• Home /
• News /
• 2018 /
• April /
• EU: Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (2-9.4.18)

EU: Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (2-9.4.18)

01 April 2018

EU  
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe
2-9.4.18
Follow us: | | Tweet

---

Keep in touch: Statewatch Observatory: Refugee crisis in the Med and inside the EU: Daily news (updated through the day), commentaries and official documents

---

Hungary votes to keep prime minister and right wing in power

""BUDAPEST —Viktor Orban, Hungary’s staunchly anti-migrant prime minister, was reelected Sunday after his right-wing Fidesz party was projected to win a supermajority of seats in parliament. The resounding victory will probably permit Orban’s government to continue with democratic backsliding."

UK: Shocking inspection report of Harmondsworth detention centre (These Walls Must Fall, link):

"An inspection report published today reveals the dark, unacceptable nature of immigration detention in the UK.

Harmondsworth is Europe’s largest immigration detention centre, with a capacity to hold up to 676 people for the purposes of immigration administration and enforcement. A new inspection report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found “considerable failings” in safety and respect for detainees, people being held for excessively long periods, and in contravention to the detention rules that are supposed to protect vulnerable people, including survivors of torture. The Inspectors found that large numbers of men with mental health problems were being held in prison-like conditions."

See: HM Chief Inspector of Prisons: Report on an unannounced inspection of Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre Harmondsworth site(pdf) and: Action Plan (pdf)

UN urges French government to provide for basic needs of migrants and asylum seekers in Northern France(ECRE, link):

"UN human rights experts are urging the French government to provide safe drinking water, sanitation services and emergency shelter for migrants and asylum seekers in Calais, Grand-Synthe and other areas along the Northern coast of France.

(...)

The experts also called for an end to harassment and intimidation of volunteers and NGOs providing humanitarian aid. They urged France to fulfil its obligations and promote the work of human rights defenders."

See: France urged by UN experts to take effective measures to bring water and sanitation services to migrants (UN press release, pdf)

Refugees: Greece Statement by 5 of the accused of the Moria 35 – Take action!

"On the 20 April, we are scheduled to attend trial in Chios after waiting nine months, trapped on Lesvos, while 30 of our brothers unjustly have waited in prison for this same time period.

Our humanity has been denied since we stepped foot in Europe, the supposed cradle of democracy and human rights. Since we arrived we have been forced to live in horrible conditions, our asylum cases are not taken seriously, and most Africans are denied residency in Europe and face deportation. We are treated like criminals, simply for crossing a border that Europeans can freely cross." (...)

Greece: 94 migrants rescued off Lesvos (ekathimerini.com, link):

"The Greek coast guard has rescued 37 migrants and refugees from a rubber dinghy off Lesvos island in the eastern Aegean, according to reports Friday. (...)

Also Friday, the crew of a vessel belonging to the European Union’s border monitoring agency Frontex rescued 57 migrants from an inflatable dinghy off Lesvos."

Comment: According to official Greek Ministry figures there are now over 8,000 refugees on Lesvos. Betwen 28 March - 3 April 592 refugees arriced on the island.

U.N. rights watchdog urges Hungary to halt hate speech, protect refugees (Reuters, link):

"A U.N. rights watchdog called on Hungary on Thursday to crack down on hate speech by politicians against minorities including Roma and Muslims, and repeal a law allowing police to expel irregular migrants without giving them a chance to seek asylum."

France to extend internal EU border checks (euractiv, link):

"France said Wednesday (4 April) it has decided to extend border checks with countries in Europe’s Schengen passport-free zone until the end of October because of the persistent threat of terrorism.(...)

A European Commission spokesman confirmed “we received notification from France this week” to extend controls for six months beyond the 30 April expiry date."

Support our work by making a one-off or regular donation to help us continue to monitor the state and civil liberties in Europe.

Search our database for more articles and information or subscribe to our mailing list for regular updates from Statewatch News Online.