The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights regularly collects data on the operations of NGO vessels involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean. This includes any legal proceedings against them, as well as any difficulties in disembarking migrants in safe ports. This paper provides an overview of criminal investigations and other legal proceedings initiated by European Union Member States against civil society organisations deploying search and rescue vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean and/or against crew members. The latest update covers the period from 2018 up until 30 June 2026.

This is the second bulletin in FRA’s new quarterly series monitoring the situation of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. It covers key developments and ongoing concerns from 1 April to 30 June 2026.

Following regular reporting on fundamental rights issues related to migration and asylum from 2015 to 2023, FRA resumed the series in 2026 under the EU's 2024 Asylum and Migration Management Regulation, ahead of the June 2026 implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. The first bulletin, published in April 2026, covered developments from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2026.

This guidance explains the role of a guardian assigned to a child during the screening and asylum procedure. It provides an overview of the different phases of the process and outlines a child’s legal rights throughout. The guidance includes topics such as lodging an application for international protection, preparing for the application interview and appealing against a negative decision. The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have developed a series of practical tools for guardians of unaccompanied children with international protection needs.

This guidance is for newly appointed guardians supporting a child who is applying for or has obtained international protection. It explains key terms, such as refugee status and subsidiary protection, as well as the legal framework for children’s rights in this context. The guidance also covers how to ensure the child’s participation and best interests during the asylum procedure. It is part of a series of practical tools developed by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for guardians of unaccompanied children with international protection needs.

Η Ευρωπαϊκή Σύμβαση Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου και το δίκαιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης παρέχουν ένα όλο και πιο σημαντικό πλαίσιο για την προστασία των δικαιω-μάτων των αλλοδαπών. Η νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης σχετικά με το άσυλο, τα σύνορα και τη μετανάστευση εξελίσσεται με ταχείς ρυθμούς. Υπάρχει ένα εντυπωσιακό σώμα νομολογίας του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων που αφορά ειδικότερα τα άρθρα 3, 5, 8 και 13 της ΕΣΔΑ. Το Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης καλείται όλο και περισσότερο να αποφανθεί σχετικά με την ερμηνεία των διατάξεων του δικαίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης στον τομέα αυτό. Η τέταρτη έκδοση του παρόντος εγχειριδίου, που επικαιροποιήθηκε έως τον Ιούνιο του 2026, παρουσιάζει την εν λόγω νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και το σώμα της νομολογίας των δύο ευρωπαϊκών δικαστηρίων με εύχρηστο τρόπο. Απευθύνεται σε επαγγελματίες του νομικού κλάδου, δικαστές, εισαγγελείς, υπαλλήλους στον τομέα της μετανάστευσης και μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις, στα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ και του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης.

The European Convention on Human Rights and European Union law provide an increasingly important framework for the protection of the rights of foreigners. EU legislation relating to asylum, borders and immigration is developing fast. There is an impressive body of case law by the European Court of Human Rights relating in particular to Articles 3, 5, 8 and 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court of Justice of the European Union is asked more and more frequently to pronounce on the interpretation of EU law provisions in this field. The fourth edition of this handbook, updated to June 2026, presents this EU
legislation and the body of case law by the two European courts in an accessible way. A new chapter in the handbook focuses on monitoring compliance with fundamental rights and investigations into rights violations. It is intended for legal practitioners, judges, prosecutors, immigration officials and non-governmental organisations in the EU and Council of Europe Member States.

From 2015 to 2023, FRA regularly published bulletins on fundamental rights issues related to migration and asylum. As part of the EU's 2024 Asylum and Migration Management Regulation, FRA is now restarting this reporting ahead of the June 2026 implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. This first bulletin in the new series takes stock of the situation of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees as of March 2026. It looks at key developments between January 2025 and the end of March 2026, as well as ongoing problems and new areas of concern.

In response to increased arrivals of asylum seekers, in 2015 the European Commission introduced the hotspot approach. Under this approach, the European Commission and EU agencies supported Greece and Italy in identifying, registering and fingerprinting newly arrived people. FRA regularly visited the initial reception facilities hosting them. This report looks back at the lessons learnt from 10 years of FRA visits. It identifies recurring risks to rights and highlights practical measures and promising practices to prevent or address them. These ‘lessons learnt’ can inform the implementation of the 2024 Pact on Migration and Asylum in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) publishes annual updates on the forced return monitoring systems set up by EU Member States under Article 8(6) of the EU Return Directive (2008/115/EC). This project has been ongoing since 2014.
The latest report covers the period until the end of 2024.

Labour inspectors are essential for enforcing workers’ rights and for detecting and addressing labour exploitation. Together, the European Labour Authority (ELA) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have developed a guide for workplace inspectors on how to detect labour exploitation. This guide is a practical tool for labour inspectors. It focuses on non-national workers in the EU who work in a country other than their own. Such workers are particularly vulnerable to labour exploitation. The guide is also accompanied by a leaflet that summarises the detailed information provided in this guide.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), launching in 2025, will register non-EU nationals crossing the EU’s external borders. This FRA guidance helps border guards apply the new rules in line with EU fundamental rights. It offers practical tips on informing people, collecting biometric data and supporting people with specific needs. Based on fieldwork at 10 border crossing points in 6 Member States, the guidance will ensure rights are respected under the new system. A separate guidance publication for managers accompanies this publication.

System EES (Entry/Exit System), który ruszy w 2025 roku, będzie rejestrował obywateli państw trzecich przekraczających zewnętrzne granice UE. Niniejsze wytyczne FRA mają pomóc funkcjonariuszom straży granicznej stosować nowe przepisy zgodnie z unijną ochroną praw podstawowych. Oferują praktyczne wskazówki dotyczące informowania podróżnych, pobierania danych biometrycznych oraz wspierania osób o szczególnych potrzebach. Na podstawie badań terenowych przeprowadzonych w 10 przejściach granicznych w 6 państwach członkowskich, wytyczne te mają zagwarantować poszanowanie praw podstawowych w ramach nowego systemu. Oddzielna publikacja z wytycznymi dla kadry zarządzającej towarzyszy temu dokumentowi.

This publication looks at how EU countries investigate abuse and ill-treatment at their borders. While more incidents are now raised with judicial authorities, convictions remain rare. Covering incidents up to the end of 2024 - including serious cases and shipwrecks - it also highlights the role of Frontex and pending cases before the European Court of Human Rights. It builds on FRA’s 2024 Guidance on investigating alleged ill-treatment at borders which outlines ways to make investigations more effective.

This position paper examines how the EU can counter the instrumentalisation of migrants while also upholding fundamental rights. Instrumentalisation refers to countries outside the EU using migration to exert political pressure. This position paper defines the phenomenon, provides examples, and outlines legal obligations under EU law. It provides legal analysis and warns that some responses risk undermining fundamental rights at the EU’s external borders, including the right to asylum. To counter instrumentalisation and uphold fundamental rights, the position paper proposes practical measures for Member States to take, such as sanctions, border controls, and cooperation with private operators.

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights regularly collects data on the operations of NGO vessels involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean. This includes any legal proceedings against them, as well as any difficulties in disembarking migrants in safe ports. This paper provides an overview of criminal investigations and other legal proceedings initiated by European Union (EU) Member States against civil society organisations deploying search and rescue vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean and/or against individual crew members. The latest update covers the period from 2018 up until 1 June 2025.