The policy of migrant returns between EU countries is complex and creates "blurred lines," an expert in EU law and migration has told InfoMigrants. In the light of two recent cases of returns from Austria to Hungary, we decided to take a closer look at the subject.
More than 1,000 people have tried to leave Libya in boats during the past 24 hours. The UN migration agency says most were intercepted and returned to detention. As 116 more were rescued off Libya, a humanitarian group said that it was 'one of the busiest days' in the central Mediterranean.
At least 120 people, including 28 children, were returned to Libya by the coast guard on Wednesday night. The UN migration agency IOM repeated that Libya is not a safe country for return.
Europe is increasing pressure on African countries to take back migrants in exchange for development aid. But the EU should instead be focusing on creating safe routes to seek protection, analysts have warned.
Greece is considering changing its asylum law so more people could be returned to Turkey under the 'safe country' rule. The Greek migration minister also told InfoMigrants that state support for refugees could end after just a few months under further proposed changes.
The so-called "Orderly Return Law" (Geordnete-Rückkehr-Gesetz), which was enacted in Germany a year ago has failed to achieve its objective of raising the number of deportations in the first six months of its existence.
Fears about coronavirus are now also beginning to affect migrants and refugees: the German interior ministry is taking measures to contain the virus — including a suspension of all returns to and from Italy under the Dublin regulation.
A new "wave" of Syrian refugees reportedly returned home from Lebanon last week. Meanwhile, people continue to be displaced in northwestern Syria, where fighting continues.
Greece has started sending back around 30 rejected asylum seekers a day to Turkey, said the Greek government on Monday.
Those foreigners in Germany who are obliged to leave has increased this year. The two main reasons are the stagnating number of deportations and a faster processing time for asylum applications.
Collective deportation flights to Afghanistan are a controversial issue in Germany, as many people believe that Afghanistan should not be deemed a safe country of origin. Journalists working for DPA now had unprecedented access to one of those flights, highlighting the experience from all angles.
A group of 40 migrants on Wednesday crossed into Hungary by climbing over a three-meter-high border fence. The men, who were from Afghanistan, were caught by Hungarian police and taken back to Serbia.