Migration
Tunisia arrests 38 migrants after clashes with coastguards
Est. 2minThirty-eight sub-Saharan African migrants were arrested in Tunisia on Wednesday (17 July) after clashes with coastguards who intercepted their boat during an attempt to migrate to Europe, Tunisian media reported.
Commission eyes extra migration restrictions in bid for right wing support
Est. 4minEuropean Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said the Commission will propose changes to the EU's visa regime within July, according to two letters addressed to member states and seen by Euractiv, sent at the time Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is hunting for votes for reelection from the right.
New UK leader Starmer declares Rwanda deportation plan ‘dead and buried’
Est. 4minBritain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday (6 July) he would scrap a controversial plan to fly thousands of asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda in his first major policy announcement since winning a landslide election victory.
Risks multiply for Mediterranean-bound migrants, UN study shows
Est. 3minMore migrants and refugees are embarking on dangerous journeys across Africa towards the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea where they face growing risk of abuse such as kidnapping and organ theft, a UN-backed report said on Friday (5 July).
EU signs €1 billion financing deal with Egypt as part of migration deal
Est. 3minThe European Commission on Saturday (29 June) signed €1 billion in macro-financial assistance with Egypt, part of a previously agreed funding package to help Cairo pursue substantial economic reforms.
Von der Leyen assures EU leaders external dimension of migration key priority next term
Est. 4minEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking a second term at the helm, has told EU leaders she is ready to boost the external dimension of the EU's migration policy by considering outsourcing procedures and developing economic partnerships with neighbouring countries, according to a letter seen by Euractiv.
Far-right leader Bardella unveils immigration programme ahead of snap elections
Est. 5minJordan Bardella confirmed Monday (June 24) that he intended to abolish France's "droit du sol", birthright to citizenship, after the snap elections, and said he would restrict Schengen space to EU citizens only.
Hungary’s anti-immigrant Orbán says Germany ‘no longer smells same’
Est. 2minHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said during a visit to Berlin on Friday (21 June) that Germany "no longer smelled and looked the same", saying it had turned into a "colourful, multicultural world" due to migration.
Migrant shipwrecks off Italy leave 11 dead, more than 60 missing
Est. 3minEleven people died and more than 60 were missing, including 26 children, following two migrant shipwrecks off Italy's southern shores, aid groups, coastguard officials and UN agencies said on Monday (17 June).
EU court orders Hungary to pay €200-million fine over migrant policy
Est. 2minHungary must pay a €200-million fine for not implementing changes to its policy of handling migrants and asylum seekers at its border, the European Union's top court said on Thursday (13 June).
Meloni’s battle with migrant rescue NGOs increasingly ends up in court
Est. 5minItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's battle with migrant rescue charities is increasingly ending up in court, with judges often siding with NGOs but not yet calling the law into question.
Austria far right calls for EU ‘remigration’ commissioner
Est. 2minAustria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) on Tuesday (11 June) called for the government to name an EU "remigration" commissioner after winning the EU elections in the Alpine nation.
UN warns of ‘politicised’ migration after EU’s far-right tilt
Est. 4minThe United Nations' refugees chief denounced Monday (10 June) the politicisation of migration in European elections, warning that demonising refugees would only make the issue more difficult to deal with.
Six wounded in knife attack at German anti-Islam rally
Est. 3minSix people were wounded in a knife attack at a far-right rally in Germany on Friday (31 May), including a prominent critic of Islam, drawing immediate condemnation from the nation's leaders.
EU should not ‘trade in human beings’, warns Amnesty International
Est. 5minThe European Union should not 'trade' with migrants or apply a 'self-serving solidarity' by outsourcing the management of its migration policy to third countries, including Libya or Tunisia, where human rights are not guaranteed, Amnesty International warned.
Opening of Italy’s migrant centres in Albania delayed
Est. 2minThe opening of two Italian-run migrant centres in Albania scheduled for Monday (20 May) has been delayed due to unfinished construction work, an Albanian port official said.
Finland to present plan to push back migrants on Russian border
Est. 3minFinland will propose a law next week allowing border agents to block asylum seekers trying to enter from Russia, the prime minister said on Sunday (19 May), a decision that could cause Helsinki to temporarily breach its international commitments.
Hezbollah chief urges Beirut to allow Syrian migrant boats to leave for Europe
Est. 3minHezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Monday (13 May) urged Lebanese authorities to open the seas for migrant boats to reach Europe, amid soaring anti-Syrian sentiment and accusations the West is seeking to keep refugees in Lebanon.
UK opposition leader sets out plans to tackle small boats crossings
Est. 3minBritish opposition leader Keir Starmer will say on Friday (10 May) a Labour government would hire hundreds of enforcement officials and use counter-terrorism powers to target people-smuggling gangs to stop asylum seekers arriving in England on small boats.
Schuman’s legacy deserves creative efforts to address migration
Est. 6minWith far-right eurosceptic parties building their influence on anti-immigrant rhetoric, it is imperative to honour the monumental efforts made to ensure peace in Europe by creating, together, a more compelling story about migration, writes Fatameh Jailani.
European realpolitik risks undermining democracy and respect for human rights abroad
Est. 6minEurope takes pride in the export of rule of law and democracy, but has done quite the opposite by supporting corrupt regimes with woeful human rights records, turning a blind eye to their misdeeds when it suits, argues Joël Ruet.
Italy bans NGO planes from using airports close to migrant routes
Est. 2minItaly said on Tuesday (7 May) that planes used by charities to track migrant boats in difficulty would no longer be able to fly from airports on the islands of Sicily, Pantelleria and Lampedusa that are close to the shipping routes.
The Brief – Brace for frenzy of EU migration deals with third countries
Est. 5minDistrustful of the freshly passed asylum and migration pact, EU countries and the European Commission have turned to third-country deals to curb irregular migration, thus finally aligning with Hungary, until recently criticised as a migration hardliner.
Tunisian protesters demand eviction of migrant encampment
Est. 3minHundreds of Tunisians rallied Saturday in the town of El Amra to protest makeshift camps for migrants primarily from sub-Saharan African countries, correspondents said.