EU EASTERN BORDERS: Major increase in crossings in 2024 ― Polish presidency to focus on border security ― Polish government adopts controversial draft laws on migration and asylum ― Finland planning to extend controversial border law ― Slovak PM threatens to cut aid to Ukrainian refugees

EU EASTERN BORDERS: Major increase in crossings in 2024 ― Polish presidency to focus on border security ― Polish government adopts controversial draft laws on migration and asylum ― Finland planning to extend controversial border law ― Slovak PM threatens to cut aid to Ukrainian refugees

There has been a threefold increase in the number of recorded irregular crossings on the Eastern Borders route. The Polish government has made border security a priority of Poland’s presidency of the Council of the EU. The Polish government has adopted a controversial...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Criticism over EU transfer of € 1 billion to Egypt for ‘credible steps’ on democracy and human rights ― New cases of migrant abuses by the Libyan authorities include mass deportation and torture in detention ― Tunisia’s detention of prominent refugee rights activists sparks international solidarity campaign ― Türkiye introduces new measures to facilitate voluntary return of Syrians ― Humanitarian agencies express readiness to relieve humanitarian crisis in Gaza following announcement of ‘tragically overdue’ ceasefire

EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Criticism over EU transfer of € 1 billion to Egypt for ‘credible steps’ on democracy and human rights ― New cases of migrant abuses by the Libyan authorities include mass deportation and torture in detention ― Tunisia’s detention of prominent refugee rights activists sparks international solidarity campaign ― Türkiye introduces new measures to facilitate voluntary return of Syrians ― Humanitarian agencies express readiness to relieve humanitarian crisis in Gaza following announcement of ‘tragically overdue’ ceasefire

Critics have argued that EU aid to Egypt strengthens President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s authoritarian rule and enables the repression of refugees and dissidents. Libyan authorities have deported more than 600 people to Niger. NGOs and advocates in have launched a...
MEDITERRANEAN: Major fall in crossings in 2024 ― Fewer deaths and disappearances in 2024 ― ECtHR rules against Greece in ‘landmark’ case on pushbacks

MEDITERRANEAN: NGOs accuse Greece of continuing to subject people in detention to ‘inhuman’ treatment ― Sharp rise in number of child arrivals in Greece and ‘alarming conditions’ in refugee camps ― Major increase in number of arrests for ‘people smuggling’ in Greece ― Council of Europe criticises conditions in pre-removal detention centres in Italy ― Geo Barents rescue vessel ceases operations ― Search and rescue NGOs fear ‘Flows Decree’ could further criminalise their activities

Three NGOs have accused Greek authorities of continuing to subject people held in pre-removal detention centres (PRDCs) to conditions which could amount to “torture or inhuman and degrading treatment”. An NGO report has revealed that the number of child arrivals in...
EU EASTERN BORDERS: Major increase in crossings in 2024 ― Polish presidency to focus on border security ― Polish government adopts controversial draft laws on migration and asylum ― Finland planning to extend controversial border law ― Slovak PM threatens to cut aid to Ukrainian refugees

EU EASTERN BORDERS: New EC Communication on ‘Instrumentalisation’ ― Poland accused of pushbacks into Belarus ― EC refuses to release frozen funding for Hungary ― NGOs in Finland urge government to reopen crossing points on border with Russia

The European Commission (EC) is planning to increase the support it provides to EU member states to counter the instrumentalisation of people trying to cross the EU’s eastern border irregularly. An NGO report has revealed that Polish authorities have been using...
Syria: European reactions to the overthrow of the Assad regime

Syria: European reactions to the overthrow of the Assad regime

Following the dramatic events that took place in Syria over the weekend of 7-8 December and which culminated in the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the EU’s response has followed two tracks. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas led...