We're not safe from covid-19 until everyone is safe

The mutations of the coronavirus show that we are also affected if we exclude the global south from our vaccination campaigns. The international health emergency declared by the WHO a year ago (on 30.01.2020) continues. There are now well over 2 million deaths counted worldwide. In our globalized world, it is particularly evident that …

Frontal21: The Frontex scandal

In the ZDF programme Frontal21, a federal police officer who was himself on a mission with Frontex has come clean. He says that illegal refoulement is taking place and that those responsible are aware of this. I also speak in the contribution and demand clarification and above all that the border police prevent crimes and do not commit them themselves.You can watch the broadcast here.

European Parliament votes in favour of my report on border procedures

(DE) The European Parliament has voted with a broad and cross-party majority in favour of my report on border procedures at the EU's external borders. The demand is that fundamental and human rights be respected in asylum procedures and that compliance be monitored. The European Parliament is thus taking a stance in the face of increasing restrictions on fundamental and human rights at the EU's external borders. It is a …

Brexit: Impact on development cooperation

At the beginning of this year, the transitional arrangements for the United Kingdom's exit from the EU expired. Brexit has had an impact on a wide variety of areas of the European Union's activities, which are gradually becoming visible. Obvious and immediate effects such as visa-free travel or customs duties, which are currently making headlines, especially with regard to the loss of sales by British fishermen, but also those whose …

Brexit: Impact on flight and migration

With Brexit, the general freedom of movement between the EU and the UK will be restricted, without a precise set of rules having been adopted to date. From 01/01/2021, all border crossings will be subject to existing EU and UK immigration laws. Of the latter, there will be visas for short-term stays, as well as rules for temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes. Labour migration …

NDR Podcast: The plight of the fled

Whether in Bosnia or Greece, the refugee camps often lack the most basic necessities. In the NDR talk time I talk about how refugees and migrants have to live in deliberately miserable conditions. You can listen to the podcast here.

Newsletter: What was important last month

20/01 January in the European Parliament Herewith you get my monthly review, with the following categories: "News from the Borders" gives you an update on the situation at the external borders, "Asylum and Migration in the Parliament" gives you an insight into what's happening in my main topic in the Parliament, and "What else is important" takes a look at other …

The current situation in the Greek islands is as follows

At the moment, just over 16,000 people are stranded on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros. Here is a brief overview of the current situation on the three largest Aegean islands Lesbos, Samos and Chios. All figures come from the official statistics of the Greek Ministry of Migration, which you can view here. Lesvos occupancy: …

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