Atlantic Route and Spain: Another Tragedy on Deadly Sea Route, Spain Continues Expanding Migration Cooperation with Morocco, Asylum Applications Up but Only Slightly Higher Than Prior to Pandemic
At least eight people including a child have died in new tragedy on the dangerous Atlantic route. Spain continues to expand migration cooperation with Morocco at high level visit. Number of asylum applications in 2022 significantly up from 2021 but close to...
Mediterranean: More Deaths on Route From Tunisia, MSF Take Legal Action Against Delayed Disembarkations as Critique of Law Decree Continues and Italy and EU Beef Up Cooperation with Libya
New tragedies adds to the mounting death tool of people departing Tunisia. MSF Sea takes legal action against administrative measures of assigning distant ports amid renewed critique of controversial law decree. Italy and EU hands over boat to the notorious so-called...
Editorial: Calm Down, Mate: Asylum in 2022
The publication of year-end statistics on asylum and migration in 2022 is creating something of a panic – and like most migration panics it’s largely manufactured for political ends. Some key figures are higher than in 2020 and 2021. The headline is that there were...
Greece: Infringement Letters from the European Commission, NGOs Urge More Oversight on Greek Islands, Joint Civil Society Rule of Law Submission, Hundreds of Thousands ‘Prevented’ Entry
The European Commission have issued several letters of notice to Greece over failure to comply with EU law including in relation to reception and detention of asylum seekers and refugees. Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) and ECRE member, HIAS Greece urge a “stronger and...
Ireland: Despite Warnings and Manageable Number of Arrivals Reception Crisis Escalates with No Accommodation for Single Adults and Debates of Time Limits on Support
The Irish government has been of the need for “urgent action” to tackle the accommodation crisis but the crisis escalated last week. Accommodation has been suspended for single adult asylum seekers and time limits on support and accommodation is under debate. In...
Mediterranean: Almost Ten Years On from Deadly Tragedy – Nothing Has Changed, Italy’s Crack-Down on Civilian Rescuers Continue as Experts Council Urges Revoking of SAR Decree, Meloni Increases Cooperation with Libya
Almost decade after the loss of more than 300 lives off Lampedusa shocked the EU not much has changed. Italy continues its crack-down on civilian rescue operators as an expert body under the Council of Europe urges the revoking of the controversial SAR decree. Meloni...
EU Concerned About Increase in People Seeking Protection
Facing an increase in arrivals and asylum applications compared to 2021, the EU and member states have gone into return and prevention mode. The European Commission estimates the number of asylum applications reached more than 900,000 in 2022 and the bloc saw 330,000...
Op-ed: Left Behind by Temporary Protection: The Asylum Seekers and Refugees Fleeing Russia’s War
By Katharine Woolrych (HIAS Europe) and Nataliia Krynytska (Right 2 Protection) Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion last year, Right 2 Protection (R2P) was providing legal assistance to around 1,500 asylum seekers and refugees inside Ukraine annually. From 24...