Migration and Asylum

In November 2023, the governments of Italy and Albania presented a migrant deal entailing setting up centers on Albanian territory to offshore asylum procedures to Albania. That meant allowing Italian authorities to transfer migrants intercepted by Italian vessels at international waters to migrant centers in Albania under accelerated procedures. Kristina Millona’s analysis offers us a unique insight into the first agreement of its kind on European soil, exposing the politics behind such deals, as well as the lack of safeguards for people on the move.

Although Lebanon receives EU support to provide for Syrian refugees, they are increasingly being criminalized and deported. Less than a week after Commission President Von der Leyen’s visit in May, Lebanon issued new residence regulations that effectively block the pathways to legal residence. These new regulations were followed by deportations to Syria, which the EU does not consider safe for return. Instead of making support conditional on respect for the refugees’ human rights, the EU is turning a blind eye. 

Although Lebanon receives EU support to provide for Syrian refugees, they are increasingly being criminalized and deported. Less than a week after Commission President Von der Leyen’s visit in May, Lebanon issued new residence regulations that effectively block the pathways to legal residence. These new regulations were followed by deportations to Syria, which the EU does not consider safe for return. Instead of making support conditional on respect for the refugees’ human rights, the EU is turning a blind eye. 

While the European Union is poised for alteration, it becomes important more than ever to remember why Türkiye matters for Europe’s migration challenges. The EU needs a stable Türkiye. A country in severe economic and political conditions, lacking sufficient support for refugees and migrants, perfectly illustrates the push factors that drive further migration where the EU is a near destination. A stable Türkiye benefits the EU, the population in Türkiye, and the surrounding region. This cannot be achieved with unfair policies.

The EU Commission, the Parliament and the member states are negotiating a reform of the common asylum policy. The comprehensive reform package contains a large number of legislative proposals that would have massive consequences for asylum seekers.

The presentation of our latest publication In defence of defenders: A practical guide to legal means and advocacy tools for criminalised Human Rights Defenders in Europe was followed by a panel discussion on the criminalisation of solidarity aiming to discuss among policy-makers, researchers, journalists and practitioners the existing challenges, as well as to discuss potential solutions.

The UNHCR and the IOM jointly called upon Italy and all EU Member States who abide by applicable legislation, to protect people and distribute responsibility within the EU fairly. Humanity and the Rule of Law are in the EU’s most basic interests – if these go unheeded at its external borders, they can hardly be defended within.

Media coverage of migration issues played an important role in informing public opinion and contributing to the construction of the collective perception of migration. This is an article about our recently published e-paper entitled “Without voice: People on the move. An analysis of the media coverage on migration in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia during the period 2015-2021”.