European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Anja Radjenovic
Coronavirus and elections in selected Member States
With the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, many countries around the world that were or are due to organise elections or referendums, have had to decide whether to hold them as originally planned, introducing mitigating measures, put them on hold or postpone them to a later date. Continue reading
States of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis: Situation in certain Member States II
Member States have adopted a range of emergency measures in response to the unprecedented public health crises generated by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Tackling the coronavirus outbreak: Impact on asylum-seekers in the EU
To curb the spread of coronavirus and to protect their populations, the EU and its Member States have restricted crossings of their external borders, and many internal EU borders, as well as restricted freedom of movement within their territory. Continue reading
Solidarity in EU asylum policy
The unprecedented arrival of refugees and irregular migrants in the EU in 2015 exposed a number of deficiencies in EU external border, asylum and migration policy, sparking EU action through various legal and policy instruments. Continue reading
Family reunification rights of refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
Separation of family members can have devastating consequences on their well-being and ability to rebuild their lives. This is true for everybody, but especially so for persons who have fled persecution or serious harm and have lost family during forced displacement and flight. Continue reading
EU policies – Delivering for citizens: The migration issue [Policy Podcast]
Refugee movements and migration are at the centre of global attention. In recent years, Europe has had to respond to the most severe migratory challenge since the end of the Second World War. Continue reading
EU policies – Delivering for citizens: Protection of EU external borders [Policy Podcast]
The unprecedented arrival of refugees and irregular migrants in the EU, which peaked in 2015, exposed a series of deficiencies and gaps in EU policies on external borders. Continue reading
EU asylum, borders and external cooperation on migration: Recent developments
The unprecedented arrival of refugees and irregular migrants in the EU, which peaked in 2015, exposed a series of deficiencies and gaps in EU policies on asylum, external borders and migration. Continue reading
The Future of Europe: Contours of the current debate
In the aftermath of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (EU), following the referendum of June 2016, the EU launched a profound reflection on the Future of Europe, which continues in various fora and institutions. Continue reading
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy Podcast]
Strengthening the EU’s external borders is key to ensure internal security and to preserve freedom of movement in the Schengen area. Continue reading
Secondary movements of asylum-seekers in the EU asylum system
Secondary movements occur when refugees or asylum-seekers move from the country in which they first arrived to seek protection or for permanent resettlement elsewhere. Continue reading
Reception of asylum-seekers – recast Directive [EU Legislation in Progress]
States must treat asylum-seekers and refugees according to the appropriate standards laid down in human rights and refugee law. The current migration crisis revealed wide divergences in the level of reception conditions provided by Member States. Continue reading
Resettlement of refugees: EU framework [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 13 July 2016, as part of the reform of the Common European Asylum System and the long-term policy on better migration management, the Commission presented a proposal which aims to provide for a permanent framework with standard common procedures for resettlement across the EU, and will complement current national and multilateral resettlement initiatives. Continue reading
Reform of the Dublin system [EU Legislation in Progress]
The refugee and migrant crisis in Europe has exposed the need for reform of the Common European Asylum System, in general, and of the Dublin rules, in particular. The Commission’s proposal of 4 May 2016 to reform the Dublin system does not change the existing criteria for determining which Member State is responsible for examining an asylum application. Continue reading
EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Anja Radjenovic, The European Union is founded on values, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, laid down in Article 2 TEU. Those values are common to all Member States and a precondition for a well-functioning Union based on mutual trust. In recent years, events in some Member States … Continue reading
Jewish communities in the European Union
Europe’s Jewish population has been diminishing in recent decades, and a growing number of anti-Semitic acts and anti-Jewish violence have been occurring in recent years in the EU. In defence of its values, including respect for minorities, the EU undertakes and funds actions to counter anti-Semitism. Continue reading
European travel document for illegally staying migrants [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Anja Radjenovic, In 2014, EU Member States issued almost half a million return decisions to migrants who have no right to enter or stay on the EU territory. However, only 40% of irregularly staying migrants were actually returned to a non-EU country. Lack of valid travel documents for returnees is one of the … Continue reading
Female radicalisation and violent extremism
Written by Anja Radjenovic, Radicalisation and violent extremism that lead to terrorist attacks are a serious threat both to countries’ security and to their citizens. Although both phenomena often concern male perpetrators, the recent rise in European female fighters recruited by terrorist organisations, notably ISIL/Da’esh, shows the need to consider the role of women when … Continue reading
The gender dimension of human trafficking
Written by Sofija Voronova and Anja Radjenovic Human trafficking is a serious crime and a violation of human rights. It is on the rise due to increasing mobility, the development of new technologies and the generally low risks and high profit involved. Data on the prevalence of this crime show that the majority of its … Continue reading
Trafficking in Women
Written by Anja Radjenovic Trafficking in persons for the purpose of any form of exploitation is a serious crime and a violation of human rights. According to the UNOCD Report on Trafficking in Persons women and girls account for 70 per cent of detected trafficking victims worldwide. This is due to the fact that the … Continue reading
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