Amnesty International EU Office Press Release Amnesty International Report 2010: The European Union fails to live up to its human rights rhetoric

Interim assessment of the Spanish Presidency’s first three months

Amnesty International EU Office Press Release ‘Flaws in EU’s asylum policy leave refugees trapped in Greece without protection’

22/03/2010 – Amnesty International is concerned that state parties to the European Union (EU) Dublin Regulation continue or have resumed the return of asylum-seekers under this Regulation to Greece despite continuing serious concerns with regard to the treatment of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants in Greece.

25/02/2010 – In advance of the JHA Council on 25-26 February, which will include consideration of the proposed Internal Security Strategy (ISS), Amnesty International calls on the Ministers to recommit to upholding human rights in the context of countering terrorism and to seek accountability for Member States’ alleged complicity in the US-led rendition and secret detention programmes.

13/11/2009 – Amnesty International welcomes the European Investment Bank (EIB) public consultation on its revised drafts (Draft II) of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Complaints Mechanism Principles, Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure and of its Transparency Policy. This review offers an important opportunity for the EIB to ensure that its principles and policies explicitly recognise the founding principle of the European Union (EU) to respect human rights.

27/10/2009 – On 15 September, Mr. Barroso announced before the European Parliament the creation of a “Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Civil Liberties including citizens’ and minority rights” and specified that this new position was to serve “as a reflection that the EU is a community of rights and values”. At the same time, the creation of a “Commissioner for Internal affairs and Migration” was announced.

13/10/2009 – Flyer & agenda. Event supported by: Cordaid, Transnational Institute, Berghof Peace Support, Amnesty International EU Office and Statewatch.

18/09/2009 – Commenting on last year’s annual report, Amnesty International (AI) noted that the report had failed to fully achieve what we believe should be the main objective of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency ( the Agency): analyse and shape into remedial action at EU level all the information on the human rights situation in the EU. We find the 2009 report to be more in line with this objective and welcome such development.

15/09/2009 – Click here to read the letter to the European Presidency prepared by Amnesty International. The briefing prepared by Amnesty International highlights how people held in incommunicado detention under Spanish legislation may be deprived of effective access to a lawyer as well as access to a doctor of their own choice, and are unable to inform their family and friends of their detention.