31 civil society organisations call on EU institutions and member states to urgently end their shameful cooperation with Libyan authorities on migration control. Plans to strengthen cooperation with rival authorities in eastern and western Libya, against the backdrop of long-standing widespread and systematic human rights abuses by both sets of actors against refugees, asylum seekers and migrants with impunity, and in light of repeated attacks by Libyan forces against Search and Rescue (SAR) NGOs in the Mediterranean Sea, are alarming.

Three years after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen migration cooperation with Tunisia, the European Union (EU)’s unchecked support for border control in the country continues to fuel serious human rights violations against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, Amnesty International said today.   

Three years since the signature of the European Union (EU)-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the agreement has not only failed to guarantee respect for refugees and migrants’ rights, it has fuelled and normalized serious human rights violations and undermined the EU’s leverage to address the deteriorating human rights environment in the country. We call on the European Commission and EU member states to immediately suspend border and migration control support to Tunisia, notably to Tunisian security forces responsible for serious human rights violations.

Dear Taoiseach,

Dear President von der Leyen,

Amnesty International urges the European Union (EU) institutions and member states to abandon Afghanistan deportation plans and end any readmission cooperation with Taliban de facto authorities.  

Following months of attacks on the European Convention on Human Rights’ system, Council of Europe member states adopted a political declaration on 15 May that could open the door to a two-tier system where migrants and refugees’ rights would receive less protection. 

To the attn. of:Mr Mihai Popșoi, Chairperson of the Committee of MinistersMinisters of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Justice of Council of Europe member States Permanent Representatives to the Council of EuropeMr Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of EuropeMs Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary AssemblyMr Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human RightsMr Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights

Responding to the European Parliament’s vote on its position on the European Union (EU) Return Regulation today, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, said:

Reacting to the European Parliament’s vote to ratify changes to EU asylum rules that undermine the foundation of refugee protection, Olivia Sundberg Diez, the EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum at Amnesty International, said:

On 30 January, six Italian coastguard and custom officials will go on trial for failing to launch rescue operations which could have prevented a shipwreck that killed more than 90 people near the town of Cutro in southern Italy in February 2023.

Reacting to the agreements between the European Parliament and Council on new EU asylum rules, which undermine the very foundation of refugee protection, Olivia Sundberg Diez, the EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum at Amnesty International said: