Roadmap on asylum and migration and rotating Council presidencies: what implications for EU asylum and migration law?

The signature of the Joint Roadmap on Asylum and Migration by the European Parliament and Council heralds a busy legislative period that could have significant and lasting impact, not only on legislation, but on the direction European Asylum and migration law takes in the future. The proposed large overhaul of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) seems unlikely to pass in time and the Czech Council presidency is attempting to pass smaller, more consensual pieces of legislation; but according to critics also more problematic in their implications such as the instrumentalization regulation.This regulation, according to some, would make permanently accessible emergency opt out mechanisms, weakening EU asylum law and the international asylum system as a whole

News Highlights: Escalation between Sudan and Ethiopia, Deadly panic in Melilla, Asylum seekers forcibly involved in Greek pushbacks

In this week’s News Highlights: AU concerned about escalating tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia; Eight dead in 30 June anti-coup protests in Sudan; Drought increasingly impacting socio-economic situations in the Horn; Human Rights Commission “alarmed” by the violations in Ethiopia; At least 1 dead and 30 missing at sea after a shipwreck off the coast of Libya; Rise of access constraints for humanitarians in Libya; Panic at the Melilla border kills 37 migrants and refugees; Greek authorities allegedly use asylum seekers to carry out pushbacks for them; Torture and human rights violations in Lithuanian detention centres; Tougher prison sentence for smugglers and illegal entries in the UK; Migrant shot near Dunkirk; New UNICEF report launched on the situation of children in conflicts zone.

Horn Highlights: Foundation announces legal action on Eritrea, Witnesses say Amhara forces are hiding atrocity evidence, Prisoners tortured in Sudan

In this week’s Horn Highlights: Foundation announces legal action on Eritrea in 10 May press conference; Amhara security forces hiding evidence of ethnic cleansing, say witnesses; Aid flow to Tigray remains trickle; CPJ calls for the release of journalists in Ethiopia who could face death penalty; UN’s Bachelet condemns religious violence in Ethiopia; Civilian casualties in Oromia; Eritrea-Tigray rivalry role in famine; Analysts warn resumption of Ethiopia conflict imminent; Rock-hewn churches at risk; Tigrayans call for release of prisoners; GERD cyberattack; Lawyers accuse Sudanese authorities of torturing prisoners; Sudan opposition group refuses to participate in UN-led dialogue; Eritrean Press Agency claims Russia sent drones to Eritrea in exchange for naval base; Eritrean asylum seeker challenges Swiss return of Eritreans with torture story; Somalia set to elect president of 15 May; and Pope to visit South Sudan in July.