Press Release

European Court of Human Rights and EU Fundamental Rights Agency launch Handbook on European law relating to asylum,borders and immigration

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) are today launching a second practical guide to European law.

Download the handbook here: Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration >>

The Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration builds on the experience of the first joint project between the two institutions which led to the publication of the Handbook on European non-discrimination law in 2011.

Today’s handbook is the first comprehensive guide to European law in the areas of asylum, borders and immigration, taking into account both the case-law of the ECtHR and that of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). It also contains the relevant EU Regulations and Directives, as well as references to the European Social Charter (ESC) and other Council of Europe instruments. 

The handbook focuses on law covering the situation of third-country nationals in Europe and covers a broad range of topics, including access to asylum procedures, procedural safeguards and legal support in asylum and return cases, detention and restrictions to freedom of movement, forced returns, and economic and social rights. The guide is aimed at lawyers, judges, prosecutors, border guards, immigration officials and others working with national authorities, as well as non-governmental organisations and other bodies that may be confronted with legal questions in the areas covered by the handbook.

“European Union legislation relating to asylum, borders and immigration is developing fast and becoming increasingly complex,” said FRA Director Morten Kjaerum at a seminar held today at the ECtHR in Strasbourg on the occasion of the launch. “This handbook offers, in a user friendly manner, information and assistance to practitioners in the field, improving the rights situation of migrants and asylum seekers in the EU.”

“Improving the understanding of common principles developed in the case-law of the ECtHR and the CJEU in this field is essential for the proper implementation of relevant standards and ensuring the full respect of human rights at national level,” said Court President Dean Spielmann in his opening words at the seminar.

The guide will be launched today in four languages (English, French, German and Italian), with versions in seven further languages (Spanish, Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Croatian, Hungarian and Polish) to follow later this year.
This press release is a document produced by the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights and the FRA. It does not bind the Court.

You can download the handbook here: Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration >>

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