News Highlights: Eritrean forces continue to kill in Tigray, Transitional framework agreement signed in Sudan; European politicians accused of pushback on refugees

repatriations from Cyprus since January; Italy continues work on a new migration decree; EU prepares measures to curb undocumented migration in Western Balkans; Violence against migrants rising at EU border; No majority found for instrumentalisation regulation; A new approach to tackling hunger in Africa.

News Highlights: Eritrea to send delegation to Ethiopia, UK Home Office’s delays lead to child migrants’ deaths, Hungary’s anti-immigration laws

In this week’s news highlights: Eritrean-Ethiopian relationship developments – Eritrea to send delegation; Ethiopian security forces accused by PM Abiy; Rebel leader and president meet to discuss peace in South Sudan; Stop harassing news outlets, Sudanese advocacy group urges the government; Sudan and South Sudan to be assisted by new EU fund; Mishandlings of asylum requests by the UK Home Office has lethal outcomes; Hungarian anti-immigration laws passed; EU’s informal deal on migrants’ access to labor market; MSF urges politicians to put human lives first; UN Refugee Commissioner Grandi’s statement for World Refugee Day; and the Post- Cotonou Agreement’s focal points.

European Court of Justice Advocate’s advice urges member states to issue humanitarian visas

Advocate General Mengozzi of the European Court of Justice announced in a press release yesterday, 7 February 2017, that “Members States must issue a visa on humanitarian grounds where substantial grounds have been shown for believing that a refusal would place persons seeking international protection at risk of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.”

The advocate’s opinion further states that “it is irrelevant whether or not there are ties between the person concerned and the requested Member State.”