Solidarity and help for those fleeing war in Ukraine has been universally expressed across Europe and the UK. However, administrative hurdles are still hampering some of the integration efforts being made in various countries.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has said that there are problems with Ukrainians trying to get to the UK. On arrival in Calais, they are unable to get onto trains because a visa is needed to enter and they must return to Paris to request it.
Germany remains the number one destination country for migrants in Europe, according to the Migration Report 2020, published by the German government on Wednesday. Overall immigration to Germany, however, fell by 23.9% compared to numbers in 2019.
In 2021, Germany once again granted far fewer family reunification visas for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection than would have been possible by legal means. The new German government coalition wants to abolish the limit for such visas and make it possible for people holding any kind of protection status to reunite with family members.
Notwithstanding the risks of embarking on a journey fraught with dangers and even death, scores of migrants are choosing to put their destinies in the hands of local smugglers in Iraq to get into the EU via Belarus.
A new service is set to open in the city of Palermo on the Italian island of Sicily. It aims to help migrants in applying for residence permits, entrance visas, citizenship, and family reunification.
Paris has accused former colonies of not doing enough to allow illegal immigrants to return. Algeria has summoned the French ambassador in response to the decision.
A lack of truck drivers has led to delivery bottlenecks and fuel rationing across the UK. Industry associations estimate Britain needs 100,000 more drivers to meet demand.
The Italian migrant rights group ASGI is calling on the government to make it easier for Afghans to get a visa for Italy. The call comes as Afghans have reported 'unsurmountable difficulties' in obtaining a visa, even if they have met all requirements.
More than 4,000 Afghans who have a right to family reunification in Germany are stuck in Afghanistan. According to a media report, visa-processing sites in the region have only processed around 100 applications per month so far this year.
An Afghan man who has been living in Italy for 15 years has asked the Italian government to help him bring his 16-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister to Italy. "They are in Afghanistan and have been waiting for a visa for months. I am afraid now that the Taliban will no longer let them leave," he told ANSA.
India's past citizenship policy, which critics say excludes Muslims, has raised questions as to who is eligible for special new humanitarian visas for Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban.