OP-ED: Does the Rome court’s refusal to validate the detention order of the first asylum seekers brought to Albania mark the end of the Italy-Albania deal?
By Andreina De Leo, member of ECRE member organisation the Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration (ASGI) On 18 October, the Civil Court of Rome blocked the detention of 12 asylum seekers from Bangladesh and Egypt, who had been transferred to Albania under a...
BALKAN ROUTE: Significant decrease in irregular border crossings via Balkan route ― Croatian border police accused of pushbacks and burning people’s belongings ― ECRE member organisation calls for re-opening of reception centres in Serbia ― Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia criticise EU asylum and migration policies; call for more ‘regional co-operation’ ― ECRE member organisation wins human rights award
The number of irregular border crossings into the EU via the Balkan route decreased significantly in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. An NGO has accused the Croatian border police of burning the personal belongings of people who have...
MEDITERRANEAN: Italian migration centres in Albania finally operational ― ECtHR ruling may give hope to people stranded in buffer zone ― ‘Historic’ ECtHR ruling on Samos refugee camp
The two Italian migration centres in Albania have finally opened and received their first intake of people seeking asylum. A recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) may provide encouragement to the people who are stuck in the buffer zone in Cyprus,...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: EU accused of funding forced deportations from Türkiye ― European Commission President calls for development of ‘return hubs’ ― Egypt and Tunisia reportedly reluctant to co-operate with EU on migration deals; Libya showing more ‘commitment” ― NGOs denounce Tunisia as ‘not a safe place’ for disembarking rescued people and call for end of EU-Tunisia migration co-operation ― More than 300,000 people flee into Syria from Lebanon
A new investigative report has revealed the EU’s indirect involvement in forced deportations from Türkiye to Syria and Afghanistan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for the development of ‘return hubs’ in advance of an upcoming...
ECRE Working Paper 21 – The EU-Mauritania Partnership: Whose Priorities?
ECRE has published a working paper on the EU-Mauritania migration partnership agreement (the ‘Partnership’) which was signed by the European Commission and the Government of Mauritania in March 2024. The working paper, entitled ‘The EU-Mauritania Partnership: Whose...
EU EASTERN BORDERS: Significant increase in irregular crossings on eastern borders ― Finland plans stricter rules on detention and entry bans― More ECtHR rulings related to Hungarian transit zones ― Poland unveils new migration strategy, including ‘temporary’ suspension of asylum rights
The number of irregular crossings into the EU via the eastern borders increased significantly in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The Finnish government has proposed to tighten its rules governing detention and entry bans. The...
ATLANTIC ROUTE and SPAIN: Spanish Prime Minister calls for early implementation of Pact ― Political row over arrivals in Canary Islands escalates ― EU announces € 14 million support for reception in Canary Islands ― Major boat tragedy off El Hierro ― Bodies found in boat adrift in Atlantic
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that he will ask the European Commission to bring forward the implementation of the recently adopted EU Pact on Migration and Asylum from 2026 to 2025. A major political row is developing over Spain’s response to the...
NORWAY: Fence on Russian border under consideration ― End to automatic asylum for refugees from Ukraine ― NGOs express concern about proposed changes to migration law
Norway is considering following Finland’s lead in building a fence along its border with Russia. The government has announced that it will no longer grant automatic asylum to all refugees from Ukraine. A group of NGOs have expressed their concerns about proposed...