European solidarity creeps forward in relocation of unaccompanied children from Greek Islands
20 May 2020

European solidarity creeps forward in relocation of unaccompanied children from Greek Islands

by | posted in: COVID-19, European Commission, European Union, Germany, Greece, Refugee Camps, Refugees in the EU, Relocation system | 0

At the beginning of March, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the situation of unaccompanied migrant children on the Greek islands. They agreed to put in place a process to ensure the protection and care of some of Europe’s most vulnerable people, unaccompanied migrant children. Later in March, the Commission announced a plan to  relocate unaccompanied children and teenagers from Greece to other EU member states. So far, member states have pledged 1.600 places, but the going has been slow. Several relocations took place and key recommendations were established for further relocations.

Fundamental questions of accountability: EU sued for forced labor in Eritrea
15 May 2020

Fundamental questions of accountability: EU sued for forced labor in Eritrea

by | posted in: Eritrea, European Commission, European Parliament, European Politics, European Union, Forced labour, Horn of Africa region, The Netherlands, UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations, United States | 0

A Dutch Foundation of Eritrean refugees, Foundation Human Rights for Eritreans, has filed a lawsuit in the Amsterdam court against the European Union (EU) for its role in financing a road building project in Eritrea that uses forced labor. The Foundation, together with their Dutch Lawyer Emiel Jurjens, demand the EU stops the 80 million euro support to Eritrea. While the European Commission acknowledges that the funded project entails labour from Eritrea’s indefinite and forced national service, in direct violation of EU’s fundamental principles and international law, it deflects blame by claiming that the EU is not paying directly for labor itself but rather for the equipment. Besides the use of forced labor, the EU has no direct oversight or proper monitoring scheme to safeguard the Eritrean national conscripts forced to work on the project or ability monitor how the money is spent. The EU has already pledged 80 million and is looking to spend an additional 120 million on subsequent phases. The lawsuit enters uncharted legal territory in a complex web of jurisdiction and accountability.

EU plans additional Libya stimulus package amidst verbal and legal challenges from politicians, experts and NGOs.
30 Apr 2020

EU plans additional Libya stimulus package amidst verbal and legal challenges from politicians, experts and NGOs.

by | posted in: Africa, Coast guards, Detention, EU funding, European Commission, European Parliament, European Politics, European Union, Human Rights abuses, Human Trafficking, IOM, Libya, Migration, Torture, Trafficking, UNHCR, United Nations | 0

While the European Union (EU) is looking to further bolster Libya and the Libyan coastguard, a majority of Members of European Parliament (MEPs) and a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and experts criticize the EU’s involvement in the human rights abuses that are systematically taking place inside Libya. They state that Libya is not a safe place for the disembarkation of migrants and refugees and that by financially supporting Libyan institutions that facilitate widespread and systematic human rights abuses, the EU has been complicit in these crimes. This week steps were taken to address and review the EU’s policies and accountability inside Libya.