The rival leaders of Libya, a departure point for thousands of refugees to Europe, agree to election plan
30 May 2018

The rival leaders of Libya, a departure point for thousands of refugees to Europe, agree to election plan

by | posted in: Africa, European Politics, France, Horn of Africa region, Libya, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, United Nations | 0

In a summit in France on Tuesday the 30th of May, the rival factions of Libya, a country with an estimate of 43,113 refugees according to the UN from which 90 percent cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, agreed to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. The summit was hosted by the French president Emmanuel macron, who called the summit ‘historic’. However, others raised critical questions about the breakthrough of the conference.

Country report on Eritrea claims Eritrean refugees are treated better on return
24 Apr 2018

Country report on Eritrea claims Eritrean refugees are treated better on return

by | posted in: Africa, Asylum Seekers, Eritrea, European Politics, Horn of Africa region, Migration, Netherlands, The Netherlands, United Nations | 0

In an episode of Dutch investigative radio programme Argos, the matter of controversial country reports, which are used in asylum decisions, was raised. Anonymous sources, such as those used in reports on Afghanistan and Eritrea, have a large impact on the content of the important reports, determining (possible) return of asylum seekers. In 2017, The Netherlands made a country report on Eritrea, which received criticism for its tone, which was more positive than the 2016 report. Prof. Mirjam van Reisen explains this criticism on the Dutch radio programme Argos on NPO radio 1.

Post-Cotonou Agreement: the EU should not downgrade the ACP, African officials urge
21 Mar 2018

Post-Cotonou Agreement: the EU should not downgrade the ACP, African officials urge

by | posted in: African Union, European Commission, European Parliament, European Union | 0

Yesterday, 20 March, the Development Committee (DEVE) of the European Parliament (EP) held a public hearing regarding the negotiations between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and the European Union (EU) for a new comprehensive agreement that will manage their relationship after the Cotonou Agreement expires in 2020. According to the two parties,the post-Cotonou Agreement will have to address the possible gaps of the already existing document and it is expected to renew the relationship between the signatories. However, the exchange showed that the relationship of the two is fragmented, with the EU seeming optimistic and the African Union (AU) feeling left out.