ECRE Comments Paper: Screening Regulation
ECRE has published a comments paper on the Regulation introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders, commonly known as the Screening Regulation. The Screening Regulation was adopted in May 2024 as one of the central pillars of the...
OP-ED: The Christian Democrats’ Dangerous Gamble with the Far Right in Germany
By Karl Kopp and Wiebke Judith By aligning itself with the far right, so-called Alternative for Germany (AfD), to push through brazenly unlawful asylum and migration policies, Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) under Friedrich Merz are not merely undermining legal...
GERMANY: Migration law proposal rejected despite far-right support ― Thousands protest against co-operation with far right ― Increase in right-wing extremist violence in 2024
The German parliament has narrowly rejected a migration law that was proposed by the conservative opposition and supported by the far-right. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against mainstream political parties’ co-operation with the far-right...
BELGIUM: New government presents ‘strictest migration policy ever’ ― Highest number of asylum applications for a decade ― Reception crisis continues amid decrease in local accommodation initiatives ― Legal Helpdesk assists 10,000th asylum applicant ― Planned reduction in housing for Ukrainian refugees in Wallonia
The new federal government led by the Flemish nationalist New Flemish Alliance has promised major reforms to the asylum system. 39,615 people applied for international protection in 2024, the highest number since 2015. 3,000 single men continue to be denied reception...
UK: More crossings and record number of deaths in Channel ― Government presents draft migration and asylum law ― Migration deal with Tunisia
There was a 25% increase in the number of people who crossed the Channel in small boats in 2024, and a record number of deaths. The government has unveiled a draft law aimed at strengthening border security and repealing various elements of its predecessor’s migration...
EDITORIAL: Europe tested or what to do when the world’s most powerful country goes rogue…
By Catherine Woollard Before the inauguration of Trump, there was a lot of discussion both inside and outside the US of strategies for managing his pending arrival. It already looks very naïve after the blitz of measures unleashed, many of them truly alarming in terms...
MEDITERRANEAN: Four children lost in two shipwrecks ― People seeking asylum subjected to invasive surveillance in Greek camp ― Italy resumes transfers to detention centres in Albania ― Recriminations over Italian government’s repatriation of Libyan general wanted by ICC ― El Hiblu 3 lose latest appeal against criminal charges in Malta
Four children have died in two shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. A recent NGO report has revealed that people housed in the closed controlled access centre on the Greek island of Samos are subjected to invasive surveillance practices. The Italian government has made a...
NETHERLANDS: Government urged to delay new asylum laws ― Inspectorate issues another damning report on Ter Apel reception centre ― Major cut in government funding for leading NGO’s legal protection programme
The Council for the Judiciary has urged the government to delay the introduction of its planned new asylum laws until the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into force in 2026. The Inspectorate of Justice and Security has called on Minister of Asylum and Migration...