Turkish minister in Brussels to discuss new migrant deal
Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, will be meeting three EU commissioners to discuss a "prospective update of [the] EU-Turkey Statement" on migrants.
News in Brief
- Hungary buys Russia's Sputnik V vaccine
- Netherlands imposes curfew to halt new corona variant
- Green NGO fails to stop Europe's biggest gas burner
- Swedish minister reminds Europe of Russia's war
- Spain: Jesuit order apologises for decades of sexual abuse
- NGOs urge Borrell to address Egypt rights 'crisis'
- EU conflict-area education aid favours boys
- EU told to avoid hydrogen in building renovations
EU demands answers on Croat border attacks against migrants
EU commissioner Ylva Johansson wants to send her officials to Croatia sometime this month to make sure authorities there are complying with fundamental rights following numerous allegations of violence against migrants and asylum seekers attempting to cross into the country.
EU watchdog launches probe on Croat border violence
The European Ombudsman is launching a case into the lack of proper oversight by the European Commission when it comes to how fundamental rights of migrants and refugees are allegedly being violated by Croat border police.
EU Commission: EU free-travel overhaul planned
Plans to reform the EU free-travel zone were already announced in September by the European Commission. On Friday, it re-stated those intentions following demands by the French president for a major overhaul.
Feature
Belgium's collaboration with Sudan's secret service: my story
Before the murderous Sudanese regime of Omar al Bashir was overthrown by a popular revolution, the Belgian government decided to cooperate with it - in order to deport Sudanese refugees.
Confusion over Frontex's Greek pushback investigation
In a quick U-turn, EU border agency Frontex says it has now launched an inquiry into allegations it may have blocked potential asylum seekers from reaching the Greek coast, in so-called 'pushbacks'. What form that inquiry will take is unclear.
EU Parliament pressing for inquiry into Frontex
MEPs are drumming up support for an inquiry into the EU's controversial border and coast guard agency, Frontex. So far, the Greens, the left-wing GUE, and Renew Europe are on board - amid expectations the centre-left S&D will also join.
Turkey snubs Greece on migrant returnees
The Greek government last week requested that the European Commission and EU border agency Frontex help return 1,450 failed asylum seekers to Turkey. Turkey has refused, citing the pandemic.
Exclusive
Frontex spent €94,000 on a dinner in Warsaw
The European Border and Coast Guard Day is held every May. The event includes movies, football and volleyball matches between Frontex and national border guards, shooting competitions and exercises to detect smugglers.
How Belgian government got caught up in human smuggling
Former Belgian minister Theo Francken gave one of his party friends the power to put Syrian Christians on a list to get Belgian humanitarian visa. This week that colleague was convicted of human smuggling.
EU to scrutinise Hungary 'ignoring asylum ruling'
The European Court of Justice told Hungary in December to stop forcing asylum seekers back into Serbia. The European Commission is now demanding Budapest follow the judgement - but Hungary has since reintroduced a special legal order, under Covid-19.
Exclusive
EU anti-fraud office launches probe into Frontex
EUobserver was tipped off about the investigation by an anonymous source, who said Olaf had raided the offices of Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri and his chef de cabinet in early December given alleged misconduct.
Hungary 'ignoring EU court ruling on asylum'
The European Court of Justice last month ruled Hungary had breached EU asylum laws. Budapest was told to stop pushing asylum seekers back into Serbia - yet nearly 2,500 people have been forced across the border since that judgement.
EU: Bosnia 'sacrificing' homeless migrants
The European Commission is providing an additional €3.5m of humanitarian aid to help migrants made homeless in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to political infighting.
Conditions dire at EU-funded migrant camp in Greece
Asylum seekers are living in misery in an EU-funded camp on the outskirts of Athens, with no running water or even containers to sleep in, nine months after construction began.
Top court finds Hungary and Poland broke EU rules
EU tribunal said Hungary's legislation made it "virtually impossible" to make an asylum application. Restricting access to international protection procedure is a violation of EU rules.
Column
In a messy world, EU's clout depends on respecting values
In a messy, pandemic-racked and rudderless world, Europe's normative power certainly matters. But it would matter more if EU leaders practiced at home what they preach to others.
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Solidarity on migration eludes German EU presidency
The political clout of the German EU presidency failed to mend the most contentious aspects of migration, as EU states remain divided on hosting asylum seekers.
Podcast
Honesty is the best policy
Politicians mostly talk about shutting migrants out. That endangers migrants' lives and obscures an important truth: that Europe already relies on large numbers of migrants for farming and manufacturing.
NGO rebuts Athens' charge of aiding people smugglers
Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi presented video testimonies of migrants citing Norwegian NGO Aegean Boat Report as useful in their efforts to get to Greece. Mitarachi said such NGOs contribute to "illegal migratory flows". Aegean Boat Report disputes the account.
MEPs seek parliament inquiry into Frontex
Some MEPs now want a formal inquiry into Frontex, plus member states, and the European Commission over allegations of illegal pushbacks. Dutch MEP Tineke Strik says she has so far received backing from the Greens, liberals and far-left GUE.
Socialists demand resignation of EU border-agency chief
EU border-agency chief, Fabrice Leggeri, ought to resign over allegations of illegal pushbacks in Greek waters, the centre-left group in the European Parliament said.
Frontex takes transparency activists to EU court
The EU border agency Frontex's annual budget for 2020 is €460m. Now they are launching court proceedings against two pro-transparency campaigners for not paying them €24,000 in legal fees after losing a case last year.
EU 'front-line' states want clearer migration rules
Greece, Italy, Malta, and Spain want clear rules on obliging other EU states to take in migrants who land on their shores.
EU reaches out to nationals of migrant origin
The European Commission has unveiled guidelines and projects it says will help integrate migrants and EU nationals with migrant backgrounds.
EU migration system relies on despots, Schäuble says
German parliament president Wolfgang Schäuble outlined a vision on migration that included possibly sending people to "facilities outside Europe" while at the same time acknowledging that the EU is reliant on "dubious powers and regimes".
Greek operation on Turkish border to keep out migrants
The Greek ministry of foreign affairs, in a 25-page letter to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, says its border operations are designed so that approaching potential asylum seekers "retreat and flee to the interior of the Turkish territory".
Exclusive
Revealed: Official Greek order to illegally pushback migrants
Greek authorities have always denied they engaged in illegal pushbacks of migrants. But a Frontex email chain obtained by EUobserver shows for the first time ever that such orders were indeed made.
Opinion
Charging father for death of refugee son is attack on asylum
It's time for the European Union to rethink how it deals with migration and treats refugees and asylum-seekers. As it is, a father awaits sentencing for the death of his own son.
Frontex refuses to investigate pushbacks, despite EU demand
The European Commission says Frontex, the EU's border agency, has an obligation to investigate allegations that its vessels participated in illegal pushbacks of migrants off the Greek coast. Asked if it would, Frontex said it rejected the allegations.
EU Commission's Libya stance undercut by internal report
The European Commission says its funds help provide training for Libyan authorities. But a 60-page internal EU document seen by EUobserver says the training programmes are progressing poorly.
Coronavirus
EU's migrants more at risk from coronavirus
Europe's migrants - including EU nationals living in other states - are more at risk of catching coronavirus or suffering from corona-linked poverty, a new study says.
Opinion
Memo to Michel: How to make most of EU-Africa at the summit
On the agenda of today's summit is EU-Africa relations. It is a bit of an 'orphan' item. Without a steer from EU leaders, policy-making on Africa will drift, proceed in silos and be more of the same.
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