Background information
The Real Common Interest
For too long the EU’s migration policies have ignored the priorities of the countries it partners with for the sake of its own border security and domestic priorities. These have permeated the domestic migration and asylum policies of the Maghreb countries it supports, including Tunisia and Morocco, in a convergence of national interests of states, at the cost of people’s interests. The EU’s cooperation with its neighbours should encourage a real common interest: protecting people and fulfilling their rights. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Nordafrika, Europäische Union
Alarm Phone: Aegean Regional Analysis
Human rights violations reached a new level in the Aegean Sea and at the Greek-Turkish land border from the beginning of March. The escalation went along with acts of repression against NGOs and solidarity structures for refugees and migrants. Most recently, Greek authorities published a press release about a criminal investigation into 33 people from four different NGOs. Even though the press statement does not name the Alarm Phone nor as yet has there been an official statement including us, several media reports claim that Alarm Phone is among the groups targeted. Our position is still as our statement of 1 Oct 2020 and we refrain from commenting on the investigation or the rumours which surround it. Instead we want to focus on the real crimes that are ongoing in the Aegean: the push backs and human rights violations by the Greek government. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei
Der »New Pact«: Neue Grenzverfahren, mehr Haft, keine Lösung alter Probleme
Am 23. September 2020 hat die Europäische Kommission mit ihrem »New Pact on Migration and Asylum« einen neuen Vorschlag für eine Reform des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Asylsystems sowie die dazugehörigen Rechtsakte vorgestellt. PRO ASYL hat die Vorschläge analysiert und stellt die problematischsten Aspekte der Screening-Verordnung, der Asylverfahrensverordnung, der Asyl- und Migrationsmanagement-Verordnung und der Krisen-Verordnung vor. In ihrem Zusammenspiel untergraben sie das Recht auf Asyl in Europa, welches in Art. 18 Grundrechte-Charta verankert ist. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Europäische Union, Europa
EU External Migration Policy and the Protection of Human Rights
This in-depth analysis focuses on the human rights implications of EU external migration policy interventions: (1) identifying human rights obligations owed to third-country nationals when engaging in cooperation with third countries and non- EU actors; (2) assessing the means and level of compliance with these obligations when designing and implementing the main policy instruments; and (3) determining the existence and adequacy of operational, reporting, monitoring and accountability mechanisms available in each case to track and respond to potential violations. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europäische Union, Europa
Six Years Alarm Phone: The Struggle at Sea continues
On 11 October 2020, the Alarm Phone turns six years old. Our network of over 200 activists who live on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea has assisted over 3,300 boats in distress in the three regions of the sea. Since October 2014, we keep this project running, without a break, 24/7. The perpetual violence of the border regime but especially the continuous struggles of people on the move have meant that we had to be alert day and night, ready to stand in solidarity with those trying to cross the sea. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Weltweit
Open Letter by Shipping Industry to EU-Comission
In an open letter to the EU-Commission, the shipping industry demands the immediate, plannable landing of people rescued at sea by merchant ships. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Europäische Union
The Real Crimes are Push-backs and Human Rights Violations by the Greek Government
On Monday, the Greek police issued a press release about the criminal investigation into 33 people from four different NGOs and two ‘third country nationals’. Accordingly, a criminal case was filed for the offenses of forming and joining a criminal organization, espionage, violation of state secrets, as well as facilitation of entry. Even though the press statement does not name the NGOs or the individuals, there were several media reports stating that the Alarm Phone is among the groups that are targeted. For the time being, we refrain from publicly commenting on the ongoing investigation. Instead, we want to point out the real crimes which are ongoing! read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei
The Balkan route. Migrants without rights in the heart of Europe
Since 8 September 2015, hundreds of thousands of people - mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - have arrived in Europe through Balkan countries, impacting the morphology and boundaries of these areas. In October 2015 - under the leadership of then President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker - representatives of UNHCR and Frontex met in Brussels alongside the leaders of Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, to discuss joint management of the Western Balkans migrant route, strength- ening of border controls and the creation of a coordinated “hot spot” system between the various countries involved. Refugee transit camps, ad hoc railway stations, food and cloth- ing distribution centres and medical clinics have sprung up along this effectively legalised corridor monitored by the mil- itary. In addition to support provided by non-government or- ganisations, the mobilisation of local and international civilian society in solidarity with migrant people was fundamental. Since November 2015, border crossings have become increas- ingly difficult. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Balkanstaaten
Complaint to the European Commission concerning infringements of EU law by Greece
In recent years, many refugees have attempted to enter the European Union via the Greek borders, by land and overseas. Numerous reports indicate that those that did manage to cross the border over land or sea were denied their right to seek asylum by the Greek authorities. Instead, reports indicate these individuals were beaten, stripped and forcibly pushed back over the border.
The situation in Greece is in contravention of the protection asylum seekers are entitled to under EU law and in breach of their fundamental rights. WeMove Europe and Oxfam call upon the Commission to immediately take action and fulfill its duty to ensure EU lawis applied in full by the Greek authorities and that those in need of protection are indeed protected. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei, Europäische Union
Malta: Waves of Impunity - Malta's human rights violations and Europe's responsibilities in the Central Mediterranean
In the first half of 2020, Maltese authorities were implicated in multiple failures to respect and protect the rights of refugees and migrants at sea.
This report describes violations by Maltese authorities for which they must be held accountable and how these violations are part and parcel of a wider regional strategy of containment of refugees and migrants in Libya. It also describes the consequences of this strategy, and it recommends steps which must urgently be put in place by Malta, Italy and EU member states and institutions, to protect the lives of refugees and migrants in the central Mediterranean. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Italien / Malta, Nordafrika, Europäische Union
IOM - Willing deportation logistician or helper in need?
What is the IOM - the United Nations Migration Office - actually doing in North Africa, the Sahara and the Sahel?
In July, Medico International and Brot für die Welt published a study on the IOM program of voluntary return of migrants (AVR) from Libya to sub-Saharan Africa. Shortly before, the Pan-European channel Euro News had published several reports on that very programme. Both sources criticize the program, saying that this kind of return is not voluntary, not humane. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Nordafrika
Rekonstruktion einer Räumungswoche
Nach dem symbolträchtigen Besuch des neuen französischen Innenministers Gerald Darmanin in Calais am 12. Juli kam es zu einer Räumungswelle der provisorischen und von Geflüchteten bewohnten Zeltstadt in der Nähe von Calais. Die Räumungswelle des sogenannten Jungles unterschied "sich in ihrem Umfang und in ihrer Heftigkeit von vorausgegangenen Polizeiaktionen dieser Art" und erinnert an "die medienwirksam durchgeführte Räumung des bislang größten Calaiser Jungle im Oktober 2016".
Im Rahmen des Calais-Blogs von Bordermonitoring versucht Thomas Müller die aktuellen Ereignisse in Calais vorläufig zu rekonstruieren.
Den gesamten Beitrag findet ihr hier: read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Frankreich
Emergency returns by IOM from Libya and Niger
Far beyond its own territory, the European Union and its member states are cooperating with third countries to prevent migrants and refugees from moving towards its external borders.
The EU outsources border controls, trains border police, concludes readmission agreements, funds “volun- tary return” programs and rewards countries that align their migration policies with European interests. Meanwhile, for refugees and migrants, it becomes more and more difficult to access safe pathways and find refuge and protection.
Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) and medico international together with their partner organizations in the respective countries have closely monitored the impact of these policies on the human rights and well-being of refugees and migrants and have convincingly outlined how the vast majority of the EUTF migration projects ended up being aimed at controlling and preventing migration within and out of the African continent. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Nordafrika, Europäische Union, Afrika
Get out! Zur Situation von Geflüchteten in Bulgarien
Bordermonitoring.eu hat einen neuen Bericht zur Situation von Geflüchteten in Bulgarien veröffentlicht:
„Bulgaria is very bad“ ist eine typische Aussage jener, die auf ihrer Flucht bereits etliche Länder durchquert haben. Der vorliegende Bericht geht der Frage nach, warum Bulgarien seit Langem einen extrem schlechten Ruf unter den Geflüchteten genießt.
Hierzu wird kenntnisreich die massive Gewalt nachgezeichnet, die Bulgarien im Zuge sogenannter „Push-Backs“ anwendet. Auch auf die intensive Kooperation mit der Türkei beim Schutz der gemeinsamen Grenze wird eingegangen. Da die Inhaftierung von Geflüchteten in Bulgarien obligatorisch ist, werden überdies die rechtlichen Hintergründe hierfür und die miserablen Haftbedingungen beschrieben. Weiterhin wird das bulgarische Asylsystem thematisiert und auf die besondere Situation von Geflüchteten eingegangen, die im Rahmen der Dublin-Verordnung nach Bulgarien abgeschoben wurden. Das bulgarische Integrationskonzept, das faktisch nur auf dem Papier existiert, wird ebenfalls beleuchtet. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Balkanstaaten
Deutungshoheit in der Logik des Grenzregimes: Verbrechen im Rahmen der europäischen Migrationspolitik
Dokumenation der Geschehnisse einige Monate nach der "Grenzöffnung" durch die Türkei. Diese Stellungnahme nimmt insbesondere das europäische Grenzregime in den Fokus . read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei
The situation of refugees and the impact of the corona virus
The critical health situation that is shaking the world in general and refugees in particular has led the anti-racist group Corasol to compile a brochure with contributions from various solidarity groups. The brochure provides information on the situation of refugees in times of pandemic, whether in camps and shelters or in the border regions. read more
Language(s): Deutsch / German
Region(s): Italien / Malta, Griechenland / Türkei, Nordafrika, Deutschland, Europäische Union, Europa, Afrika
Pushbacks in Melilla: ND and NT V. Spain
On 13 February 2020, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rendered a judgment in the case of ND and NT v. Spain, the first trial to address ‘pushbacks’—the cross-border expulsion of refugees and migrants—at Europe’s land borders. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Spanien, Nordafrika
Politiques du non-accueil en Tunisie : des acteurs humanitaires au service des politiques sécuritaires européennes
Le présent rapport tente de documenter ces politiques de « non-accueil », tout en les inscrivant dans le contexte plus large des politiques d’externalisation des frontières de l’Union européenne et en accordant une attention particulière à la manière dont ces politiques, dans le contexte tunisien, mêlent étroitement registres humanitaire et sécuritaire. read more
Language(s): Französisch / Français
Region(s): Nordafrika
The brutal side of the French Riviera
Rights violations, detentions and pushbacks: a daily reality for migrants’ at the French-Italian border, where Europe’s weaknesses weigh heavily on people’s lives read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Frankreich, Italien / Malta
Press Release: Collective Expulsion from Greek Centres
In response to the recent spike in pushbacks from Greece to Turkey, the Border Violence Monitoring Network, with members Mobile Info Team and Wave Thessaloniki, are releasing first hand testimony and photographic evidence indicating the existence of violent collective expulsions. In the space of six weeks, the teams received reports of 194 people removed and pushed back into Turkey from the refugee camp in Diavata and the Drama Paranesti Pre-removal Detention Centre. read more
Language(s): Englisch / English
Region(s): Griechenland / Türkei, Europäische Union, Europa