Archive
Border externalisation: “new and innovative” solutions for migration control
The latest issue of our bulletin on EU border externalisation policies includes: plans to pay third countries to intercept and detain irregular migrants, an update on visa sanctions as leverage for deportation cooperation, a new EU-funded pullback coordination centre in Eastern Libya and the EU's partnership with the Taliban for deportations Read More
Other
Visa Working Party discusses AI in “visa shopping” /// EMWP delegates reportedly discussed exporting digital visa systems /// The EU and Lebanon discussed future of Syrian refugees /// The UK is making more inroads on migration cooperation in Europe /// Italy and Germany to partner more closely on migration in Africa /// UK introduces absurd new migration-related offenses /// Portuguese MEP demands clarity on Solidarity Pool /// Frontex and EU Agency for Asylum publish new cooperation agreement /// Civil society scores rare win on Frontex judicial review Read More
Migration partnerships
Place of safety arrangements: a “new and innovative solution” for offshoring migration control /// The EU is funding a pullback coordination centre in Benghazi Read More
Deportation and readmission
France, other member states, displeased with limited use of Article 25a visa sanctions /// Deputy home commissioner updates parliament on readmissions cooperation /// The Commission targets Guinea for Article 25a sanctions /// Ukraine and the EU are working on a Frontex status agreement /// The EU is beginning to think about ‘returning’ Ukrainian refugees /// Frontex submits report card for 2025 Read More
Border management
Schengen Snapshot 2025 // The EU’s ‘long-term’ migration strategy /// Significant activity on digital border regime /// Update on Visa Facilitation Agreement with Armenia /// Visa restrictions for Georgian diplomats (and maybe citizens) Read More
Outsourcing Borders: Bulletin 13
“Nothing is inevitable, the future is not written and we are not powerless.” – Ann Fordham, International Drug… Read More
Leaked EU paper envisions dumping migrant sea rescues onto non-European states
EUobserver, 29 January 2026. Read More
Invoking the “instrumentalisation” of migration, the UK follows in the EU’s footsteps
In 2025 the UK announced a new sanctions regime targeting alleged people smugglers. It makes use of the “instrumentalisation of migrants” narrative that has been increasingly invoked by the EU since the early 2020s. This article explains what this narrative is, the powers it is used to justify and how it contributes to the degradation of migrant and refugee rights. Read More
Film screening: Viva Palastina: Reason of Resistance
Join MayDay Rooms, the Palestinian Youth Movement Britain and Statewatch for a screening of the documentary 'Viva Palastina: Reason of Resistance', examining the repression of the Palestinian solidarity movement in Germany. Read More
Greece: Criminal law used to target civil society organisations
The Greek government's latest move to stifle the work of civil society groups has been condemned by more than 70 organisations, including Statewatch, as unjust, unlawful and unreasonable. Read More