Balkan Route: Ongoing Systematic Violence and Pushbacks Across Balkans, Frontex to Assist North Macedonia in “Border Management”, Bulgaria Sees Deadly Incident Leaving 18 Afghans Dead

3rd March 2023 | News

Border Violence Monitoring Network’s (BVMN) latest regional update and a joint report by collectives in Serbia points to ongoing systematic violence towards people on the move across the Balkans. The Council of the EU gives the green light for the European Border and...

Atlantic Route and Spain: More Tragedies Despite Rescue Efforts, Cargo Ships Taking Survivors to Disputed Territory in Western Sahara

3rd March 2023 | News

Multiple tragedies in the Atlantic Ocean over recent weeks despite rescue efforts. Reports of pullbacks of survivors to Moroccan held Western Sahara by cargo ships in “violation of international agreements”. Tragedies, as well as rescue operations, continue in the...

Mediterranean: Italy Sees Critique and Scrutiny after Deadly Shipwreck as Government Continue Crack-down on Civilian Rescue Operators, Strong Reaction from African Union on “Hate Speech” From Tunisian EU Partner

3rd March 2023 | News

Following a deadly shipwreck, the Italian government is facing severe critique and response from authorities is under scrutiny. Meanwhile, the government continues its crack-down on civilian rescuers placing MSF Sea vessel, Geo Barents under administrative detention....

European Commission and Member State Plans to Link Readmission to Trade Preferences for Developing Countries Faces Criticism 

3rd March 2023 | News

The Council and the European Parliament are currently negotiating a revision of the General System of Preferences (GSP) which removes import duties from products coming into the EU market from developing countries. The GSP system aims to support sustainable...

Training Seminar on EU Advocacy

21st February 2023 | News

Call for applications: Training Seminar on EU Advocacy 6 and 7 July 2023 in Brussels, Belgium Are you actively engaged in advocating for refugee rights? Are you a refugee advocate or working in a refugee-led organisation? Are you interested in deepening and broadening...

Belgium: Reception Crisis Continues and Convictions of Authorities Mount, NGOs Unimpressed with Evacuation of Unsafe Squat Leaving Many in the Street

17th February 2023 | News

As the reception crisis continue Belgian authorities continue to ignore convictions over failures to provide accommodation. The evacuation of the unsafe and unhygienic squat in Paleizenstraat leaves NGOs unimpressed as thousands of asylum seekers remain in the street....

UK: Government Seeing Severe Critique After Violent Clashes Initiated by Far-Right Demonstrators Outside Hotel Accommodating Asylum Seekers

17th February 2023 | News

The UK government has been called out for its dehumanizing language and scapegoating of asylum seekers following violent clashes involving hundreds of far-right demonstrators outside hotel in Liverpool housing asylum seekers. Fifteen people, including a 13-year-old...

Mediterranean: New Deadly Tragedy as Italy Continue Going Rogue with Parliament Approval of SAR Decree, Again Delaying Disembarkations and Continuing Crack-down on NGOs

17th February 2023 | News

More than 70 lives lost off Libya. Italian parliament voted in favor of controversial law decree imposing restrictions on civilian rescue operators. The assigning of distant ports for disembarkation of survivors by Italy continues as does the ongoing crack-down on...

EU Eastern Borders: More Deaths at Poland Belarus Border as Reports of Pushbacks, Detention and Crack-down on Solidarity Continue, Council of Europe Concerned over Pushbacks and Criminalisation in Latvia

17th February 2023 | News

At least four bodies have been found at the Polish border with Belarus, reportedly one of them was a young woman who was left unassisted despite alerts to Polish authorities. Meanwhile, reports of pushbacks, arbitrary detention and “repression against humanitarian...

EU in Crisis Mode even though January Arrivals Decrease Compared to Last Year, Afghanistan and Syria Top Countries of Origin, Germany Latest Country to Repeat Unworkable Externalization Ideas

17th February 2023 | News

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) reports a 12 per cent decrease in arrivals in January compared to the same month in 2022, with Afghans and Syrians the two main nationalities of arrivals. Meanwhile, the conclusions of the Special Council Summit...