Spain: Record Number of Melilla Crossings as Violence Prompts Outrage, Quiet Spell on the Atlantic Route, Preparations to Welcome Ukrainians
An unprecedented total of 4,700 people tried to enter the city of Melilla in recent weeks, with one incident deemed the “biggest entry attempt on record”. Videos of young men who reached the Spanish side of the fence being brutally assaulted by police have provoked...
Greece: Civil Society Organisations Demand EU Action on Third Country Concept, Pushbacks Continue with Frontex Involvement, Ukrainians Receive Access to Housing, Medical Care and Work While Regular Reception Remains Dire
In a joint letter, 27 civil society organisations call for EU action over Greece’s systematic non-compliance with the Asylum Procedures Directive (APD) as regards the safe third country concept. A joint operation by the Hellenic Coast Guard and the European Border and...
Balkan Route: Years of Pushbacks Condemned, Ombudsman Slams Commission Failure on Croatian Funding, Asylum Shortcomings in Serbia, Hungarian Border Violence
NGOs are calling for independent and effective investigations into systematic pushbacks by Croatian officers. The European Ombudsman has found that the European Commission failed to ensure respect for rights in EU-funded border operations by Croatian authorities....
Frontex: MEPs Urge Release of EU Anti-Fraud Investigation, Frontex to Increase Manpower at Ukrainian Border, Green Light for Talks on Senegal Deployment
MEPs have urged the “sensitive” findings of a year-long European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigation into the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) be disclosed. The agency is stepping up support at the Ukrainian border and has received a greenlight for...
Ukrainian Borders: More Than Two Million Arrivals to Neighbouring States, Strong Community Response in Poland, Hungary Introduces Tougher Controls, Moldova Under Pressure
The overwhelming majority of the roughly 2.5 million people fleeing Ukraine have entered Poland and neighbouring countries. Communities in Poland have welcomed more than 1.5 million arrivals, Hungary has introduced tougher border controls, and Moldova – one of...
EU Ukraine Response: EU Steps Up With Temporary Protection, Border Management Guidelines, Humanitarian Aid, and Support to Member States
In response to an exodus from Ukraine that is predicted to be “Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century”, the EU has enacted legislation to provide immediate, temporary protection to refugees. Other measures taken include humanitarian aid packages, a Solidarity...
ECRE Comments on the Commission Proposal to Amend the Schengen Borders Code
ECRE publishes its Comments on the European Commission proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU)2016/399 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code or SBC). The Comments analyse the fundamental rights...
Information Sheet: Access to Territory, Asylum Procedures and Reception Conditions for Ukrainian Nationals in European Countries
ECRE has compiled a non-exhaustive document of measures taken by European countries to address the arrival of Ukrainian nationals on their territory following the invasion in Ukraine. Some of the information featured is based on announced policy changes: it is...