Greece: Mitarakis Rejects Border Monitor Mechanism as New Reports of Abuse Emerge – Greek Facilities Empty Out while People Move Onwards

1st October 2021 | News

Amid new reports of abuse, Minister for Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis rejects the need for a human rights monitoring mechanism at Greek borders, stating that it would infringe upon national sovereignty. While the number of people in the Greek island hotspots...

Spain: Mass Expulsion to Morocco Alarms NGOs and Ombudsman – Bodies of People on the Move Wash up on Spanish Shores

24th September 2021 | News

125 people have been pushed back to Morocco from a Spanish enclave in North Africa, despite more than 90 the people having made written requests to seek asylum in Spain. Eight bodies have washed up on the shores in Southern Spain, believed to belong to people who set...

Lithuania: Moves to Legalise Indefinite Detention, Fairness of Asylum System Called into Question, Politicians and NGOs React to Events at Belarus Border

17th September 2021 | News

The Lithuanian government has announced its intent to enable the indefinite detention of asylum seekers, following legal changes made in August that ran contrary EU and international law. Employees of asylum authorities say they have been pressed to conduct sham...

Channel: UK Practices Pushbacks as France, NGOs and the UN Deem “Turn-Around” Tactics Unsafe and Unlawful

17th September 2021 | News

UK Border Force authorities have been spotted carrying out “pushback drills” in the Channel after the Home Secretary expressed an ambition to return boats to French waters. Human rights groups and the UN refugee agency say pushbacks would endanger lives and violate...

Greece: Renewed Demands for Human Rights Monitoring, Pushbacks Continue with NGO Oversight Restricted, Refugee Children Risk Exclusion

17th September 2021 | News

The European Commission has reiterated its demand for a rights monitoring mechanism as a precondition for the release of migration management funding for Greece. Systematic pushbacks continue with limited scrutiny and oversight. With kids back in school after the...