Balkan Route: New Croatian Pushback Revelations, Mistreatment of People in Transit, States Block Afghans but Declare Hospitality Vis-à-vis Ukrainians

18th February 2022 | News

Following an exposé of Croatian mistreatment of migrants, police were sent an email that provides “written proof that the pushbacks were ordered by the authorities”. Meanwhile, two officers that were suspended following the October revelations have reportedly been...

Op-ed: The EU Must Stop Trapping Migrants in Libya or Risk Complicity in Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes

18th February 2022 | News

Co-authored by Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach at Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL), and Mae Thompson, Programmes Officer at LFJL. European and African leaders met in Brussels on 17 and 18 February for the sixth European Union (EU) – African Union...

EU Eastern Borders: “Disastrous” Reception Conditions in Poland and Lithuania, Pushbacks Denounced, Uptick in Arrivals to Latvia Amid Fears of War in Ukraine

18th February 2022 | News

Thousands of people remain stranded in Polish and Lithuanian reception and detention facilities, where conditions are “worse than prisons”. Human rights commissioners from both Poland and the Council of Europe have spoken out against pushbacks to Belarus – a...

Greece: UNHCR Calls for Urgent Investigation as More Bodies are Recovered in Evros, Court Rules in Favour of Refugees Accused of Arson, Local Protestors in Lesvos Arrested for Arson

11th February 2022 | News

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) calls for an urgent investigation after another seven frozen bodies were found in the Evros region, bringing the total number of deaths to 19. A Thessaloniki court has a vindicated a Syrian family of responsibility for a tent fire and...

Central Med: EU Boosts Support to Libya Amid Detainee Hunger Strike, Activists Protest Deaths at Sea, Cyprus Pushes for Returns, El Hiblu 3 Trial Continues

11th February 2022 | News

The EU is set to deliver new ships to the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, the body notorious for intercepting and returning more than 32,000 people to detention in 2021. Meanwhile, hundreds of detainees in Tripoli have launched a hunger strike to protest abuse including...

Channel: Macron Calls on UK to Offer Safe Routes, Home Office Prioritises Crackdown on “Illegal Migration” and Mothballs Afghan Resettlement, Squatters Protest French Policies

11th February 2022 | News

France says it wants to strike a deal with the UK on Channel crossings that would combine returns and resettlement. UK officials continue to focus on combatting “illegal migration” via deterrence and criminalisation of people on the move. After promising to resettle...

Atlantic Route and Spain: Shift to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, Children at Risk on Islands, Resumption of Deportation Flights to Morocco, Venezuelans Seek Refuge in Spain

11th February 2022 | News

After more than 4,100 people arrived to the Canaries in January, rescue activity has continued with new trends in departures. The situation for unaccompanied minors on the Islands remains at crisis point. Deportation flights from the Spanish archipelago to Morocco at...

Frontex: EU Border Control in Africa Set to Expand, Commission Floats Political Oversight, Switzerland to Vote on Frontex Funding, Belgium Plans Scrutiny Hearing

11th February 2022 | News

The EU is considering establishing status agreements with African countries to enable Frontex (the EU border and coast guard agency) to support border management and deploy liaison officers. Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has floated the idea of a...

Editorial: French Presidency Plans: New Momentum or Hot Air?

4th February 2022 | News

There are reports of new momentum after a meeting of the JHA Council, preceded by a speech from President Macron. Even Commissioner Johansson seemed pleased, understandable after two years of wrangling recalcitrant Member States. The French ideas are based on a...

UK: January Channel Crossings Up Five-Fold, “Illegal Entry” Deemed Misleading, Borders Bill Endangers LGBTI+ Applicants and Blocks Safe Passage, Phone Seizures Challenged

4th February 2022 | News

A five-fold increase of small boat crossings of the channel in January 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 is according to experts is mainly the result of push factors. The Home Office has been rebuked by the UK appeal court for erroneously describing asylum...