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.

09 December 2019

Germany sets out plan for automatic relocation of asylum seekers

A "non-paper" from the German authorities proposed reforming the Common European Asylum System to introduce an automatic relocation scheme and the mandatory initial assessment of asylum applications at the external borders.

09 December 2019

Serbia: Unlawful video surveillance with face recognition in Belgrade

"The installation of smart video surveillance in Belgrade, with thousands of cameras and face recognition software, has raised public concern."

07 December 2019

58 dead as migrant boat capsizes off Mauritanian coast

Mauritanian officials rescued the Gambian migrants from the shore

06 December 2019

Secret document: "Club de Berne" criticises member in Austria for possible extremism

"An audit report of the "Club de Berne" finds serious deficiencies in the Austrian domestic intelligence service. Its IT systems were not approved for secret information. The authority should also ensure that it is not infiltrated by "extremist organisations“.

05 December 2019

Spain: Grenade thrown at migrant children's centre in Madrid

Property in Hortaleza had previously been singled out for criticism by far-right Vox party

05 December 2019

Afghan refugee dies in container fire in Lesvos

"A 27-year-old refugee from Afghanistan died in a fire that started in the makeshift Kara Tepe migrant camp on Lesvos, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported."

05 December 2019

Migration control: Drones now fly across the English Channel

"1,700 migrants are said to have crossed the strait between France and Great Britain in small boats this year. Both governments therefore requested patrols with drones from the European Union next year. Until then, the border authorities will fly with their own aircraft."

05 December 2019

UK: 'Oval Four' men jailed in 1972 cleared by court of appeal in London

"Lord chief justice expresses ‘regret that it has taken so long for injustice to be remedied’"

05 December 2019

Greece: Camp Conditions Endanger Women, Girls

Asylum Seekers Lack Safe Access to Food, Water, Health Care

04 December 2019

All EU security and defence missions to adopt access to documents policies - but enforcement will be voluntary

All the missions and operations launched under the EU's common and security and defence policy (CSDP) have been ordered by the European External Action Service (EEAS) to adopt policies on public access to documents by February 2020, but their enforcement will be voluntary and lie beyond the reach of the Court of Justice of the EU.

04 December 2019

Ministers call for renewed migrant smuggling crackdown on "Eastern Mediterranean" route

The EU should put a "stronger focus" on "the fight against human smuggling" along the Eastern Mediterranean route, according to the interior ministers of almost two dozen central and eastern European states, who have called for joint investigations and enhanced cooperation with Turkey and Western Balkan countries.

04 December 2019

EU-Nigeria: Europe wants to send migrants home—but what happens when they get there?

The use of 'Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration' programmes is a key part of the EU-wide drive to increase the number of people expelled from the bloc.

04 December 2019

France: Preventing Violent Extremism in France: from a society of vigilance to a society of suspicion?

The French government is starting to adopt questionable approaches to try to counter 'radicalisation'.

04 December 2019

UK: Justice for Alfie Meadows

Two weeks discplinary hearing of PC Mark Alston beings 11AM on 4 December 2019 at 21 New Street, London, EC2M 4TP.

04 December 2019

Hungary dismantles media freedom and pluralism

Conclusions of the joint international press freedom mission to Hungary.

04 December 2019

Germany: The Lingering Trauma of Stasi Surveillance

The effects of East Germany's police state are still being felt thirty years later.

04 December 2019

European Data Protection Supervisor: Leading by Example: EDPS 2015-2019

A report looking at the last five years of work by the EDPS.

04 December 2019

French parliament backs resolution calling anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism

"The French parliament backed a resolution on Tuesday labelling anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism."

04 December 2019

Justice and Home Affairs Council, 2-3 December 2019 - official documentation

Including: press release, agendas and background note.

 

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