At least 171 people have been detained while trying to cross from Belarus into Lithuania on Tuesday night. This is the largest number or irregular crossings intercepted on that border in a single day in 2021. The government believes that Belarusian authorities are colluding with people smugglers.
Some countries have sent aid such as tents, beds and generators to Lithuania, which asked for support following the increase in arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers through the border with Belarus.
The Greek coast guard along with crews from four passing ships picked up at least 37 migrants from a boat off Crete on Thursday evening. Several people are reportedly still missing.
Norway has temporarily suspended deportations of failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan, according to the country's two immigration authorities, UDI and UNE. The country follows similar decisions taken recently by Sweden and Finland.
Proposed in September 2020, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum sets out the European Commission's new approach to migration in the bloc. It addresses border management and aims to integrate the internal and external dimensions of migration policies.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has urged Germany to show continued leadership on refugee policy after Angela Merkel steps down, as a new report shows that Germany is the top country for asylum claims in Europe.
Gabrielius Landsbergis tells DW that Minsk is shuttling refugees from Iraq to Lithuania to exact revenge for sanctions. He warned that the EU could see "waves of refugees" if the practice is not stopped.
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has reported that she is working to secure €300 million for the resettlement of 30,000 refugees until the end of 2022.
A group of 119 migrants scaled a fence and crossed the border into the Spanish enclave of Melilla from neighboring Morocco on Monday. They were taken to the city's migrant reception center.
Lithuania has seen a sharp rise of migrants entering its territory, with most of them originally coming from Africa and the Middle East. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is suspected of causing the surge.
The European Parliament has approved two funds: Until 2017, nearly €10 billion will go towards implementing migration and asylum policies in the European Union (EU), over €6 billion will be spend on border control measures.
The move comes as Minsk enables a huge influx of illegal migration into the EU. Lithuania says Belarus is seeking to harm the European bloc in response to sanctions.