News highlights: South Sudan forms coalition government, Malta’s secret Libya deal, Italian Court justifies actions of Sea-Watch captain
28 Feb 2020

News highlights: South Sudan forms coalition government, Malta’s secret Libya deal, Italian Court justifies actions of Sea-Watch captain

by | posted in: Abiy Ahmed, Africa, Asylum Seekers, Coast guards, Detention, Dublin Regulation, Eritrea, European Commission, European Politics, European Union, Horn of Africa region, IOM, Libya, Malta, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, Refugee Camps, Research, South Sudan | 0

In this week’s news highlights: Commissioner calls Italy to discontinue cooperation with Libya; Commission may abandon the Dublin regulation reform; Researchers indicate EU breaks Law of the Sea with return policy; Secret Malta-Libya pact criticised by NGOs; Sea-Watch 4 launched by United4Rescue; Sea Watch captain acquitted by Italian top court; Meditteranean Sea turned into graveyard by Europe; ; Coalition government formed in South Sudan; Over 100 million USD needed for humanitarian assistance in South Sudan; Rumors of closure of Ethiopian refugee camps in Tigray; Head of Catholic church in Ethiopia not allowed to enter Eritrea despite visa; IOM says concrete action is needed in Libya; And few resettlement places for evacuated refugees in Rwanda.

EU Dublin Regulation assessment shows continued shortcomings
28 Feb 2020

EU Dublin Regulation assessment shows continued shortcomings

by | posted in: Dublin Regulation, ECRE, European Commission, European Parliament, European Union, Migration | 0

In February 2020, the most recent European Implementation Assessment titled “Dublin Regulation on international protection applications study” revealed many weaknesses in the current Dublin Regulation. The study, established by the European Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) together with the research team of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), shows that the original aim of the Dublin Regulation is not being achieved. Moreover, it appears that the costs of its implementations are significant given that its objectives are not being met. The Dublin Regulation, among other things, determines which EU member state is responsible for the assessment of an asylum claim. The assessment of the Dublin Regulation accompanies the implementation report on the Dublin Regulation of November 2019 that was published by the European Parliament.

The European Union is questioned over the Eritrean road project
21 Feb 2020

The European Union is questioned over the Eritrean road project

by | posted in: Africa, Eritrea, EU funding, European Commission, European Parliament, European Union, Forced labour, United Nations | 0

The legality of the road building project in Eritrea funded by European Union (EU) under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa has been questioned on the territory of the European institutions over the past week. On 14 February, the European Commission Directorate General on International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) held a Round Table meeting with several NGOs and on 18 February, the Committee on Development (DEVE) of the European Parliament dedicated a part of its agenda to the EU development aid in Eritrea. During both events representatives of the European Commission, civil society as well as members of the parliament were presenting their points of view.