The EU is ramping up its migration crackdown with new proposals to fast-track deportations and set up controversial return hubs outside its borders. While some governments push for even tougher measures, critics warn the plan could lead to human rights violations and legal battles.
An Italian court has ruled that seven migrants from Egypt and Bangladesh must be sent from Albania to Italy to have their asylum applications processed. The migrants’ countries of origin are not considered safe under EU law.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser met with her Romanian counterpart to discuss the countries’ cooperation on migration and asylum. As part of efforts to fully join the borderless Schengen zone, Bulgaria and Romania have recently made progress in protecting the EU’s external borders.
The European Union faces the highest arrival of migrants since 2015 with record numbers of people arriving in Italy and Greece, putting reception mechanisms under severe strain. This year, member states reached a historic deal on key asylum and migration laws as deals with transit countries are struck. The EU has launched a legal procedure against Hungary.
The Flemish government calls on the European Commission to focus on meeting the 2030 CO2 reduction targets before discussing goals for 2040. Kyriakos Mitsotakis wins Greek elections by a landslide. Austria and Italy join forces to fight illegal migration and reshape EU migration and asylum policies.