Patients Asked for Longer Hospitalisation Fearing Pushback, Commission Wants to Admit Bulgaria to Schengen Zone Amid Reports of “Endemic” in Corruption in Asylum & Migration and Rise of Violent Pushbacks Along its Border with Turkiye
In Poland complicity of the far-right ruling party in visa-for-cash scandal damages its ambitions in governance ahead of planned national elections. An investigation by Info Migrants reveals that border officers or government officials in Bulgaria ask for money from...