Italy passed the "Salvini decree," clamping down on asylum rights, and refused to grant entry to rescue ships. Greece struggled – and failed – to provide adequate accommodation on Samos and Lesbos. Meanwhile, Hungary effectively banned helping asylum seekers. 2018 was not an easy year for migrants and refugees. We sum up the biggest developments of the year.
1,257 Afghan children have left Germany since 2016 to return to Afghanistan with voluntary return programs. The Left party in Germany raised concern over a lack of perspectives for returning minors.
A new report by Save the Children assesses the situation of Afghan children being returned from Europe to Afghanistan. The majority of children experience violence, insecurity and sadness, the NGO warns.
As of August, refugees in Germany with subsidiary protection can apply for family reunification. The German government fixed a maximum contingent of 1000 people per month who may come to the country. But only a small fraction of applications has been approved.
On Tuesday evening, Germany returned around 50 rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan, among them seven convicted criminal offenders. The group, however, also included two young men considered to be suicidal. Who is being deported and on what grounds?
Following recent divisions over migration and Italy’s hard-line anti-immigrant policy, the EU proposed financial incentives to EU countries to admit migrants. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini dismissed the offer as mere "charity."
The dispute over asylum policy in Germany has become symptomatic of Europe’s struggle to find an EU-wide solution. Media across Europe are reflecting divided positions.
Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil warned Saturday that a recent Syrian property law could prevent thousands of refugees from returning home. The law would allow the Syrian government to seize private property - while only paying compensation under certain circumstances.
Nearly every other deportation from Germany has been canceled in the first quarter of 2018, according to the German Federal Police. Some of the deportations are called off at the last minute.
The EU Commission plans to pay for two-thirds of the second installment in its €6 billion fund for refugees in Turkey. The remaining €1 billion will have to come from individual member states.
The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has released a report on criminal offenses in Germany since the onset of the refugee crisis. It examines the percentage of offenders with migrant backgrounds.
A doctor in Bavaria has announced he will stop treating asylum seekers, after working in a reception center for three years. He claims half of his patients were simply medical tourists. Health organizations have denounced his statements.