About: asylum policy
Europe’s solidarity with Ukrainian refugees must transform our asylum policy
The extraordinary demonstration of European solidarity with Ukrainian refugees has laid the ground for an unprecedented chance to overhaul longstanding gaps in Europe’s ability to respond to refugee arrivals, argues Harlem Désir.
Macron seeks reform of Schengen mirroring the eurozone
The European Union's border-free Schengen area should be managed by regular ministerial meetings, just like the eurozone, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (2 February), adding that this could start as early as next month.
EU asylum demands up as more Afghans flee
Requests for asylum in Europe hit a five-year high in September, with Afghans in particular seeking safety after the Taliban stormed to power in Kabul.
How Paris attacks prompted tougher Greek migrant checks
In a tented courtyard in the migrant camp on Greece's Leros island, a dozen new arrivals await registration after two weeks in COVID-19 quarantine.
Lithuania pushes back Afghan migrants despite European Court stand
Lithuania on Thursday (9 September) pushed five Afghan migrants back to Belarus shortly after they had crossed the border despite the European Court of Human Rights earlier saying they should be allowed to stay.
Czech PM says ‘no place’ for Afghan refugees in Europe
There is no place for Afghan refugees in the European Union which should instead help them to stay in their homeland, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Tuesday (7 September).
Taliban would take back Europe’s Afghan deportees to face courts
The Taliban government in Afghanistan would accept any Afghan migrants whose applications for asylum were rejected in Europe and they would then face court, an Austrian newspaper quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying on Monday (30 August).
EU Commission presses for overhaul of asylum rules as Taliban enter Kabul
The crisis in Afghanistan and the actions of Belarus demonstrate the need for a fast overhaul of the European Union's migration and asylum rules, EU Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said on Sunday (15 August).
Nordic countries to offer asylum for Afghan staff as France suspends expulsions of migrants
Roughly 45 Afghans employed by Denmark in the conflict-hit country will be offered temporary asylum as international troops withdraw, with other Nordic countries set to follow suit.
Greece says EU not ready for new migrant crisis as Afghan conflict grows
The European Union is not in a position to deal with a repeat of the migration crisis in 2015 and must try to keep people from fleeing the growing conflict in Afghanistan, Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said.
In about-turn, Dutch, Germany announce freeze on deportations to Afghanistan
The Netherlands and Germany on Wednesday abruptly reversed course and said they would not for the time being deport Afghan citizens who are seeking asylum, given the rapidly escalating conflict in their homeland.
Six countries urge EU to continue Afghan deportations
Six EU countries have called on the European Commission not to halt the deportation of Afghan migrants despite an accelerating Taliban advance, officials said on Tuesday (10 August).
Lithuanian parliament votes to allow mass detention of asylum seekers
Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday (13 July) approved the mass detention of migrants and curbed their right of appeal, a move meant to deter high numbers crossing the border with Belarus but which stirred an outcry among humanitarian groups. Eighty-four lawmakers...
NGOs slam UK plans to copy Danish offshore asylum centres
UK plans to follow the lead of Denmark in seeking to establish offshore asylum processing centres have been met with swift condemnation from civil society groups and lawyers who argue that it would breach the country’s international obligations on refugees.
Assist developing countries to find solutions to migratory causes
Debate on the external dimensions of migration and asylum, including effective ways to address the root causes, should not be taboo in the EU, the world’s largest donor of development aid, writes Tomas Tobé.
Greece defends use of anti-migrant sound cannons
Greece's minister for migration and asylum on Wednesday (9 June) defended his country's use of "sound cannons" to deter irregular migrants, as a senior EU official called their use "strange" and legally questionable.
EU adopts strategy on sending irregular migrants back
The EU is looking to plug a big gap in migration policy by boosting measures to have irregular migrants voluntarily returned to their countries under a strategy adopted on Tuesday (27 April).
EU Presidency: Council meeting on migration ‘extremely constructive’
EU foreign and home affairs ministers had an “extremely constructive” joint meeting on Monday that gives confidence that progress can be made on the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, Portugal’s interior minister Eduardo Cabrita has said.
EU needs ‘mandatory’ migrant solidarity system, Johansson says
The EU home affairs commissioner, who is to unveil a much-awaited asylum reform this week, urged Saturday (18 September) that a system of "mandatory" solidarity on migration be agreed between member states.
Germany’s Seehofer cautiously optimistic on EU asylum reform
Germany said on Tuesday (7 July) it wants EU nations to overcome a deadlock on how to handle refugees and migrants this year, and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) expressed "justified confidence" that a deal can be found. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Rescue boats return to the Mediterranean as 20,000 migrants prepare to cross from Libya
Two charity boats have headed back to the Mediterranean after a two-month hiatus in migrant rescue operations, as humanitarian groups await a new wave of arrivals.
Visegrad leaders hold first face-to-face talks of virus crisis
Masks and gloves will be the order of the day when the prime ministers of four ex-communist countries on Thursday (11 June) hold the first major face-to-face meeting of European leaders since the coronavirus crisis.
Hungary accused of holding migrants in ‘unlawful detention’
Hungary was accused on Thursday (23 April) of holding asylum seekers in a camp on the border with Serbia in "unlawful detention" by the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).