About: Dimitris Avramopoulos
EU still seeking June deal on refugee plan, says bloc’s migration chief
The EU is still hoping to convince Hungary and Poland to sign up to an elusive agreement on migration and refugee resettlement, the bloc’s Migration commissioner has said.
No, the EU Commission has not given up on ‘mass immigration’
Contrary to claims seen on some far-right websites, the EU Commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, does not believe that "mass immigration" is unstoppable. EURACTIV.com looks into the allegations as part of the "Fact or fake" series, in partnership with France 24.
EU adds pressure on online platforms with plan for fast removal of terrorist content
Online platforms should remove posts promoting terrorism within one hour after receiving complaints, according to a draft European Commission document that leaked on Tuesday (13 February).
Commission lobbies for police access to website owners list
The European Commission has suggested that law enforcement authorities could soon have restricted access to the WHOIS database that identifies website owners because the system is on a collision course with the EU’s strict new data protection law.
EU struggles to settle refugee quotas row by June
EU ministers yesterday (25 January) started their countdown toward overhauling their asylum rules by a June deadline but struggled to settle a row over refugee quotas that has dogged them since the migration crisis erupted in 2015.
Mayor of Gaziantep: EU owes Turkey more money
The European Union “doesn’t understand Turkey” and does not deliver what it has promised in terms of aid to the refugees from Syria, Fatma Şahin, the mayor of the Turkish city of Gaziantep, told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Countdown begins for tough EU asylum reform by June
Bulgaria today (25 January) launches the first of several meetings aimed at bridging an east-west split over reforming Europe's asylum rules by June, when Sofia's EU presidency ends and the migration crisis could flare anew.
EU countries urged to step up action against ‘modern slavery’
The European Commission has called on member states to enhance exchange of information and help conduct more effective investigations on rising human trafficking inside the EU, officials told EURACTIV.com.
Five Commissioners team up to threaten internet platforms with EU legislation
Five EU Commissioners all wanted a piece of the action on Tuesday (9 January) at a meeting with CEOs from some of the biggest internet platforms.
EU working without ‘letup’ to help migrants in Libya
The EU said on Thursday (23 November) it is working without "letup" for a durable solution to the plight of migrants in Libya, adding it shared French President Emmanuel Macron's anger over slave markets there.
Leak: ‘Temporary’ internal Schengen border checks could last four years
The European Union's executive offered initial backing yesterday (14 September) to a Franco-German proposal to allow more permanent border checks within the bloc's Schengen free-travel zone.
Juncker and Merkel go radio-silent in Berlin meet-up
European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker has in the past publicly backed German Chancellor Angela Merkel for re-election in September. But neither were willing to discuss a “confidential” meeting on Wednesday (30 August). EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU tightens grip on disobedient states over migration
The European Commission on Wednesday (26 July) stepped up its legal case against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland over their reluctance to take in migrants from other EU countries, after an adviser to the EU's top court dismissed a challenge brought by Slovakia and Hungary.
Italy urges EU ports to take migrants as pressure builds
France and Germany's interior ministers met with their Italian counterpart in Paris on Sunday (2 July) to discuss a "coordinated response" to Italy's migrant crisis, hours after the latter had called on other European countries to open their ports to rescue ships.
EU opens sanctions procedure against Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic over refugees
The EU launched legal action yesterday (13 June) against Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic for refusing to take in their share of refugees under a controversial solidarity plan.
Commission readies sanctions against the Visegrad Four
The European Commission warned yesterday (6 June) it could sanction member states that don’t follow EU quota rules for asylum seekers by opening infringement proceedings against them as early as next week.
EU, US hold ‘robust’ talks on possible airline laptop ban
Top US and EU officials traded intelligence Wednesday (17 May) on what they called "serious evolving threats" to airline security as Washington mulls banning carry-on computers on flights from Europe.
Commission sets June deadline for Poland, Hungary to take migrant share
The European Union yesterday (16 May) set a June deadline for Poland and Hungary to start admitting their share of migrants from overstretched Italy and Greece or risk sanctions.
Visa-free travel for Ukrainians clears final hurdle
The European Council today (11 May) approved visa-free travel for Ukrainians, fulfilling a key promise to cement ties with Kyiv as it remains embroiled in a deadly conflict with Russian-backed rebels.
Commission will not require visas for US citizens as ‘retaliation’
The European Commission has decided not to require visas for Americans travelling to Europe, rejecting calls from MEPs to retaliate against US visa requirements for citizens of five member states.
Refugee relocations very far from target, Commission admits
Member states have relocated only a small fraction of the 160,000 asylum-seekers they committed to absorbing from Greece and Italy, the Commission admitted today (2 February).
EU approves visa liberalisation for Georgia
The European Council yesterday (27 February) adopted a Commission proposal granting visa liberalisation for Georgia. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Hungary starts construction of second border fence
Hungary has begun building a second line of fence along its southern border with Serbia, a government spokesman said on Monday (27 February), a move likely to exacerbate criticism from some of the country's European Union partners.