Greece's migration minister is planning to deregister NGOs that litigate against government decisions, e.g. going to court against asylum rejections or detention orders. That would practically prohibit NGOs receiving public funds from providing legal aid to asylum seekers.

Last week the Greek government announced an unlawful asylum suspension for people arriving from N. Africa. Now the new migration minister is pushing a bill to send rejected asylum seekers to prison if they don't return to their home country or Libya. Thanks to @manos.ms and @adrianatdn.bsky.social‬

Yesterday, Greece’s Prime Minister announced a 90-day suspension of asylum rights for anyone arriving by boat from North Africa. With 9,500 crossings to Crete this year alone, the government calls it responding to an “invasion.” A few thoughts: (1/5)

Greece's new migration minister told a tabloid there will be 'no more asylum for Muslims from Syria.' The government has said it plans to imprison failed asylum seekers until they return home. A grim prospect for thousands of Syrians waiting for a decision in Greece's camps.

The FDP's last hurrah in the Bundestag was to block a bill to legalise abortion, leaving Germany as one of few EU countries that still consider a woman's right to choose a crime (even if unpunished in some circumstances).

German Green candidate for Chancellor @robert-habeck.de ‬ proposes infringement procedures against states (e.g. Greece) that don't accept refugee returns under Dublin rules. Germany's security requires a European solution. That's not Dublin, but an EU-wide refugee status instead.

History will record that Merkel's decision to face reality with humanity, keep Europe united and accept refugees in 2015 was the correct one. She didn't open the door to the AfD. 'Mainstream' politicians who blame diversity for Germany's problems did that.

Not sure what's more outlandish: that Germany's 'mainstream' right thinks they can beat the far right by voting with it, or that they think that zero asylum seekers is a 'realistic' proposal.

not again

So many people in Europe spending their time today blaming limb coordination for Musk's salute, as if bankrolling and promoting the guy who just pardoned 1,500 insurrectionists tells us nothing about his politics.

Syrians should be allowed to visit their country without losing their right to live in Germany and other EU countries. They need to see for themselves whether or not there's a future back home for themselves and their families. Very few will plunge into the unknown for a one-off 1,000 Euro check.

Biodeutsch is the unword of the year. Reminds me of the statistical category “deutsch-deutsche” that was thrown around papers from reputable places to mean Germans without a ‘migration background.’ Cringe.

Greece's latest poll suggests ten parties would enter parliament if snap elections were held now. As PASOK rules out a coalition government with Nea Dimokratia, PM Mitsotakis would need two parties to his right (or someone on his left?) to join his majority.

Austria’s far right Kickl gets to try and form a government. The idea of a far-right Chancellor was so repulsive in 2000 that the rest of the EU refused “any official bilateral contacts at political level with an Austrian gov’t integrating the FPÖ.” Now he won't even be the only one in the room.

If Germany is interested in helping Syrians return to their country, it should not make the choice to do so even riskier than it already is. Two ideas — Syrians should be allowed to: - travel home without losing their status in Germany - continue receiving cash transfers for a transitional period

Der Spiegel reports the attack on a Christmas Market in Madgeburg, killing two people, carried out by a man from Saudi Arabia apparently with far right sympathies for the AfD's anti-Muslim agenda. He puts the X owner Elon Musk with Alex Jones and Tommy Robinson as inspiring his journey to violence.

Decided to cross both ‘start a Substack’ and ‘use Eurovision Song Contest references to talk about migration’ off my bucket list at the same time. open.substack.com/pub/deleteds...

The progressives aren’t losing because they are “too woke”, they are losing because they insist on telling voters the right-wingers were right all along. As if that’s going to make anyone trust them.

And to think that Saudi Arabia was planning a bid to host the FIFA World Cup with Greece and Egypt for 2030. Politico had reported that the Saudis would have paid for most of it. Turns out you don’t need co-hosts to help you win a vote — especially if there is no opposition.

Some countries (incl. Austria, Germany and Greece) say they suspended all Syrian asylum claims until a clearer picture of Syria's future emerges. I assume they hope Syria will be safe enough to reject these claims. This would take time, given ongoing violence and the long transition ahead.

1/ Some general points about how asylum and immigration law applies when an appalling dictatorship is ousted in another country. #Syria 🇸🇾

The Dutch parliament voted 108-42 to ask "the government to keep track of data on cultural and religious norms and values ​​of Dutch people with a migration background". 'Oh, it's not what you think' said the MP. Oh, it is – some citizens are told they don't belong until proven otherwise. Horrific.

Our democracies were not designed with social media in mind. We knew that it costs next to nothing to create a few thousand accounts to influence voters anywhere in the world. But we have done very little to reform our institutions to deal with this not-so-new reality. Good luck Romania.

The $100m that Elon Musk is reportedly planning to give Nigel Farage is two times what the entire Conservative Party spent in 2023. A staggering amount which could threaten the Tories' dominance – of course, there's always a chance they would give Farage the keys anyway.

The Mytilene city council voted to withdraw its consent to the construction of a large refugee camp, opposing any facilities on their island beyond a 'small registration centre.' The vote reflects local fears that migrants (including any returned from Germany) will be stranded again on Lesvos.

John Tinniswood, the world's oldest man, passed away yesterday at the age of 112. A lifelong Red, he saw Liverpool F.C. win 17 league titles in his lifetime. Hope we win another one in his memory. #YNWA

Incredible comeback after losing the lead — the kind of mentality required to stay on top of the league. And Salah — what a player, what a leader. Hope he stays past the summer. #SOULIV

Meanwhile, Malta sells EU citizenship for 690,000 Euros and several EU member states operate visas-for-cash schemes. Vanuatu wasn’t the only country to sell visa-free access to the Schengen area: Dominica citizenship goes for 200k.

A new MedMA policy study explores the Italy-Albania Migration Protocol. Albanian legal scholars Eda Gemi and Hector Ruci address key questions about jurisdiction, transparency, and the protection of migrant rights. Read it at med-ma.eu/publications...

Syriza's latest split elevates PASOK to Greece's main opposition. A symbolic moment that will strengthen Androulakis' bid to lead the centre-left challenge against Mitsotakis' New Democracy in the next elections – although there will surely be more developments and realignments in that space.