On 11 December, the General Affairs Council will discuss the Article 7.1 TEU procedure on Hungary for the third time since the historic vote in the European Parliament on 12 September.

Ahead of the upcoming General Affairs Council (GAC) on 11 December when Article 7.1 TEU proceedings regarding both Poland and Hungary are expected on the agenda this letter shares Amnesty International’s concerns on the situation in both countries. Including a briefing on the situation of the judiciary in Poland.

• Spokespeople available ahead of EU General Affairs Council• New briefing shows Poland is failing to fully comply with EU Court ruling on judges• Hungarian authorities’ clampdown on dissenting voices has continued unabated

In follow-up to the June 2018 European Council, the European Commission released on 12 September 2018 new legislative proposals in the field of asylum and migration: a proposal for a recast of the Return Directive; a proposal for a Regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard; amendments to the proposed Regulation on the European Asylum Agency. The European Commission also issued a Communication on enhancing legal pathways to Europe.

Letter to Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, urging the EU to lead efforts to step up action to protect Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Mexico, and to promote their important work.

Five years to the day after the Lampedusa tragedy in which at least 368 people died, rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea are more vital than ever. Five NGOs are calling on European leaders to ensure the Aquarius can continue to save lives at sea.

EU member states have adopted increasingly restrictive and punitive asylum rules and are focusing on stopping people from moving, with devastating consequences for those concerned. EU attempts at forging rules for EU countries to show solidarity with refugees outside Europe and with each other have seen little success so far.

We are witnessing astonishing attacks on the rule of law, including the independence of the judiciary, and on civil society, in several EU countries. The EU’s ability to uphold its founding principles, including respect for human rights, for the rule of law and for fundamental freedoms, is truly being tested.

Businesses have unprecedented power and enormous influence on societies and people across the world.

Libyan, European and Panamanian authorities must ensure that at least 79 refugees and migrants who are on board a merchant vessel at the port of Misratah are not forced to disembark to be taken to a Libyan detention centre where they could face torture and other abuse, said Amnesty International today.

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