Eritrea: Cooperation with the wider Eritrean democracy movements recommended
29 Jun 2020

Eritrea: Cooperation with the wider Eritrean democracy movements recommended

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, Eritrea, Eritrea Road Project, Ethiopia, EU funding, European Commission, European Parliament, European Politics, European Union, Germany, Refugees in the EU, United Nations | 0

Intergroup discussion on Eritrea in the Bundestag: On 25 June 2020, a public intergroup zoom discussion was held at the invitation of Rudi Friedrich (Connection e.V.) and Kathrin Vogler (MdB, Die Linke). Several experts as well as members of the German parliament parties SPD, FDP and the parliamentary group Bündnis 90/Die Grünen took part in the discussion. More than 60 persons from about 10 countries were following the discussion.

Refugees and migrants to provide support in the medical and agricultural sectors amid COVID-19 labour shortages
27 Apr 2020

Refugees and migrants to provide support in the medical and agricultural sectors amid COVID-19 labour shortages

by | posted in: Belgium, COVID-19, European Union, Germany, Italy, Refugees in the EU | 0

As many European countries continue to struggle with the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, the Council of Europe and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) encourage member states to benefit from the support refugee and migrant health professionals can provide to national health systems at this critical juncture. In addition, the lack of agricultural workforce due to the closure of borders to seasonal workers remains a potential threat to the entire European food supply chain, according to the European Commission. As a solution, countries like Germany, Italy, UK, Belgium and Ireland are exploring the opportunities for granted working permits. This article gives a brief look into the different solutions and remaining challenges.

Five EU member states agree on new temporary relocation scheme to share responsibility of migrants and refugees rescued at Sea
27 Sep 2019

Five EU member states agree on new temporary relocation scheme to share responsibility of migrants and refugees rescued at Sea

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, Detention, Dublin Regulation, EEPA news and activities, European Commission, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, Refugees in the EU, Relocation system | 0

On September 23, the interior ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Finland and Malta agreed on a temporary and voluntary scheme to divide migrants that arrive or are saved from the Mediterranean Sea among the five countries, outside of an EU framework. The proposal aims at relieving Italy and Malta from the high number of migrants and refugees that are arriving at their ports and moves away from the actions of the previous Italian government led by Matteo Salvini, who forbade several rescue boats to dock in Italy. The five countries hope that the scheme may set up an EU-wide relocation scheme that can increase the efficiency of resettling those rescued at sea.