Falling arrival numbers in Europe are being celebrated as success — but at what cost?

On December 10, the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Council of Europe discussed migration and the #ECHR.

For over 20 years, this system has regulated labour migration to #Italy while simultaneously enabling the structural exploitation of migrant workers.

The EU plans to ease deportations of asylum seekers, even to countries they’ve never lived in.

Alaa Faraj has just published his book „Perché ero ragazzo“

What happened in the #centralMediterranean in November? -4,633 people reached Italy by sea - 1,826 departures from Libya - Civilian sea rescue saved 876 people - 76 people died, 61 remain missing - At least 3,178 pushbacks/pullbacks at sea - 2,992 people forcibly returned to Libya

#Germany and the #EU are massively tightening asylum policies: new „safe countries“, return centres outside Europe, and easier deportations are being implemented.

Between November 3th and 30th alone, 554 have been deported by the Italian Government. Those numbers a part of a troubling development: In the first half of 2025, deportations of „irregular migrants“ have surged across the EU—up 12.7%, with Germany increasing deportations by 25% and Italy by 12%.

#Frontex is expanding its aerial surveillance to Cape Verde – the first deployment of its kind in #Africa.

On 13 November, Italy and Albania signed 16 new agreements and reaffirmed their migration deal.

West Germany helped build Sudan’s security structures during the Cold War. Today, Germany no longer exports weapons directly to #Sudan, but it continues to supply Gulf states — supporters of the warring parties.

Mediterranea Saving Humans keeps fighting. 
 Just shortly after the court in #Trapani once again questioned the legality of the #PiantedosiDecree and allowed the Mediterranea to sail, the ship was detained again.

What happened in the central Mediterranean in October? Despite continued criminalization, the civilian rescue fleet managed to save 628 people. At least 105 people died while seeking safety. There were at least 3,831 pushbacks and pullbacks at sea, mostly ending in forced returns to Libya.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is a pan-European political assembly that brings together parliamentarians of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe.

The Principle of Non-Refoulement: we hear this term a lot when talking about migration and international law — but what does it really mean?

Lampedusa becomes Europe’s testing ground for CEAS. Last week, Frontex, EUAA, Europol, and Italian authorities tested the new EU screening process.
 It’s the first real-life trial of what will soon become law under the EU Migration & Asylum Pact (CEAS).

Last weekend we joined the transnational protest against the Rama–Meloni agreement and the two centres #Italy has built and now manages in #Albania — a Hotspot in #Shëngjin and a Detention Centre in #Gjadër. The protest was organized by the Network Against Migrant Detention and Mesdhe.

On 22 October, the first summit between the #EU and #Egypt took place in Brussels, attended by Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), António Costa (President of the European Council), and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (President of Egypt) to strengthen bilateral relations.

After almost two years under siege, #El-Fasher in #Sudan fell completely under RSF control on 26 October. Around 260,000 people — half of them children — are trapped in catastrophic conditions, without access to food or medical care.

Ever wondered why the EU calls its migration policies a “success story”?

Last week, EU interior ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss faster deportations and a tougher European migration policy. The plans: “return hubs” and the mutual recognition of deportation orders across the EU, meaning a single country’s deportation decision could apply throughout the Union.

Trigger Warning: Slide 3 contains references to suicide and self-harm. In 2023, Italy and Albania signed a deal to carry out asylum procedures outside the EU. One year ago the first individuals were detained in the Mediterranean and sent to detention centers in Albania.

❌From Italian prison to Egyptian detention. Migrants accused of “people smuggling” are being #criminalized twice – first in Europe, then again back home.

1/2Outrage in #Sabratha: “security” forces + militias stormed homes,burst into families’s bedrooms, terrified children,and arrested Sudanese families fleeing war some kids held in unfit sites,others disappeared.Illegal. Immoral. #Libya #HumanRights

The attack on the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 by @sea-watch.org shows once again: EU money fuels violence at sea.

What happened in August in the Central Mediterranean? In August, 5289 people arrived in Italy by sea. 1073 were rescued by civil SAR – despite increasing violence and ongoing criminalization by Italian authorities. The Algeria-Sardinia route is becoming more active again.

Rescue is not a crime. Yet governments seize rescue ships, criminalize NGOs, and let people die. Violence and obstruction against civil sea rescue are escalating.

Afghanistan is not at peace — its people are living through crisis, inequality, and neglect. We cannot look away. The international community must act and fight for human rights, support healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid.

Die Prozessliste für den 1.9. ist raus: 23 Verfahren, über 50 Angeklagte. Das Gericht arbeitet von 9-15 Uhr. Jede*r kann selbst ausrechnen, wie viel Zeit – Minuten! – offensichtlich pro Verfahren angesetzt sind – Verfahren, in denen über jahrzehntelange Haft entschieden wird. #AllEyesOnCrete

Neue Podcastfolge von „Mittelmeer, was geht!?“ ist online! Wir sprechen über: 📌 Rettungen & Todeszahlen im Juli 📌 Libyen & Tunesien: Verhandlungen & kein Vertrauen in UNHCR 📌 Frontex's Weitergabe persönlicher Daten & KI im Migrationsmanagement 📌 Gerichtsverfahren und Festsetzungen Jetzt reinhören!

On September 1st + 2nd, dozens of young Sudanese men and boys, as well as people of other nationalities, are set to stand trial in smuggling cases in Chania, Crete. 16 Sudanese individuals, some as young as 16, have contacted us alone so far, all of whom have their trial on one of these days. 1/5

They could have been saved. At least 27 people -including a one-and a half year old child, lost their lives in a deadly shipwreck off Lampedusa on August 13. Many more are still missing. Women, men, children -with homes, dreams and ambitions.

What happened in the Central Mediterranean in July? A total of 6.490 people reached Italy by sea. 807 people were rescued thanks to the effort of the search and rescue NGOs. 🕊️ 44 people died while seeking safety, 55 are reported missing and the fate of 38 others is unknown.

Italien setzt unser Menschenrechtsbeobachtungs-Flugzeug fest! Erstmals wird uns mit sofortiger Wirkung die Flugerlaubnis für 20 Tage verweigert. Das ist eine neue Eskalationsstufe im Kampf der italienischen Regierung gegen zivile Menschenrechtsbeobachtung auf dem Mittelmeer!

On August 1st, the EU Court of Justice ruled: A country can only be labeled “safe” if everyone is protected across its territory, based on verifiable evidence and open to judicial review.

Germany–Afghanistan Deportations = State-Enforced Danger Germany has resumed deportations to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan – where returnees face persecution, violence, and repression. Despite human rights violations, the German government continues forced returns under the guise of “security.”

On #WorldTraffickingDay, let’s set the record straight: SMUGGLING IS NOT THE SAME AS TRAFFICKING. 🚫 Frequently, migrants get arrested and imprisoned in Italy simply for driving a boat or even just holding a compass or handing out water. These are not traffickers.

Last week on July 21, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Crotone announced that six Italian officials will be facing a public trial starting in January 2026. They are accused of failing to rescue the people in distress during the Cutro shipwreck on February 26, 2023.

We urgently need to #DecriminalizeFacilitation to ensure the fundamental rights of people on the move! What does this mean? @en.sea-watch.org @sos-humanity.bsky.social @ecchr.bsky.social @iuventa-crew.org @borderline-europe.bsky.social @louisemichelcrew.bsky.social

🇪🇺🇩🇰 From July to December 2025, Denmark holds the EU Council Presidency – and is pushing for a harder stance on migration. Under the motto “A strong Europe in a changing world”, the Danish government aims to:

Kinsa case update: It's the end of a long legal struggle and an important day for those seeking justice at borders. People cannot be criminalized for exercising their fundamental rights! @ecchr.bsky.social @borderline-europe.bsky.social @iuventa-crew.org

On the International Day of Criminal Justice, we raise our voices togerther with 31 other organizations against the criminalization of solidarity.

What happened in the Central Mediterranean in June? A total of 7.142 people arrived in Italy – *1.139 of them were rescued thanks to NGOs: 758 of them were brought ashore by the civil fleet, while 381 people were rescued by NGO-ships and later were brought ashore by the authorities.

🌍Think most refugees are in Europe? Think again. 67% are hosted in neighboring countries 73% in low- & middle-income countries Germany? Just 3.2% per capita – despite the headlines

🇬🇷🇪🇺Greece is suspending asylum applications for people arriving by sea from North Africa — targeting those who flee via #Libya to Crete. At the same time, the Greek government plans new detention centres and closer cooperation with the Libyan coast guard.

🚨New Albania Update: Secret Deportations from Gjadër to Cairo 🇮🇹 Italy now deported people directly from Albania — bypassing EU territory. How (il)legal is this?

🎬 THIS JUNGO LIFE – A powerful film we urge you to watch. Shot by and with young Sudanese refugees living rough on the streets of Rabat, this documentary breaks with the usual narrative: raw, collective storytelling from those surviving Europe’s outsourced border regime.

🇸🇩🇪🇬 Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese women and children fled the brutal war to seek safety – only to face a new struggle in #Egypt. Our new brochure “#Sudan – The Forgotten War” sheds light on the harsh realities of Sudanese refugees in Egypt:

🚨🛟 While thousands continue to drown in the Central Mediterranean, Germany has cut all funding for civil sea rescue. €2 million in 2024 supported ships like @sea-eye.org, @soshumanity.bsky.social, @sosmediterranee.org & @resqship.bsky.social — enabling life-saving missions. Now that support is gone.

🚫 1.5 times around the world – That’s how far @msfsea.bsky.social's rescue ship Geo Barents was forced to travel due to Italy’s distant port strategy. Over 160 days lost, 4 detentions, and rescues halved in 2024.