council of europe

• Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Council of Europe's representative on migration and refugees, Drahoslav Stefanec, has urged Bosnia to draft and implement a policy capable of structuring and coordinating the country's institutional response to migration flows, after a visit to the country.

• Greece

The Council of Europe has expressed its wish that Greece investigate further the allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment of migrants in the Aegean in an open letter. The Greek government in the meantime accuses some NGOs of working with smugglers in the area.

• Cyprus

The Council of Europe, Europe’s human rights watchdog, has expressed concern over the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Cyprus. The Mediterranean island has faced a sharp rise in irregular migrant arrivals in recent years.

• Malta

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has said that the conditions to which detained migrants are subjected on Malta could be considered as "inhuman and degrading treatment."

• Greece
• Italy
• Libya

The Council of Europe (CoE) has published a new report about developments in Europe's response to the migration situation on the continent. The document highlights a series of shortcomings that have marginalized and endangered migrants especially during the COVID crisis.

• Hungary

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Hungary violated the law in its treatment of a family of five asylum seekers, including three young children. The Iranian-Afghan family was held in a border transit zone for several months in 2017.

• Malta

A spokesperson for the interior ministry in Malta denies that it has received reports of physical abuse of migrants in detention centers, according to a local activist. Meanwhile a row has erupted over claims that migrants have been attempting suicide in order to draw attention to themselves.

• Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Council of Europe Special Representative for Migration and Refugees, Drahoslav Stefanek, on Monday visited Bihac in northwest Bosnia-Herzegovina, which hosts numerous migrants who are living outside or in makeshift tent camps.

• Greece

Greece says it is abolishing the practice of holding unaccompanied migrant children in police custody. The announcement comes as Europe's top human rights watchdog said Greece was detaining migrants in unacceptable conditions and called for an end to illegal pushbacks.

• Germany
• Libya

Europe’s human rights commissioner has blamed EU countries for trying to bypass laws. Dunja Mijatovic said some politicians promote the idea that migrants' rights should be sacrificed in order to protect borders.

• Malta

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic urged the Maltese government to meet its human rights obligations towards migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, who cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

• Belgium
• Libya

In a letter sent to Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, the EU's human rights watchdog has once again asked Italy to suspend its collaboration activities with Libya's controversial coast guard.