News

Launched in 1999 and updated regularly, Statewatch News includes our own reporting and writing as well as articles, announcements, documents and analyses from elsewhere on civil liberties, EU policies and state practices. You can receive updates in your inbox by signing up to our mailing list, or use our RSS feed to get instant alerts.

23 March 2020

Hungary: Orbán introduces 'Enabling Act' in the name of fighting coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have offered an opportunity to Viktor Orbán to extend his powers.

23 March 2020

European Commission: We will fight forced labour in Eritrea by financing projects that use it

"...The EU-funded project only finances the procurement and supply of material and equipment — the EU does not pay for labour...

23 March 2020

#Euroleaks: the full 2015 Eurogroup recordings now public!

The DiEM 25 political party has published recordings of the meetings of the Eurogroup in 2015, in which the Greek government clashed with other governments and ECB officials over the austerity programme being imposed upon the Mediterranean state.

23 March 2020

UK Bill a License for Military Crimes? Law Would Stymie Prosecution of Armed Forces for Abuses

A new bill seeks to introduce a "presumption against prosecution" for UK armed forces members accused of serious crimes.

23 March 2020

Stuck under a cloud of suspicion: Profiling in the EU

Key points from a recent report on new technologies and police powers.

23 March 2020

Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (17-23.3.20)

Including: Anti-migration cooperation between the EU, Italy and Libya: some truths / Erdogan in talks with European leaders over refugee cash for Turkey / COVID-19: No one is safe until All are protected!

19 March 2020

UK pubs and restaurants told to shut in virus fight

The UK at last follows other EU states.

19 March 2020

UK: Full text of the Coronavirus Bill

Proposed powers to enforce the lockdown have been published.

19 March 2020

Greece: Refugees on Samos: We see a darkness

"For the refugees, coronavirus is a fused bomb. When, rather than if it blows it will be devastating.

18 March 2020

UK privacy activists raise fears over social distancing tracking

Mobile phone operators’ data could be used to monitor success of coronavirus policy

18 March 2020

Erdogan in talks with European leaders over refugee cash for Turkey

Turkey is reportedly seeking more money from the European Union to prevent the departure of refugees heading across the borders with Greece and Bulgaria.

18 March 2020

Service providers in Belgium should not have to report irregular migrants, says Council of Europe’s anti-racism watchdog

The Council of Europe's Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls for Belgium to uphold the rights of undocumented migrants.

18 March 2020

UK: Undercover policing inquiry: secretive Met unit shredded files

It has emerged that Metropolitan Police officers shredded files relevant to the ongoing, and long-stalled, enquiry on the infilitration of political groups and justice campaigns.

18 March 2020

Open access book: Europe and the Refugee Response: A Crisis of Values?

A new online book examines how the arrival of refugees in Europe from 2016 onwards "played into fears of cultural, religious, and ethnic differences across the continent."

18 March 2020

Over 400 migrants returned to Libya over weekend

The International Organization for Migration has called the returns "unacceptable".

18 March 2020

UK: JSTAT: Existence of secret body confirmed, no meaningful details provided

The UK Home Office has announced the existence of a previously secret "joint state threats assessment team" (JSTAT) run by MI5, but has provided no meaningful details on its operations or how it is held accountable for its actions.

18 March 2020

UK: End deportation flights!

An article looking at resistance to the UK government's deportation flights programme, in the context of new authoritarian measures being deployed in a variety of contexts.

18 March 2020

COVID-19: No one is safe until All are protected!

A statement from the Transbalkan Solidarity Group.

18 March 2020

UNHCR: Asylum rights and COVID-19

A new paper on how to ensure access to territory for persons in need of international protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.

Report error