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 …
ZEIT interview: „The worst border protection agency in the world“
Accusations of fraud, secret lobby meetings, armament and systematic turning a blind eye to human rights violations: I spoke to Zeit Online about the accusations against Frontex and you can read the interview here.
Interview Krautreporter: „Where is the progress of the EU asylum policy?“
In 2015, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "We can do it." Today, the right to asylum has almost been abolished in the EU. How could this happen? And why could the political left not prevent this development? I talked about this with the Krautreporters, and you can read the full interview here.
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: …
How it came to pass that thousands of protection seekers in Bosnia have to freeze
In Lipa, hundreds of people are currently seeking shelter and are freezing. The Bosnian armed forces have put up at least a few winter tents in the past few days, but they are nowhere near enough for all the people. It is expected to take at least three more months before the camp is ready. As it stands at the moment, people will be freezing until then. The …
Interview Die ZEIT: The plight of Greek refugee camps
I have been to the Greek mass camps many times in recent years. In an interview with DIE ZEIT, I talk about why the misery there, as well as the failure of the authorities, is politically deliberate. You can read the interview here.
What is the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)?
— English version below — The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) is the EU's main financial instrument to support the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), refugee integration, return and resettlement and humanitarian reception. The fund for the 2021-2027 EU budget has long been under negotiation between co-legislators. Last week, the …