About: migrants
Migrant rescue ship arrives in Malta, ending standoff
The Mediterranean rescue ship Aquarius arrived at Valletta harbour in Malta on Wednesday (15 August) to allow 141 migrants to get off, ending a five-day tug-of-war among EU countries which had seen the vessel banned from docking in several ports.
Humanitarian ship seeks European port for rescued migrants
Human rights groups called on European governments on Sunday to tell a charity ship where it can dock and let more than 140 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean disembark in safety.
‘Controlled centres’ for migrants – not ‘hotspots’, say EU leaders
The European Council’s idea of “controlled centres” for migrants put forward in its conclusions is strikingly similar to the 2015 hotspots. EURACTIV.fr reports.
New Italian prime minister takes aim at migrants, austerity in maiden speech
The leader of Italy's new populist government vowed on Tuesday (5 June) to redistribute migrants in the EU and review EU sanctions against Russia, in his first policy speech to lawmakers since being sworn in.
MEPs want to revive the Schengen area
The European Parliament calls for the accession of Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria to the passport-free Schengen area, which has suffered setbacks with the reintroduction of internal border checks since 2015. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Névache and Briançon – left to deal with migrants on their own
Following the closure of other roads, migrants embark on a clandestine Italian-French crossing in the Alps by the Col de l’Echelle. Local residents, haunted by fears of discovering dead bodies once the snow melts, are now getting organised to welcome them. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Migrant rights increasingly flouted in Europe, report says
The European Agency for Fundamental Rights points out in its report five persistent challenges for migration to the EU, from access to territory, to asylum procedures and unaccompanied children.
Two conflicts with the potential to increase European welfare
The answer to two major European conflicts, Brexit-induced financial problems and the refugee crisis, could be welfare-enhancing. Only after implementing solutions to those problems can Europe start to reform governance and boost innovation, writes Karl Aiginger.
EU-Africa summit conclusions blocked over forced return of migrants
The issue of forced returns of migrants, as well as sexual rights, is blocking the publication of the conclusions of the EU-Africa summit, one week after the end of the debates in Abidjan. EURACTIV France reports.
Trans-Europe Express: Germany is really two countries
Maybe revenge is best served cold. With 12.5% of the national vote, a largely East German constituency had put the first extreme right party into the Bundestag since 1945.
Trans-Europe Express: Germany’s tolerance deficit
Asked to explain the AfD’s surge in the polls, Merkel offered a strictly economic analysis. The problem was that she was wrong.
Study: Cautious Slovaks take EU approach to refugees
Central European member states are reluctant to accept refugees. The Slovak government filed a lawsuit against the relocation scheme, followed by Hungary. The European Court of Justice ruled against Poland and the Czech Republic. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
Czech interior minister: ‘Nobody has to call us for solidarity’
The Czech Republic has not relocated a refugee for more than a year and remains in breach of its legal obligations. The Czech position remains the same despite the ruling of the Court of Justice supporting the Commission's migrant relocation policy. EURACTIV.cz reports.
Trans-Europe Express: Lega Nord Means Berlusconi
The Lega Nord has won the election. Or so one would be inclined to believe, surveying the stories on Italian politics published since August in the (mostly) UK press. A bit of Brexit projection, perhaps? Not exactly, but it can’t be excluded either.
Poland sticking to its ‘zero-refugee’ policy
While migrant relocations reached record levels this year (peaking in June with over 3,000) Poland and Hungary remained steadfast in their refusal to participate in EU-mandated resettlement efforts. EURACTIV Poland reports.
12 European heads of state in 10 days: Macron’s diplomatic tour de force
The French president will meet 12 European heads of state in the coming 10 days during seven meetings. EURACTIV France reports.
Melilla: Spanish enclave in Morocco offers an exit route to Europe
Recent uprisings in the Moroccan region of Rif have transformed the city of Melilla, a Spanish enclave in Morocco, into an exit route for persecuted people seeking refugee status in the EU. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Italy minister sees light at the end of the tunnel on migrant flows
Italy's interior minister said on Tuesday (15 August) he saw light at the end of the tunnel for curbing migrant flows from Libya after a slowdown in arrivals across the Mediterranean in recent months.
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.
Trans-Europe Express: Will the EU ever get the Western Balkans right?
The EU's fast-and-loose approach to the Western Balkans has never been more evident than in the last few years.
Trans-Europe Express: Tanks against migrants
The rhetoric about sending troops to the Brenner Pass was especially reactionary. But Austrian Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil felt compelled to use it anyway.
Austria backs down on Italy border troop threat
Austria sought to dampen a row with neighbour Italy yesterday (5 July) after it prompted outrage from Rome by threatening to send troops to the border to stop migrants entering.
Trans-Europe Express: Is Sánchez a man with a plan?
Last month, Pedro Sánchez brought a new and unexpected result to the European ballot box. Sánchez returned to his post as secretary general of Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) after a bitter campaign against Susana Díaz, the powerful president of Andalucía who was supported by the barons of the party.