24/05/2006 – Amnesty International’s comments on the draft directive on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third country nationals COM (2005) 391 final.

(Brussels, 23 May) 2005 was an uncomfortable year for the European Union, says Amnesty International on the day it publishes its annual report on the state of human rights in the world. In this year’s edition almost all EU Member States are included in the report – an indication of...

05/05/2006 – Amnesty International submission to the first ACP Ministerial meeting on asylum and immigration (11-13 April 2006). Amnesty International believes that sustainable development can only be based on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of all people.

02/03/2006 – In light of Mr Solana’s upcoming meeting with Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou on 9 March, Amnesty International wrote him to draw his attention to four key human rights issues in Morocco and Western Sahara and request him to use the opportunity provided by the meeting...

14/02/2006 – In view of the forthcoming discussions, at the 21-22 February 2006 JHA Council, about the possible adoption of a common EU list of safe countries of origin, Amnesty International recapitulates its concerns as to the potentially far-reaching consequences of such a list on the...

EU pressure to “keep people out” contributing to serious abuse of migrants’ rights (Brussels/Madrid 26 October 2005)  On the eve of the EU summit in Hampton Court where Spain and France are due to launch a joint initiative on controlling immigration, Amnesty International...

(Brussels, Tuesday 11 October 2005) European Union countries are increasingly abandoning their responsibilities to protect refugees in an effort to combat “illegal immigration”, as the recent tragic events near the Spanish enclaves in North Africa show, Amnesty International said today...

11/10/2005 – Amnesty International’open letter to the UK Presidency in view of the JHA Council on 12 October 2005, on the profound crisis in the system of refugee protection across the EU (Version française également disponible).

European Commission should put pressure on Greece (Brussels, Wednesday 5 October 2005) Greece is failing to uphold agreed EU standards on the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants, according to a new report from Amnesty International launched today in Athens. The report also reveals serious...

05/10/2005 – The Greek current legislative framework relating to refugee protection presents a number of gaps. As a result, the application of the law often results in violations of human rights, including the right of refugees not to be returned to a country where they face being subjected...

23/09/2005 – The European Commission’s Communication of 2 September 2005 on regional protection programs defined new tools to enhance the protection capacity of transit and host countries and to improve Europe’s contribution to global refugee protection. This new strategic document comes at...

07/09/2005 – The present document highlights the core principles that should be reflected in any policy on return, including in any EU return directive. Standards on removal should be applicable to all areas of the member states of the European Union territory including so-called transit,...