Migrants' doctor from Lampedusa elected to EU parliament
Pietro Bartolo, known as the "doctor of migrants" for his work on the island of Lampedusa, has been elected to the European Parliament. He has vowed to go "to work, without fear."
Pietro Bartolo, known as the "doctor of migrants" for his work on the island of Lampedusa, has been elected to the European Parliament. He has vowed to go "to work, without fear."
Yonous Muhammadi arrived in Greece in 2001 after fleeing the Taliban in his native Afghanistan. Now the 46-year-old is running in the European Parliament elections. He's hoping to use his real life experience to help shape migration policy in Brussels.
Right-wing anti-migration parties in Italy and France are celebrating large wins in the European elections this week but can they and their allies across Europe influence the future policy of the EU regarding migration?
Pietro Bartolo, who has served as a doctor for migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa, is running for the European Parliament. The Italian hopes that his experience helping migrants will lead to success in politics.
In the lead up to the European Parliament Elections, the German politician Manfred Weber has promised Bulgarians tight measures against illegal migration. Bulgaria was a critical part of the Balkan route at the height of the migrant crisis.
The ultranationalist National Democratic Party (NPD) failed twice to convince lower-level courts that its campaign ad was legal. Germany's highest court agreed with the party and wants the commercial to be aired.
As the voices of hatred directed against migrants become louder and uglier in the lead up to European elections, pro-refugee and human rights groups are trying to drown out the haters with facts to counter the anti-migrant commentary. Will it work?
In May, Europeans go to the polls to elect a new Parliament. Most people are predicting that the center-right European People's Party will remain the biggest group. But there are strong signs that anti-EU, anti-migrant parties could also win enough seats to steer the bloc in a new direction.
AfD politicians hope to use the group to combat the far-right party's xenophobic image ahead of key elections. The message is that all are welcome — so long as you agree to "an end to illegal mass immigration."
Despite fewer migrants and refugees entering Europe, anti-migrant rhetoric is on the rise, the UNHCR warns. Commissioner Filippo Grandi warns of an exacerbation of that rhetoric ahead of the European Parliament elections in May.
The migration issue remains at the forefront of the race for the European Parliament elections, in which the Italian government majority allies are on opposite sides. Deputy prime ministers Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini have begun to show divergent positions, especially on the Sea Watch 3 case.