(25/06) Ukrainian refugees: Council extends temporary protection until March 2026. Today, the Council adopted a decision to extend the temporary protection until 4 March 2026 for the more than 4 million Ukrainians fleeing from Russia’s war of aggression. The temporary protection mechanism was triggered on 4 March 2022 – only a few days after Russian armed forces launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine – and is due to run until 4 March 2025. The extension decision that was adopted today does not change the decision of March 2022 in terms of the categories of persons to whom the temporary protection applies. Full press release here.  

(24/06) Council approves conclusions on the mid-term evaluation of the NDICI-Global Europe external financing instrument. The Council today approved conclusions on the mid-term evaluation of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe). The conclusions follow up on the Commission’s report on the evaluation of the European Union’s External Financing Instruments for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFFs). In the conclusions, the Council considers that NDICI-Global Europe is overall fit for purpose and delivering against its objectives. In addition, the Council notes that, by merging several external financing instruments from the 2014-2020 MFF, NDICI-Global Europe is addressing the fragmented set-up of the previous financial architecture and is a step forward in terms ofclarity, effectiveness and transparency of the EU’s support to and cooperation with its partner countries. Full press release here.  

(24/06) Official development assistance: the EU and its member states remain the biggest global provider. The Council today approved conclusions on the EU development aid targets in the thirteenth annual report to the European Council, which confirms that the EU and its Member States have maintained their position as the largest global provider of official development assistance (ODA). The report analyses trends with regard to commitments to and delivery of the EU’s ODA. In an increasingly complex financing landscape, which has been deeply impacted by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, ODA remains a major source of finance for the poorest countries, and continues to play a crucial role in achieving the 2030 Agenda. Full press release here. 

(13/06) Victims’ rights: Council finalises position on strengthened EU law. To ensure that all victims of crime in the EU receive the appropriate support, the Council agreed its position (general approach) on a proposed update to the 2012 Victims’ Rights Directive. This update will establish and strengthen minimum rules to ensure that victims of a crime receive protection, support and access to information and can seek justice. Full press release here. 

(28/06) EUAA – Already strong demand for EUAA training sees record increases in 2023. The EUAA has unveiled its annual Training Report. In 2023, with nearly 14 000 attendees, the Agency witnessed record levels of engagement in its training and professional development services. The report finds a significant uptake of training by the Member States most exposed to irregular arrivals as well as increased use of permanent support by the countries often associated with secondary movements. The notable uptake foreshadows the EUAA’s role as a critical pillar of a reformed Common European Asylum System. Full press release here.  

(27/06) FRA – Migrant search and rescue in the Mediterranean – State of play. Nearly 30,000 people have lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea to seek sanctuary or a better life in Europe since 2014. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights continues to outline the struggles civil society organisations face rescuing people in distress in the Mediterranean. Full press release here.   

(26/06) EESC – Ensure affordable energy supply for vulnerable people, households and SMEs. At its annual conference on energy poverty, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) took stock of the alarming spike in the number of energy poor over the past year. The EESC sends a strong message to EU leaders and puts forward concrete proposals to achieve an affordable and stable energy supply while supporting vulnerable people, households and SMEs. Full press release here.  

(13/06) FRA – EU High-Level group on combating hate speech and hate crime to meet. The first day focuses on countering hate speech and developments under the Code of conduct on countering hate speech online. During the second day, discussions will address the recommendations delivered by the European Citizens Panel on tackling hatred in society. Full press release here.  

(5/06) EIGE – How setting gender-sensitive targets can boost climate action. Addressing the gender impacts of climate policy is vital for the EU to achieve its goal of a more sustainable future where no one is left behind. Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. Women are often disproportionately affected by it, in particular single mothers, single women, women with disabilities and elderly women living alone. This is due to unequally shared care responsibilities and more limited access to economic resources and decisions. Thus, women face greater challenges during eco crises. A new toolkit developed by EIGE, the EU’s gender equality agency, recognises this imbalance and offers practical solutions to address it. To help ensure environmental policies foster inclusivity, EIGE is launching its innovative GREENA (Gender-Responsive Evaluation for an Environmental and Sustainable Future for All) toolkit. Full press release here.   

(5/06) FRA – Rising living costs and racism threaten fundamental rights protection in Europe: FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024. People’s fundamental rights are at risk across Europe. This is due to rising levels of poverty, persistent threats against democracy, widespread racism and challenges occurring in the context of migration, finds FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024. These threats underline the need to ensure a strong and sustainable fundamental rights protection across the EU, particularly for people in vulnerable situations. The report suggests how policymakers and civil society can work in tandem to counter the threat of social exclusion and enable a more equal and fairer society for all. Full press release here. 

(14/05) FRA – Harassment and violence against LGBTIQ people on the rise. More LGBTIQ people in Europe are now open about who they are. At the same time, they face more violence, harassment, and bullying than before. This is especially true for younger LGBTIQ people, who are particularly vulnerable. These are some of the findings of the latest survey of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), based on responses from more than 100,000 LGBTIQ people across Europe. Full press release here.  

(27/06) European Committee of Social Rights Publishes annual report. The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Annual Activity Report for 2023. The report provides an account of many aspects of the ECSR’s work throughout the year, in particular the monitoring of the compliance of states with the Charter, but also a wide range of other activities, such as the procedure on non-accepted provisions, ongoing work to strengthen the Charter treaty system, relations with other international bodies and awareness-raising and promotion of the Charter and the ECSR’s case law. Full press release here.   

(25/06) Civil society in Europe needs to be protected! Civil society plays an essential role in encouraging respect for human rights, as well as strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Europe. The Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) organised a conference in Helsinki, Finland, on protecting and promoting the space for civil society in Europe. The aim of the event was to evaluate progress made in the member states since the adoption of the Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation  on the need to strengthen and foster dialogue and address current challenges that threaten civil society. The conference also highlighted successful practices that enable civil society to flourish. The keynote speech was delivered by Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Other speakers included representatives from international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), and the Council of Europe (CoE). Full press release here.  

(18/06) First ‘No Hate Speech Week’ started at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The first ever No Hate Speech Week organised by the Council of Europe has kicked off in Strasbourg today, on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The three-day conference offers a platform to discuss recent legal and policy developments, to share innovative practices, and to facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges in order to build strong networks. Full press release here. 

(7/05) Hate crimes must be unmasked, recorded and investigated, and victims supported. Council of Europe member States should take all necessary measures and dedicate sufficient resources to prevent and combat hate crime and support its victims, in cooperation with civil society and other stakeholders. Effective, proportionate and dissuasive provisions to prevent and combat hate crime should be included in criminal law, and priority should be given to unmasking, acknowledging and recording the hate element of the crime. These are among the key points of the newly adopted Recommendation by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the Organisation’s member States. Full press release here.  

(25/06) PICUM – Solidarity and justice for undocumented migrants: mobilising against restrictive policies. On 23 and 24 May 2024, PICUM brought together over 60 member organisations at our General Assembly in Madrid to reflect on the current context and strategise about resistance and mobilisation in the next five years. This blog shares some highlights of our discussions. Full press release here.   

(20/06) EUROCITIES – A UNITES story – The journey to integration and empowerment in Zagreb. In 2016, Salam Al-Nidawi left Iraq for Croatia, where he sought asylum. “For me, the most important thing was to find a safe place to start my life,” he explains. Since then, he has worked as an interpreter and culture mediator in Zagreb’s Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma. His job became his passion as it positively impacts people’s lives, particularly those who have experienced trauma and live with mental health issues, such as asylum seekers. Thanks to the NGO’s work, these individuals evolve from struggling newcomers to finding employment, building relationships, and integrating into society, Salam explains. “When they come, it’s really hard,” he says, “but they change with the process. I have seen how they get jobs, start relationships, or get married. These are the best moments,” he shares. Full press release here.  

(20/06) Caritas Europa – Europe must show more solidarity with refugees. On this World Refugee Day, Caritas Europa calls for a Europe that facilitates access to protection in its territory, encourages solidarity towards refugees and promotes social inclusion.  With the increasing number of wars and conflicts occurring across the world, the number of people being forced to flee their homes is at an all-time high. In 2024, 120 million people globally are estimated to be forcibly displaced, while UNHCR estimates that over three million people will be in need of resettlement in 2025, a 20% increase compared with 2024. While several European policy makers increasingly promote the externalisation of the EU’s asylum system along the lines of the infamous UK-Rwanda deal, figures show that most forcibly displaced people are not hosted in Europe. In fact, 70% of refugees and displaced people live near their countries of origin, often in very fragile contexts, such as in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Full press release here.  

(19/06) EUROCITIES – How can cities improve their engagement with the EU? European city administrations are increasingly recognised as critical partners of the EU institutions in tackling major global issues and achieving key EU objectives, such as the European Green Deal and Europe’s digital transformation. A growing number of urban-focused initiatives, driven by the European Commission, have led to significant opportunities for cities to have their say on EU affairs and to work jointly to achieve common objectives. Cities equally understand that they need to improve their own structure and organisation to contribute to EU policies and benefit from EU opportunities that will allow them to respond to local challenges, including tackling social inequalities and implementing green infrastructure. Full press release here.  

(18/06) EUROCITIES – Building a stronger social Europe: The power of partnerships and urban innovation. As anticipated, populist and Eurosceptic parties gained traction in the European elections that took place a few days ago. At the Social Affairs Forum, held last week in Vantaa, city representatives raised concerns about the potential marginalisation of the social agenda amid a renewed emphasis on defence and competitiveness by conservative forces. Full press release here.   

(14/06) PICUM – Ukraine: 130+ civil society groups urge the EU to move beyond temporary protection. As the EU Council decided on 13 June to prolong temporary protection for people displaced by the war in Ukraine until March 2026, over 130 civil society organisations call on the EU to go beyond temporary renewals and adopt a common, future-proof approach that would lead to long-term residence and that would prevent millions of people in the EU from becoming undocumented. Temporary protection (as foreseen in the EU Temporary Protection Directive) allows millions of displaced people to reside, work, study and access health care and social protection in the EU. But one-year renewals (which are dependent on decisions taken by the EU Council), leave people in uncertainty about future prospects. Full press release here.   

(31/05) ECRE – Training Seminar on EU Advocacy. The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are co-organising a two-day in-person training seminar on EU advocacy on 30-31 October 2024 in Brussels. Full press release here.   

(30/05) EUROCITIES – Vantaa’s innovative solutions addressing migration, segregation, and youth engagement. Located to the north-east of Helsinki, Vantaa is a city marked by significant internal and international migration. Back in the 1960s and 70s, people moved from the countryside to southern Finland, leading to the development of numerous suburbs. 

Nowadays, Vantaa welcomes 4,000 to 5,000 new residents annually, primarily from abroad. About 26.9% of the local population consists of immigrants, with some suburbs having even higher percentages. The city addresses migration and other social challenges such as polarisation, or youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) through innovative and inclusive approaches, focusing on integration and fostering community interactions. Full press release here.  

(28/05) ICMC – ‘Obtaining an Identity Document Gives People the Kind of Life They Did Not Have Before’. ICMC interviews H.E. Buti Tlhagale, Archbishop of Johannesburg and spokesperson for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, on statelessness, migration, and the role of faith-based organizations. On 15 December 2023, H.E. Buti Tlhagale, Archbishop of Johannesburg and spokesperson of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), sat down for an interview with ICMC to discuss statelessness, migration, and the role of faith-based organizations in bringing positive change for migrants. SACBC is ICMC’s member in South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini. Since 2018, SACBC’s Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees has addressed the needs and challenges of refugees and migrants in the Southern Africa region. Full press release here.   

(27/05) EUROCITIES – Survey of European mayors: City leaders need support to tackle housing and social crises. Tackling the spiralling housing crisis and responding to rising social inequalities are growing concerns for mayors of European cities in 2024, a major new survey from Eurocities has revealed. Published two weeks ahead of the European elections, the second annual Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey, which collected results from 92 mayors in 28 European countries, has uncovered the main trends, challenges and priorities that shape urban affairs in 2024.  

The survey also confirms that climate change remains the top priority for city leaders overall. As was the case in 2023, well over half of mayors put climate action as their top priority for 2024, more than double any other category. Full press release here.  

(27/05) PICUM – New EU Anti-trafficking Directive leaves trafficked people behind. The EU Council has adopted changes to the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive which fail to address root causes of trafficking and fail to protect and empower trafficked people.  Lilana Keith, Senior Advocacy Officer at PICUM, said: “The revision of the Anti-trafficking Directive is a wasted opportunity to make a difference for trafficked people. The changes don’t address the barriers to safe reporting, remedy and compensation, they don’t improve access to residence permits. The focus was narrowly on doubling down on a criminalisation approach that’s ineffective and actually raises concerns for victims and those at risk.” Full press release here.  

Council of the EU General Secretariat – Think Tank Review (May) 

Council of the EU General Secretariat – Think Tank Review (June) 

EPRS – Vulnerability of unaccompanied and separated child migrants 

EPRS – Addressing AI risks in the workplace: Workers and algorithms 

EPRS – Revision of the visa suspension mechanism 

EPRS – Social and labour market impact of the green transition 

EPRS – European cross-border associations 

EPRS – ‘Safe country of origin’ concept in EU asylum law 

EPRS – When EU temporary protection for displaced people from Ukraine ends: Possible scenarios 

EPRS – Demographic change is not happening in the same way in all parts of the EU  

EPRS – The impact of climate change on cultural heritage 

EPRS – The six policy priorities of the von der Leyen Commission: An end-of-term assessment 

EPRS – ‘Sahelexit’ in West Africa: Implications for ECOWAS and the EU 

Eurodiaconia – Labour Market Integration of Third Country National Women 

ECRE – Comments Paper: Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management 

ECRE – Comments Paper: Regulation on Addressing Situations of Crisis and Force Majeure in the Field of Migration and Asylum 

ECRE – Comments Paper: Regulation establishing a Common Procedure for International Protection in the EU