About: illegal migration

EU lowers its ambitions on African migration control

EU leaders asked the Commission in June to study ways to set up “regional disembarkation platforms” in North African countries, for migrants rescued by European vessels in the Mediterranean. But the demand didn't last long and the EU seems to have quietly lowered its ambitions on migration-control deals with North Africa.

Migration can only be tackled by the EU as a whole

Without a shared EU foreign policy, the notion of halting future migration waves is unrealistic, write Ilhan Kyuchyuk and Samuel Doveri Vesterbye. Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP (Bulgaria) is ALDE Vice President and Member of the European Parliament; Samuel Doveri Vesterbye is...

Frontex: Africans made two thirds of illegal arrivals to EU in 2017

The European Union’s southern borders in the Mediterranean will remain under heavy pressure from African migrants trying to reach Europe this year, the head of the EU’s border agency Frontex said yesterday (20 February).

EU-Africa join forces against slave trade

During an emergency meeting on the situation in Libya, 9 African countries and European member states decided to launch a joint intelligence operation to dismantle the human trafficking networks. EURACTIV France reports.

Creativity is the new mantra in development aid

The lines defining aid have become increasingly blurred in recent years. Reluctance among donor countries to hit the 0.7% target, has led them to get creative.

Aid groups split over Italy’s new rules for migrant rescues

Five aid groups that operate migrant rescue ships in the Mediterranean refused to sign up to the Italian government's code of conduct on Monday (31 July), the Interior Ministry said, but three others backed the new rules.

France reveals plan for registration centres to stem migrant crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (27 July) unveiled plans to set up migrant registration centres in Libya to help stem an influx that has sparked a crisis in Europe, although his aides said the scheme could not be implemented there immediately for security reasons.

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.

Russia and China block G20 efforts to sanction people smugglers

An EU proposal to impose sanctions on smugglers that bring migrants from Africa was opposed by Russia and China, officials involved in the G20 talks told EURACTIV.

Steel overcapacity, North Korea squeeze into G20 discussions

As the G20 summit kicks off in Hamburg (Germany), China's steel overcapacity and the response to North Korea will play an important part in the leaders' discussions.

Uzbek arrested for Stockholm attack

After a massive manhunt for the driver of a stolen truck that ploughed into a crowd outside a busy department store in central Stockholm on Friday (7 April), killing four and injuring 15, Swedish police arrested a 39-year-old from Uzbekistan who had been denied permanent residency in Sweden and who had expressed sympathy for Islamic State.

1,000 migrants storm border fence at Spanish enclave of Ceuta

More than 1,000 migrants tried to jump a high double fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta yesterday (1 January) in a violent assault that saw one officer lose an eye, local authorities said.

Croatia caps migrant numbers as EU divisions widen

European Union member Croatia is from Friday (26 February) limiting the number of migrants entering the country to 580 a day, following a similar decision from Slovenia, and highlighting deep divisions in the bloc over how to handle the migration...

Commission: Schengen suspension could be extended, 60% of migrants should be sent back

The European Commission today (26 January) said it could agree to a suspension of border-free travel in the Schengen zone of up to two years, and that nearly two thirds of migrants entering the EU in December were not eligible for asylum because they did not come from conflict zones.

EU’s migration cash for Africa falls short

The European Union’s efforts to stem the flow of refugees from Africa was undermined today (12 November) by member states who failed to match EU money for a €1.8 billion trust fund to the tune of €1.72 billion, raising just €78 million.

Rodrigues: Juncker must flex muscle with member states

As the European Parliament adopts its first joint resolution on the Commission work programme to be presented in October, Portuguese MEP Maria João Rodrigues said Juncker must take leadership and restore political dynamism in the EU.

Dozens of migrants drown sailing from Libya to Italy

Up to 50 migrants went missing after a large rubber dinghy sank in the Mediterranean Sea, Italian rescuers said on Wednesday (12 August), while more than 1,500 were picked up from other vessels in the past 24 hours.

Italy to receive most EU funding for migrant crisis

The European Commission today approved €2.4 of aid over six years for countries including Greece and Italy that have struggled to cope with a surge in numbers of immigrants.

Migration: What the European Council should decide after the tragedy in the Mediterranean

The European Council will have to make crucial decisions regarding the future of the EU in the fields of migration, asylum and border protection, said Elmar Brok MEP. Otherwise, the Mediterranean will remain the deadliest route on the globe.

Wrap-up: Special EU summit on the Mediterranean crisis

European heads of state and government met on Thursday (23 April) in an extraordinary summit to discuss the Mediterranean migrant crisis following mass drownings of migrants off the coast of Libya.

Italy picks up another 700 boat migrants

Italian ships have picked up almost 700 migrants in seven inflatable boats and further rescue operations are underway, as calm seas favoured departures from Libya for the Italian coast, the coast guard said on Sunday (12 April).

Poverty spurs mass migration from Kosovo

Migration from the Western Balkans towards the EU is not new. But the size of the exodus from Kosovo surprised many in early February, when the media began reporting that a large number of Kosovar Albanians were trying to enter Hungary via Serbia. EURACTIV Serbia reports.

Commission steps up response to ‘ghost ships’

Human traffickers have started to smuggle migrants to Europe on big ships, a challenge the European Commission was quizzed over its response to today (5 January).

Immigration Commissioner denounces ‘Fortress Europe’ at hearing

The best way to combat illegal migration is to set up a regular immigration framework and not a “Fortress Europe”, according to Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Greek commissioner-designate for migration and home affairs. EURACTIV Greece reports.