Archive
Border externalisation: the EU opens a file on Syria
This issue of the Outsourcing Borders bulletin reveals extensive anti-migration spending and projects across Syria, Turkey and Senegal Read More
Border externalisation: the EU’s hidden discussions revealed
This issue of the Outsourcing Borders bulletin reveals discussions behind closed doors and an ambitious agenda in Eastern Libya. Read More
Outsourcing Borders: Bulletin 18
This issue provides insights into the EU's secretive border management partnerships with Libya, Egypt and others, as well as the latest deportation strategy. 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
Greece: Illegal, violent deportations: the heavy toll of seeking asylum in Europe
Asylum seekers in Lesvos report that violent pushbacks by masked Greek coastguard forces persist, involving physical abuse, strip searches, theft, and potential use of migrants as auxiliaries. Read More
Pylos shipwreck will “neither be forgotten nor forgiven,” says joint statement
"The state crime of Pylos will neither be forgotten nor forgiven." A statement to mark the death of more than 600 people in the 2023 Pylos shipwreck condemns the failure to bring prosecutions against those responsible. The statement, signed by more than 50 NGOs (including Statewatch), notes that "the perpetrators continue to carry out their duties with impunity, not only posing a constant threat to people on the move but also exemplifying the immunity they receive." Read More
Greek border deaths: Frontex management board knew about “systematic” violations
An investigation by the BBC has put the Greek state’s deadly border policies back in the public eye – but there has so far been no mention in the press of Frontex’s operations in the country. Documents seen by Statewatch show that despite warnings from its own fundamental rights officials, Frontex’s senior staff and management board did nothing to halt the agency’s operations in Greece. Suspending or terminating operations is a legal obligation when rights violations “are of a serious nature or are likely to persist.” A case before the Court of Justice of the EU is seeking an order to halt Frontex’s Greek operations, with an appeal filed in January still pending. Read More
Pylos shipwreck: European Council prepares to shed crocodile tears
The European Council meeting later this week will express "its profound sorrow for the terrible loss of life as a result of the recent tragedy in the Mediterranean," at the same time as reiterating, for the umpteenth time, its commitment to "breaking the business model of traffickers and smuggling networks and to tackling the root causes of irregular migration." As a recent Europol report highlights, this model is in large part a creation of the EU and its member states. Meanwhile, a letter from Ursula von der Leyen demonstrates how much work is going in to expanding control, and how little to increasing the possibility of legal migration. Read More
Pushbacks, migration policy and returns at the core of EU support for authoritarian regimes
The ongoing debate on pushbacks and rights violations at external EU borders neglects an important aspect: the EU and its states betray their claimed goal to promote human rights, the rule of law and civil society development worldwide by helping authoritarian regimes oppress their citizens, and also to stop them from leaving. Read More
EU: Travel surveillance: member state comments on “improving compliance” with court ruling
Last June the EU's Court of Justice massively restricted the scope of the Passenger Name Record (PNR) Directive, which allows the mass surveillance and profiling of air passengers. According to the ruling, member states should make substantial changes to their practices in order to uphold fundamental rights. Instead, they would like to find ways to maintain maximum data collection to continue the hunt for "persons of interest" - yet such practices are incompatible with the rule of law. Read More