EU leaders push on security and border control in the first EU – Arab League meeting
28 Feb 2019

EU leaders push on security and border control in the first EU – Arab League meeting

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, European Politics, European Union, Human Trafficking, Migration, Refugees in the EU | 0

On February 24th and 25th, in Sharm el-Sheikh, European and Arab League leaders took part in the first League of Arab States-European Union summit, presided by Donald Tusk, president of the European council and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egyptian president. At the summit, several high-level EU leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian and British prime ministers, Giuseppe Conte and Theresa May, were present. Migration was one of the main topics that was discussed, with the EU interested in giving the Arab League a bigger role in curbing migration. The two blocs have agreed to hold the summit every three years in rotation, with the next gathering due in Brussels in 2022.

NGO search and rescue missions face increasing challenges on the Mediterranean Sea – Sea Watch 3 vessel still blocked
21 Feb 2019

NGO search and rescue missions face increasing challenges on the Mediterranean Sea – Sea Watch 3 vessel still blocked

by | posted in: European Union, Frontex, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, Refugees in the EU | 0

Twenty days after entering the port of Catania in Italy, the Sea Watch 3 rescue ship remains in one of the Sicily’s ports, as the inspection of the Dutch authorities requested further maintenance of the ship in order to ensure “the ship’s conformity to regulations in force”. The ship has been kept in the port by the Italian Coast Guard since the first inspection on 31 January 2019. Kim Heaton-Heather, who is responsible for the search-and-rescue operations of the Sea Watch 3, says that by blocking the vessel, the Dutch authorities fuel the anti-migrant sentiment that has been spreading among EU’s political powers, which intensifies the anxiety of refugees aiming to reach a safe country.

News Highlights: NGOs raise alarm over Mediterranean rescue and returns, Ethiopia joins AfCFTA, expert panel Sudan mandate extended
8 Feb 2019

News Highlights: NGOs raise alarm over Mediterranean rescue and returns, Ethiopia joins AfCFTA, expert panel Sudan mandate extended

by | posted in: European Union, Horn of Africa region, Israel, Libya, Mediterranean Sea, UNSC, Weekly news highlights | 0

In this week’s News Highlights: Ethiopia joined the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Agreement); UNSC expert panel mandate for Sudan extended; Sudanese women’s role in the protests; EU High Representative to visit Horn of Africa; Israel continues to impede refugee rights, say activists; more than 50 organisations express concern to EU leaders over rescue and return; Oxfam Italia and Sicilia Borderline publish a report on Italy/Libya deal; new border management agreement between Europe and Montenegro; COC Netherlands published a report on LGBTI asylum policy in the Netherlands; Libya to tighten its southern borders with EU cooperation; and conflict in Libya’s oil fields.