EU helps Bulgaria and Romania to protect borders against migrants
The European Commission has announced two pilot projects with Romania and Bulgaria aimed at stopping irregular migration at the EU's external borders.
border control
EU border agency to support more deportations from Greece
The EU border agency Frontex is to provide more support to Greece to deport rejected asylum seekers. The agency has been criticized for covering up human rights abuses against migrants at Greece's external borders.
Latvian border crossing dangerous and largely unmonitored by NGOs
More migrants have been intercepted along the Latvian border in the past year, where they find themselves detained and subject to abuse by border agents.
Greek border authorities have stolen more than €2 million from migrants in five years
According to the Spanish daily newspaper El Pais, Greek border authorities have taken at least €2.2 million in cash and goods from migrants and refugees during alleged pushbacks along the Turkish border over the past six years.
Finland begins construction of Russian border fence
The Finnish government has declared it will commence building a 200-kilometer fence on its border with Russia. Finland says the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed its security situation, and fears Moscow could use migrant flows at the border to exert political pressure on the country.
New Frontex boss vows to protect human rights
Hans Leijtens takes over as executive director of Frontex in March, as the EU's border agency is struggling to defend its credibility. Will he be able to deliver?
Greece dismantles smuggling gang, continues to strengthen border
Authorities in Greece have arrested two leading members of a migrant smuggling gang. The country meanwhile continues to step up efforts to secure its borders with neighboring Turkey.
Belgium says sharp drop in migrants headed to UK
Belgium says there has been a massive drop in the number of irregular migrants using it as a transit country to reach Britain.
Athens to host European Conference on Border Management
The second European Conference on Border Management will take place in Athens, Greece, on February 23-24, as announced by the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Greek government fears new wave of migration following earthquakes
Greek authorities are preparing to boost border protection measures, fearing rising migrant flows following a devastating earthquake on February 6 in Turkey and Syria.
Latvia, Lithuania boost border cooperation against migrant flows
Latvia and Lithuania have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation at the border with Russia and Belarus to stop steady numbers of irregular migrants crossing their borders. The two Baltic states consider the migrant flow as a hybrid war tool used by Moscow, in cooperation with Minsk.
'Walls don't work, they're as harmful as Brexit', say NGOs
NGOs working on the Balkan route compare the idea of setting up defensive walls against migrants to Brexit, a decision that brought back to Europe the concept of borders. A wall is not sufficient to stop the flow of migrants, just like water finds its way, they said.