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.
News in Brief
- EU capital bans Halloween festivities due to corona
- Belarus: 11th weekend in a row of mass protests
- MEPs back vegetarian 'burgers' and 'sausages'
- Macron: Pandemic to last until next summer
- Czech health minister sacked in corona violation
- Johnson waiting for US election in Brexit talks
- Europe's Jewish population continues decline
- Report: EU border agency flouts law to help Greece
Analysis
'Sponsored returns' may shuffle failed asylum seekers around EU
The European Commission is banking on cooperation and coordination among EU states to help makes its new migration and asylum pact viable. But its plan is already being greeted with suspicion by more hardline anti-migrant countries like Austria and Hungary.
Analysis
Between the lines, Europe's new Moria unfolds
A new five-day screening of migrants at Europe's external borders is meant to expedite people into either 'asylum' or 'return' tracks. The time-limit is wishful thinking and one that could leave people stranded in make-shift camps or even ghettos.
EU migration pact to deter asylum
The EU commission's newest pact on migration and asylum seeks to deter people from claiming asylum by speeding up procedures and sending most of them back home.
Legal complaint filed with EU Commission over migration
The European Commission is being legally pressed to investigate alleged infringements by Greece on migration and asylum - following reports of push-backs and the denial of basic rights for people demanding international protection.
Stakeholder
Time to fix Europe's broken migration and asylum system
It has been clear for many years now that the European Union's approach to migration and asylum is not fit for purpose.
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.
Greek island community-run refugee shelters under threat
Founded in 2012 by local Greeks, Pikpa is a community refugee shelter on the Greek island of Lesbos. Now Greek authorities are threatening to shut down the facility, which won a UN humanitarian prize award.
EU seeks political accord on migration this year
The German EU presidency is striving to sort a political agreement on the migration and asylum pact before the end of the year. In reality, it means two months when factoring Christmas holidays.
Opinion
Unsung hero: Portugal showing EU way on migration
Portugal has sought to be a leader at the EU level with regard to refugees and migrants, advocating a liberal position. It has consistently shown a willingness to take in refugees.
Exclusive
EU to help draft Libya's strategy on border security
A 60-page internal EU document on Libya seen by EUobserver says its border mission there intends to help draft Libya's national strategy of border security and management.
Podcast
Ylva Johansson on Migration and Drama Queens
Commissioner for home affairs, Ylva Johansson, would like to win the approval of all EU member states for a new proposal for a common asylum and migration policy - something her predecessors failed to do.
New EU migration pact 'to keep people in their country'
The European Commission's long-awaited pact on migration and asylum is now set to be unveiled on 23 September. Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas has likened it to a "house with three floors".
Analysis
19 years after 9/11: did Osama bin Laden achieve his goal?
The consequence of the attacks of 9/11 was not a more united, but a more divided West. Today, divisive and populist leaders are gaining ground. But this year, the tide can be turned.
EUobserved
Moria is EU's shame
The European Commission will attempt to spin its way out of bearing any responsibility for the disaster that is Moria. Piecemeal efforts to help those in Moria will not resolve a policy Brussels created.
Interview
Refugee who witnessed Moria fire describes 'hell'
Yousif Al Shewaili, a 21-year old from Iraq who obtained refugee status, witnessed the fires that struck Moria on Tuesday evening. He recounted that at least two people may have died.
Stakeholders' Highlights
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- UN Secretary General to meet with Nordic Council on COVID-19
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- Nordic Council meets Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaja
- Nordic Region to invest DKK 250 million in green digitalised business sector
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Latest News
- Erdoğan whips up Muslim hate against Macron
- Gruelling Brexit and budget talks continue This WEEK
- Ministers back EU-wide 2050 climate goal, not by country
- The German mayor now facing US sanctions over Nord Stream
- EU Commission rejects retaliatory visas for US citizens
- Feminists target Polish churches in abortion 'revolution'
- South Caucasus death toll much worse than feared
- Polish court effectively bans legal abortions
Amnesty demands criminal probe into Malta's push-backs
Amnesty International is demanding a criminal investigation into the treatment of migrants and refugees by Malta. The demand comes on the back of a report by the NGO that details the island state's efforts to stem migrant arrivals.
EU money can be used to offshore migrants on boats
The European Commission says member states can use EU funds to pay for food, medical supplies, and personnel on vessels hosting migrants offshore - provided that all legal conditions are met.
Italy's invisibles: migrant fruit pickers robbed of all rights
Italy's Covid-19 emergency highlighted its reliance on undocumented migrants picking fruit and vegetables in conditions some have called "modern slavery".
UK asks military to stop Channel migrants
The UK is scrambling to prevent migrant boat crossings but is facing legal obstacles in a move that seeks to offshore the issue onto France.
Iraqis paid €2,000 each agree to leave Greece
An EU-funded scheme that aims to help some 5,000 migrants reintegrate back into the home countries was launched earlier this week in Greece.
Interview
Antwerp's Uigher refugee from China: where's my family?
Nurehmet Burhan is a Uighur refugee in Belgium who had to leave behind his family behind in China. "My new born baby has never seen his father, he doesn't know his father, he has never kissed his father," he says.
Border pre-screening centres part of new EU migration pact
Michael Spindelegger, the former minister of foreign affairs of Austria and current director of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), reveals some of the proposals in the European Commission's upcoming pact on migration and asylum.
EU boosts pledges to relocate minors from Greece
Over 120 asylum seeking children and teenagers in Greece have so far been relocated to a handful of EU states in a scheme the European Commission says is a demonstration of solidarity. EU states have pledged to take in 2,000.
EU mulls new system to check illegal pushbacks of migrants
The European Commission says it may create a new system to monitor push backs by EU states. The announcement follows weeks of dithering by the commission, which has refrained from condemning abuse by Greek and Croat authorities, despite mounting evidence.
EU asylum applications rise for first time since 2015 wave
EU commissioner for home affairs Ylva Johansson admitted on Thursday that the latest European asylum report reveals a need to better manage migration. In all, Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta and Spain received more asylum applicants last year than in 2015.
Opinion
EU silence on sickening scenes at Croatian border
If the European Commission is seriously committed to its fundamental values, it is time to put words into practice and condemns unlawful returns and violence at its external borders and demands perpetrators of such illegal acts are held to account.
Feature
China accused of intimidating Uighur refugees in Europe
China denies it, but Uighur exiles who fled to EU states say they are still being terrorised by threatening phone-calls, SMS-es, and other forms of "refugee-espionage".
EU: Eritrea regime taking money is 'improved relations'
The European Union says bilateral relations are improving - because Eritrea's totalitarian dictatorship asked for €6.6m of EU money to help fight the pandemic.
EU Commission to probe Croat border attacks on migrants
Refugee and asylum seeker hopefuls are showing up with horrific injuries, including broken bones and collapsed lungs, after entering Croatia. NGOs blame a militarised Croatian police force for the abuse. The Commission now wants to monitor the border.
EU says Orban's new national poll contains 'fake news'
The European Commission has described a question in a Hungarian government poll as a lie meant to mislead the public. Another question in a similar Hungarian poll in 2017 forced the government to pay a fine and issue an apology.
Voice from Libya: No one is winning
Whether it is the West, Turkey, or Russia who think they are winning in Libya, Libyan people are the losers, according to one woman, speaking from Tripoli.
Stakeholders' Highlights
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- Next generation Europe should be green and circular
- NEW REPORT: Eight in ten people are concerned about climate change
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