Study: Legal vacuum – Criminalization of refugees in Greece

The study is available in German, English and Greek. The study, which I commissioned from Borderline Europe, analyzes the criminalization of refugees as suspected smugglers in Greece. Court proceedings last on average 37 minutes, with an average prison sentence of 46 years. Most people are convicted based on the testimony of one person …

What was important this week

At the end of the week, I will provide an overview of my work and the currently important debates and topics in the European Parliament. Plenary week in Strasbourg in March and calendar week 10 The combined work and residence permit is reformed We have finally approved a reform of the combined work and residence permit for third-country nationals living and working in the EU …

European Parliament strengthens protection of the press

In one of the last sessions of the European Parliament before the European elections, we adopted the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). We Greens have long campaigned for a robust European law that guarantees the independence of public media and national regulators and ensures a fair distribution of state resources. The law …

News from the Borders

Border-News is also available directly on your cell phone: Click here for the Telegram channel. Here I will keep you informed on a daily basis about everything that is happening in European asylum and migration policy and at the external borders. News from the Borders 04.03.2024 News from the Borders 01.03.2024 News from the Borders 28.02.2024 News from the Borders 26.02.2024 News from the Borders …

Devastating Frontex report: Commission of inquiry into sea rescue must come

Following the Pylos shipwreck with over 600 fatalities off the Greek coast, the European Ombudswoman Emily O’Reilly launched an investigation. Due to her mandate, she focused on the role of Frontex. The report she has now presented shows that Frontex is not fulfilling its own European and human rights requirements. This is due, for example, to the fact that …

Study: Beyond borders, beyond boundaries

My Dutch colleague Tineke Strik and I have commissioned a critical analysis of the EU's financial support for border regimes in Tunisia and Libya for the Green Group in the European Parliament. You can find the entire study here in German, English and French. A two-page summary is available in German, English, Italian, French and Arabic. Clear failures of the …

Event: Beyond the walls: How EU asylum policy disenfranchises people outside Europe

Dear all, on February 22nd at 7 pm my event on the externalization of EU asylum policy will take place. The focus will be on the externalization (outsourcing) of responsibility to third countries and everyday life at Europe's borders: People are abandoned in the desert, EU-funded militias shoot at lifeboats, survivors in distress at sea are sold on slave markets: The list of horror reports on the …

Parliament condemns attacks on press freedom and rule of law in Greece

Today (Wednesday, February 7), we Members of the European Parliament voted in favor of a resolution on the rule of law and media freedom in Greece. The Christian Democrats, together with the far-right, had tried to prevent the vote and clear demands on the rule of law and media freedom. You can find the exact voting behavior here. In Greece, cases of spying and harassment of …

Study shows widespread racism in the EU

The recent report "Being Black in the EU" concludes that racism, discrimination and hate crime remain a major problem, despite the existence of binding anti-discrimination laws since 2000. Key findings include that almost half of respondents have experienced racial discrimination – an increase from 39 % in 2016 …

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