100 posts
Libya Asks EU to Assist with Renovation of Migrant Detention Centres
At a press conference held last week, Libyan Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelali asked the European Union for assistance in dealing with new immigration flows and specifically requested assistance to renovate 19 existing migrant detention centres. (Gl...
Report of Migrant Boat Sinking Off Libyan Coast – 15 Dead, 40 Missing
According to AFP , the Somali envoy in Tripoli has reported that a migrant boat carrying approximately 50 migrants sank off the coast of Misrata on Wednesday last week. The boat was reportedly carrying about 55 migrants from Somalia. 15 …...
Formal informal in Copenhagen
I’m attending a so-called informal council meeting in Copenhagen. And by “informal”, I don’t mean relaxed discussions by the fire, without any strict agenda. On the contrary, we are more numerous than ever – all EU membe...
EASO Press Release: Asylum Support Teams to go to Luxembourg
On 26 January 2012, in the margins of the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Copenhagen, Dr Robert K. Visser, Executive Director of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and Nicolas Schmit, Minister of Labour, Employment...
UNHCR: Record Number of Refugees and Migrants Cross to Yemen in 2011
The UNHCR reports that there has been an almost 100% increase in the number of refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants who crossed the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea from Africa to Yemen in 2011 compared to 2010. 103,000 migrants are … Continue read...
We shouldn’t apologise for our immigration record
Labour has recently joined the Tories in drawing up a mea culpa for our record in Government. Some of these have a degree of merit. For example, Labour did not rebalance our economy; and Labour allowed many of the gains it made in social welfare and...
Migration Watch row says a lot about modern Britain’s attitude to immigration
This month, a report from Migration Watch apparently claimed a link between migration to the UK and youth unemployment. The derision, of both the report’s method and its claim, was immediate. Most clearly heard amongst the dissenting voices was...
Deaths at Sea: Tourists and Migrants
Presseurop reproduced a commentary article by Dominic Johnson from the Berlin newspaper Taz (Die Tageszeitung) contrasting the sinking of the Costa Concordia (and the extensive media coverage) with the more common and numerous sinking of migrant boat...
Malmström: Europe Failed Refugees in 2011
Commissioner Cecilia Malmström wrote an opinion article in The Times of Malta of 19 January: “Refugees: How Europe failed- European promises of solidarity with people in need were tested in 2011. It is worrying to note that Europe, collectively,...
Hundreds of Tunisians Who Sailed to Lampedusa in 2011 Remain Missing
Hundreds of Tunisians who departed Tunisia for Lampedusa by sea in early 2011 remain missing. Some of the missing almost certainly died at sea, but family members remain hopeful that others survived the voyage and are now in Italy or … Contin...
European Commission asks: Do immigration laws reflect today’s couples?
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group Most EU Member States do not let non-EU couples reunite if they do not–or cannot–marry. Can Member States work together to cha...
EASO Press Release: 2012 Work Programme published
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) has recently published its Work Programme for 2012. During its second year of operations, EASO will consolidate the work undertaken in 2011 and will start new tasks in accordance with the EASO founding...
De Nederlanders “ontdekken” de “schokkende” waarheid over de immigratie naar Nederland
De Nederlanders hebben nu "ontdekt" de waarheid over wie is migreren naar hun land. De "schokkende cijfers" Er wordt gezegd dat een "explosie" van ... nee ... WACHT ... .. niet de moslims ... maar Oost-Europeanen zijn. Yep, dat klopt - de waarheid ov...
The Dutch “discover” the “shocking” truth about immigration to the Netherlands
The Dutch have now “discovered” the truth about who is migrating to their country. The “shocking numbers” are said to be an “explosion” of…nope…WAIT…..not Muslims…but East Europeans. Yep, that’s right – the truth about who is...
Australia’s Asylum-Seeker “Problem”
Although Australia is a nation conceived and developed by immigrants, the contemporary political climate towards asylum-seekers is one of hostility—a hostility that has seeped into the Australian population. The recent failed attempt by the Austral...
Customs, security and immigration - learn it, live it, love it
I have many irrational pet peeves, and many seem to involve air travel. One of the most silly may be my disproportional irritation when people use the word 'customs' when they really mean immigration or airport security. But as silly as this little h...
NATO Reportedly Agrees to Provide Additional Information to PACE Regarding Migrant Deaths in the Mediterranean
The PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, in connection with the preparation of a report by Ms Tineke Strik (Netherlands, SOC) on the deaths of boat people who have died in the Mediterranean, conducted a hearing in Paris on … Co...
Criminal Charges Brought in Italy Against 5 Men Accused of Murdering Passengers On Disabled Migrant Boat
Italian authorities in Agrigento have brought criminal charges, including charges of unlawful killing, against 5 men from Ghana and Nigeria who are accused of throwing fellow migrant passengers into the sea from a disabled migrant boat this past Augu...
Chatham House Briefing Paper: Responding to Migration from Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Lessons Learned from Libya
A new Chatham House Briefing Paper by Dr Khalid Koser entitled “Responding to Migration from Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Lessons Learned from Libya” has been released. Summary: At its peak during the Libyan conflict, migration to Tunisia an...
The Continent's New Europeans
Europe's newest citizens are first and foremost Moroccans, Turks, and Indians, reports Le Monde, integrating the countries that they are historically linked to, i.e., France, Germany, and Britain who, together, take in over half (respectively 135,80...
Copenhagen for the day
I have spent the day in Copenhagen, as part of preparations for the incoming Danish EU Presidency. The day began with me giving a public lecture at the University of Copenhagen. The theme was the Arab spring and the EU’s migration policy. It wa...
The Commission and the IOM streamline their cooperation
The European Commission and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the area of migration and mobility. Commissioners Cecilia Malmström (Home Affairs) and Andris Piebalgs (Development) signed a...
UNHCR Calls on Malta and Italy to Expand Search For Missing Migrant Boat
UNHCR’s Malta office issued the following statement on Thursday while search efforts for the migrant boat by the Armed Forces of Malta continued: “The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expresses deep concern for the fate of te...
Director Laitinen Describes Frontex Response to the 2011 Migratory Flows from North Africa
In a recent opinion article published on Publicservice.co.uk, Frontex Director Ilkka Laitinen described the challenges faced by Frontex and provided a description of Frontex’s “unprecedented” activities over the past 12 months in the operationa...
Reports of First Post-Gaddafi Migrant Boat [UPDATED 2345 GMT - Lampedusa "Closed" for SAR Operations]
Italian media is reporting this afternoon that a satellite telephone distress call has been received from a disabled migrant boat carrying about 50 persons from Libya. A search in the Maltese SAR zone is being undertaken. The boat is reportedly &...
Finland studies neighbours’ policies to limit family reunions
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group After national elections almost brought the True Finns to power, the new Interior Minister is looking to reform the country’s family...
UNHCR, IOM, and Save the Children Warn that Italy’s Decision to Declare Lampedusa a Non-Safe Port Endangers Sea Rescue Operations
UNHCR, IOM, and Save the Children issued a joint statement expressing concern that Italy’s decision to declare Lampedusa an unsafe port which can no longer receive persons rescued at sea risks “undermin[ing] the entire rescue at sea system for mi...
Call for Support: Boats 4 People Project
From Migreurop: “… thousands of migrants died in the Mediterranean this Summer in their attempts to reach Europe. Boats wandered adrift and shipwrecks took place in front of Coast Guard ships, surveillance patrols of Frontex and ships from the...
Terraferma, Emanuele Crialese’s Film About Migrants, Nominated as Italy’s Entry for Best Foreign Film Oscar Award
From Adnkronos News: “Movie director Emanuele Crialese’s new film about the plight of migrants landing on the southern Lampedusa island from Africa will be Italy’s contender for the 2012 Best Foreign Film Oscar, a jury decided Wednesday...
Italian Ship Carrying 150-200 Detained Tunisian Migrants Reaches Sardinia
One of the three passenger ships being used by Italian authorities for the past four days to detain hundreds of Tunisian migrants reached Sardinia this morning (26 September) around 7.30 AM local time. The ship, the Moby Fantasy, left Palermo ̷...
Italy Declares Lampedusa Unsafe; Rescued or Intercepted Migrants Will Be Taken to Sicily; 700 Migrants Detained On Board Ships for Past 3 Days
As a result of the violent disturbances on Lampedusa over the past week and a fire that damaged buildings at the island’s migrant reception centre, Italian officials have responded with drastic measures. Lampedusa has been declared an unsafe port...
DIIS Seminar: “The Lesser Evil”? Policy Logics and Practices of Removal and Detention in the Euro-Mediterranean Area (Copenhagen, 6 Oct)
The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) will hold a seminar (English) in Copenhagen on 6 October 2011, 14.00-17.00. Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Wednesday, 5 October 2011 at 12.00 noon. Click here for...
Eurostat: Asylum Statistics for Q1 2011
Eurostat has issued a statistical report regarding the number and makeup of asylum applicants in the 27 EU member states and Norway, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein for the First Quarter 2011. The report documents the increased number of applications...
Immigrating to Europe – How to Get a European Visa
If the idea of immigrating to Europe appeals to you then you are not alone. Europe for anyone offers a great opportunity to live somewhere new and beautiful and exciting while still getting the trappings of Western life. Depending on where you move t...
A European anti-immigration feeling ?
In a survey conducted in June 2011, Ipsos found that Europeans have quite a bad perception of immigration, compared to other countries in the world. On top of the list were countries such as Germany, Turkey and Belgium - priding on diversity and trad...
Government Taking Away Welfare Benefits as Punishment is Utterly Immoral
Yesterday Cameron gave a speech in which he declared that the government plans to introduce measures by which they will be able to withhold benefits from migrants who fail to learn English. Whilst I agree with the sentiment that it … Continue r...
Britain’s problem with immigration
Concerns about immigration are regularly at the top of the British political agenda and are frequently debated in homes and workplaces across the UK. Unlike many commentators and politicians in the mainstream media, I certainly don't see the subject.
Unlike UK, Australia & Canada promote English–and multiculturalism too
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group A new MIPEX assessment by Migration Policy Group finds that Brits can have confidence in their country’s decades-long policies on s...
25 Persons Dead from Asphyxiation on Board Migrant Boat at Lampedusa
Italian authorities responded to a migrant boat in distress Sunday night near Lampedusa. The boat was carrying about 270 migrants. Seas were too rough to transfer the migrants to the Italian vessels and the migrant boat was escorted towards Lampe...
1000 Migrants Reach Andalucía by Boat in First Half of 2011
According to figures compiled by Europa Press, 1,003 migrants in 40 boats reached Andalucía (Almeria, Granada, Cádiz, Huelva and Malaga) between 1 January and 7 July 2011. The majority of the migrants landed in the province of Granada. Click here...
Análisis del Real Instituto Elcano: La crisis en el Norte de África y su impacto en la inmigración irregular a la Unión Europea (by Frontex Dep. ED Gil Arias)
Real Instituto Elcano has published an analysis regarding the situation in North Africa and its impact on irregular immigration to the EU. The analysis was written by Frontex’s Deputy Executive Director Gil Arias. Of particular interest is the an...
Draft Commission Communication on Migration
[UPDATE 4 May 2011 - the FINAL Communication on Migration was released today. Click here.] The European Commission will consider and likely adopt a Communication on migration on Wednesday, 4 May. Below are excerpts from a draft document which app...
Northern League Issues Ultimatum to Berlusconi Over Migration Issue
Northern League leader Umberto Bossi has issued an ultimatum to Silvio Berlusconi demanding a parliamentary vote to set a date certain by which Italy would halt its involvement with NATO operations against Libya. The Northern League’s basic argum...
Capital vs Humans, the EU way?
According to the Guardian today, "EU executive considers reimposing border controls" (please read the article then my comments).This prompts me to think:Capital vs Humans (1): Why does EU have a common trade policy (ie for foreign capital, goods, se...
Cameron plays the immigration card
From Owen Jones (April 14): David Cameron is playing with fire, and he knows it. A much spun speech … dominates the headlines and the BBC’s UK news site as he attacks Labour “not delivering” on immigration that he promises t...
Migrant Boat From Libya Sinks Off Pantelleria – 2 Dead, 100+ Rescued
A migrant boat sank yesterday just off shore of Pantelleria, an Italian island approximately 150 km northwest of Lampedusa. The boat was carrying approximately 250 people and ran around on rocks near the entrance to the port. The boat had …...
Immigration is not a problem, but a solution!
While the recent comments by France’s new Interior Minister Claude Guéant are steering controversy, the debate is reopen once again on the need for a better regulation on immigration in France and in Europe.
Italian Prosecutor to Open Criminal Investigations Against 6000 Tunisians for Illegal Immigration
The chief criminal prosecutor of Agrigento, Sicily, Renato Di Natale, has opened criminal cases on charges of illegal immigration against the Tunisians who arrived in Lampedusa over the past several weeks. Cases have been opened against hundreds of...
Immigration and Federalism in the U.S.: Should States like Arisona Participate?
On July 1, 2010, on the precipice of another July 4th celebration, President Obama told an audience that immigration was, in sum, “broken.” Furthermore, “everybody knows it.” Yet neither he nor the Democratic leadership in Congress had...
Annual number of asylum applications in select countries, 2004-2009
From Migration Policy Institute’s MPI Data Hub: annual number of asylum applications in select countries. I copied the data for years 2004-2009 below. Click here for the data for the years 1980-2009, footnotes, and source information. Countries...
More Assets Dedicated to Frontex Joint Operation “Hermes Extension”; More EU and NATO Naval Forces Present in Central Mediterranean
The assets dedicated to Joint Operation Hermes Extension continue to increase, although at present there are only two coastal patrol boats (Italian) participating in the Frontex mission. Ten surveillance aircraft will soon be deployed. See the...
Frontex Lampedusa Situational Map
Frontex posted a situational map showing current and past information regarding migrant flows from Tunisia to Italy. The map is dated 25 Feb. 2011. Tagged: Algeria, Frontex, Hermes, Italy, Joint Operation Hermes Extension, Lampedusa, Malta, Situati...
Angela, David and Nicolas agree: multiculturalism has failed
European leaders don't seem to be able to agree on much these days, but it seems one idea they can all get behind is that 'multiculturalism' has failed in European societies.Over the past few months there's been a torrent of speeches from Europe's mo...
Over 4000 Migrants Reach Italy – Humanitarian Emergency Declared
Over 4000 migrants have now arrived in Italy from Tunisia. The Italian government has declared a humanitarian emergency. Tunisian security forces have reportedly secured the Tunisian port of Zarzis from which many of the migrant boats have depart...
Hundreds of Tunisians Continue to Arrive in Lampedusa – ANSA: “Si e’ riaperta ‘l’autostrada del mare’ nel Canale di Sicilia”
Hundreds of Tunisians have continued to arrive in Italy on Lampedusa, and the islands of Pelagie and Pantelleria. A Tunisian newspaper reported that 12 boats have left Tunisia in recent days. 400 migrants have arrived in Lampedusa and other Itali...
49 external vacancies in June?
Unsurprisingly, it looks like recruitment was high on the second Management Board meeting’s agenda. Following the call for Seconded National Experts, there is a now rumour that in June the Commission will publish 49 external vacancies. What for...
Euro-Africa Conference on Illegal Immigration, Human Trafficking, Drug Trafficking, and Terrorism (Napoli, 7-9 February)
The Italian Interior Ministry and the Direzione Centrale dell’Immigrazione e della Polizia delle Frontiere are conducting a three day conference, beginning today, in Napoli, 7-9 February. In attendance will be top police officials from 45 Afr...
...more details re. Seconded National Experts
It looks like Italy followed Slovenia in publishing the Commission’s calls for SNE’s, with much more detail. All the info available on the Italian Government site is reported on the Migrants at Sea blog.I'm rushing out at the moment, so I'll pos...
WikiLeaks 2009 US Cable: Italian Ambassador to Libya questions sincerity of Libya’s commitment to combatting illegal migration
This US Department of State cable, released by WikiLeaks on 1 Feb 2011, was written by Gene Cretz, US Ambassador to Libya. The cable is entitled “The Frogman Who Couldn’t Swim: A Cooperation Cautionary Tale.” (The cable’s title refers to...
EASO Issues Call for Seconded National Experts
As noted yesterday on the EASO Monitor blog, EASO has issued a call for multiple Seconded National Experts. The following list is probably incomplete and is based on information posted on the web site of the Slovenian Ministry of Public … Con...
Details on the call for Seconded National Experts...
Following my earlier post regarding the Commission’s call for SNE’s, a call document has actually been made available on the site of the Slovenian Ministry of Public Administration (pdf document).The call is entitled ‘SNE5...’, an indication...
Greece requests 2d extension of Frontex RABIT deployment due to events in Egypt
Kathimerini reported on 1 February that Greece requested an additional extension of the Frontex RABIT deployment in Greece due to the situation in Egypt and a fear that there may be a surge in migration towards Greece. The current RABIT … Con...
Border wall for EU-Turkey border
Article by Andrew Rettman for EUOBSERVER, reprinted in full below. See also “A shameful investment in a dystopia“. Greece to build wall on EU-Turkey border The Greek government plans to build a wall along its 206-km-long land border wit...
EU labour migration: Three directives
Ahead of the EPSCO Council meeting (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) 6 December 2010, the Belgian presidency has prepared an information note on legal immigration (labour migration). The note presents the state of play with reg...
When is 'illegal' 'iregular'? When the EU controls your immigration policy
Tereasa May is today telling everybody how serious the Governement is when it comes to dealing with immigration. It is a sham of course, because even she admits she and the government have no say obver migration from EU countries. With the EU becomin...
South-South migration – new Observatory on Migration launched in Brussels
Today, I participated in the launch of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Observatory on Migration. I want to flag this launch because migration is an issue of global significance and a strong concern for Southern countries and Europe. When we...
Understanding Angela Merkel
WASHINGTON — Angela Merkel, German chancellor, is said to be the most powerful woman on earth. But even by these standards, the global media tsunami that followed her remarks about the failure of multiculturalism in Germany must have caught her...
Reding vs. Lellouche: Round Two
Following the infamous quarrel over the Roma deportations, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding isn't exactly the French government's préférée. But, it seems, there is one person in Paris who really can't stand the Commissioner: French Europe Mi...
Euro roundup: France burning, Merkel stressing and three more Eurobarometer surveys..
Italy and France try to curb EU reforms from FT.com – World, Europe Italy and France are making headway in a campaign to soften the potential impact of the most ambitious reforms of the eurozone’s budget rules since the euro’s creat...
"A culture war between the Guardian-Left and the Tabloid-Left" by Rene Cuperus
’It’s the immigration, stupid’. That was in few words my response to the analysis ‘Why Labour lost the elections’. Last week I was in London at the Policy Network launch of Southern Discomfort Again, a smart pamphlet written by Gil...
Euro roundup: Lagendijk explains what happens in Netherlands, Merkel declares the end of multicultural society…
What currency wars mean for the eurozone by Centre for European Reform By Simon Tilford The dollar has now fallen to $1.40 against the euro. This is still below the low of almost $1.60 that it reached in the middle in July 2008, but it represents a s...
