Asylum

Asylum, migration and borders

The migrant crisis has triggered challenges across Europe. FRA encourages rights-compliant responses.

We provide practical expertise on this complex issue. This includes regular updates, focus papers and toolkits. We outline policy alternatives and best practices.

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Highlights

  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    1
    August
    2024

    ​Six points for workplace inspectors – EU law safeguards for non-EU workers ​

    Migrant workers are particularly at risk of labour exploitation. Workplace inspectors play a role in protecting non-EU workers' rights. This report guides inspectors to identify abuse and protect migrant workers. In autumn 2024, FRA will publish a manual with extensive resources to support workplace inspectors.
    Read news item
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    30
    July
    2024

    Guidance on investigating alleged ill-treatment at borders

    Fundamental rights violations on the EU’s land and sea borders often go unreported. Investigations into these violations need to be more effective. This report gathers examples of alleged rights violations of migrants and refugees between 2020 and 2023. It sets out 10 steps to promote prompt and effective national investigations into incidents of ill-treatment at borders.
    Read news item
  • Periodic updates / Series
    1
    July
    2024

    Search and rescue operations and fundamental rights - June 2024 update

    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 the end of May 2024.
    Read news item
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    17
    December
    2020

    Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration - Edition 2020

    The European Convention on Human Rights and European Union law provide an increasingly important framework for the protection of the rights of foreigners. European Union 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 ECHR. The Court of Justice of the European Union is increasingly asked to pronounce on the interpretation of European Union law provisions in this field. The third edition of this handbook, updated up to July 2020, presents this European Union legislation and the body of case law by the two European courts in an accessible way.
Products
Woman removing a facemask
Fundamental Rights Report
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
8
June
2022

Fundamental Rights Report 2022

FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2022 reviews major developments in the field in 2021, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
Download focus chapter
Download opinions
Read press release
Fundamental Rights Report
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
8
June
2022

Social rights and equality in the light of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

This focus looks at the impact of the pandemic on social rights. It examines the measures in national recovery and resilience plans that address the social vulnerabilities among a variety of population groups in the EU, including women, children and young people in situations of vulnerability, people with disabilities, older people, Roma and people in precarious working conditions.
Fundamental Rights Report
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
8
June
2022
All language versions now available
14 September 2022

Fundamental Rights Report 2022 – FRA opinions

The year 2021 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2022 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
Children fleeing Ukraine
Video
Asylum, migration and borders
Child protection

Children fleeing Ukraine – fundamental rights challenges

While many volunteers, organisations and EU countries provide help to the many children fleeing Ukraine, challenges and concerns need to be addressed: such as registration and interpretation, guardianship for unaccompanied children, access to education and childcare.
Ukraine bulletin 1 cover
Periodic updates / Series
Asylum, migration and borders
Access to asylum
Borders and information systems
Child protection
Legal migration and integration
19
May
2022

The war in Ukraine - Fundamental rights implications within the EU - Bulletin 1

This bulletin looks at the fundamental rights situation of all persons fleeing the Russian war in Ukraine to the four EU Member States neighbouring Ukraine. This is primarily in terms of the application of the EU Temporary Protection Directive. It is based on findings of FRA’s field mission to Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia at the beginning of March 2022. It is also based on weekly country reports prepared by Franet, the contracted research network of FRA between 1 March and 27 April 2022.
Download findings of survey on displaced people from Ukraine
Download bulletin 2
Read news item
The hammer of a judge with abstract figures of children
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Children, youth and older people
Asylum, migration and borders
Child protection
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
7
April
2022
German version now available
19 January 2024

Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child - 2022 edition

Children are full-fledged holders of rights. They are beneficiaries of all human and fundamental rights and subjects of special regulations, given their specific characteristics. This handbook aims to illustrate how European law and case law accommodate the specific interests and needs of children. It also considers the importance of parents and guardians or other legal representatives and makes reference, where appropriate, to situations in which rights and responsibilities are most prominently vested in children’s carers. It is a point of reference on both European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CoE) law related to these subjects, explaining how each issue is regulated under EU law, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as well as under the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Social Charter and other CoE instruments.
Read news item
Video
Asylum, migration and borders

Fundamental Rights risks at EU-Ukraine borders

Overwhelming support for the many people fleeing Ukraine. Volunteers, organisations and EU countries provide support and help at the EU borders.
FRA looked at the challenging situation and identified fundamental rights risks, such as discrimination.
Read report from field visit
People at Ukrainian border crossing
Report / Paper / Summary
Asylum, migration and borders
23
March
2022

EU-Ukrainian border check points: First field observations

The EU is facing a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Over 10 days at the beginning of March, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) visited all EU countries bordering Ukraine and Moldova – Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
Watch video from visit
Read news item
EU flag at border checkpoint
Periodic updates / Series
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
4
March
2022

Migration: Key fundamental rights concerns - Bulletin 1 - 2022

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on asylum and migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 October and 31 December 2021.
Access 2021 updates
Access all updates
Read news item
Report / Paper / Summary
Child protection
Asylum, migration and borders
Children, youth and older people
15
February
2022

Guardianship systems for unaccompanied children in the European Union: developments since 2014

In 2015 and 2016, the numbers of unaccompanied children arriving in Europe increased dramatically, straining national guardianship systems. This report looks at how EU Member States, as well as North Macedonia and Serbia, have adapted their guardianship systems for unaccompanied children since that time.
Read press release
14 vessels or reconnaissance aircraft are operational, 14 vessels are no longer operational and one vessel is at port dur to ongoing legal proceedings
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
17
December
2021

December 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) regularly collects data on NGO vessels involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean. This includes any legal proceedings against them, as well as any difficulties disembarking migrants in safe ports. The International Organization for Migration estimates that from January to 10 December 2021 about 1,654 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is an average of more than four people per day. Deadly incidents have also occurred recently in the Channel (La Manche).
Read all updates on SAR operations in the Mediterranean
Read news item
Periodic updates / Series
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
17
December
2021

Migration: Key fundamental rights concerns - Bulletin 3 - 2021

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on asylum and migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 July and 30 September 2021.
Access all 2021 updates
Access all updates
Read news item
Report / Paper / Summary
Irregular migration, return and immigration detention
Asylum, migration and borders
13
December
2021

Forced return monitoring systems - 2021 update

Since 2014, FRA has been publishing an annual update of the forced return monitoring systems EU Member States have set up under Article 8 (6) of the EU’s Return Directive. This overview describes different indicators for an effective forced return monitoring system. It includes the organisation responsible for monitoring forced return, the number of operations monitored in 2020, the phases of monitored return operations, the number of staff trained and working as monitors, and whether the monitoring body issued public reports about their monitoring.
Access all monitoring updates
Read news item
Report / Paper / Summary
Child protection
Asylum, migration and borders
9
December
2021

Unaccompanied children outside the child protection system – Case study: Pakistani children in Greece

This report sheds light on the realities faced by unaccompanied migrant children who are not in the care of child protection systems in the EU. Presented as a case study, it tells the story of children and young adults from Pakistan who travelled alone to the EU without their parents or other adults.
Read news item
Report / Paper / Summary
Irregular migration, return and immigration detention
Asylum, migration and borders
4
November
2021

Legal aid for returnees deprived of liberty

This report outlines to what extent legal aid is available to those held in pre-removal detention in the 27 EU Member States, and in North Macedonia and Serbia, during procedures related to their return. These involve decisions on return, on detention pending removal, the removal itself and on bans on entry. The report also examines when people are entitled to free legal aid and how this aid is funded, as well as who provides representation and various factors that limit the scope of legal aid.
Read news item
Periodic updates / Series
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
24
September
2021

Migration: Key fundamental rights concerns - Bulletin 2 - 2021

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on asylum and migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 January and 30 June 2021.
Access all 2021 updates
Access all updates
Read news item
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
9
July
2021

European standards on legal remedies, complaints mechanisms and effective investigations at borders

This note sets out human rights standards stemming from both the European Convention on Human Rights and European Union (EU) law that apply to effective remedies for human rights violations at borders, together with those on complaints mechanisms and investigations into complaints of rights violations at borders.
Read news item
Agricultural workers pickings leaves
Report / Paper / Summary
Trafficking and labour exploitation
Asylum, migration and borders
Business and human rights
24
June
2021

Protecting migrants in an irregular situation from labour exploitation – Role of the Employers Sanctions Directive

The Employers Sanctions Directive was primarily enacted to dissuade employers from recruiting migrants in an irregular situation, but it also contains provisions to protect workers. It facilitates access to justice for exploited workers and sets out workers’ rights to claim back payment of outstanding wages. The directive also contains provisions to enhance the effectiveness of labour inspections. This report describes how the 25 Member States bound by the directive have been implementing its protective provisions, focusing on the impact these provisions have on migrant workers in an irregular situation who are victims of exploitation and other labour
law violations.
Read press release
Map of Search and Rescue in the Mediterranean up to June 2021
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
18
June
2021

June 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights

The International Organization for Migration estimates that about 813 people died or went missing crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war, persecution or to pursue a better life in 2021, up to 15 June. This is an average of almost five people per day. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) collects data on NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean, legal proceedings against them, as well as difficulties in disembarking migrants in safe ports.
Read all updates on SAR operations in the Mediterranean
Read news item
Fundamental Rights Report
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
10
June
2021

Fundamental Rights Report 2021 – FRA opinions

The year 2020 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2021 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
Read press release
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

FRA to co-chair Frontex Consultative Forum on fundamental rights

FRA and the UN Refugee Agency were re-elected as co-chairs to the Frontex Consultative Forum on fundamental rights.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Trafficking and labour exploitation

Safe reporting and complaints for workers denouncing abuse

FRA took part in a meeting on one of the subgroups of the European Labour Authority (ELA) Platform tackling undeclared work. The Subgroup looks at safe reporting and complaint mechanisms for workers to denounce abuse and seek support.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

Migration steering group discusses fundamental rights at external borders

In a meeting on 5 February, FRA introduced its project on data collection on fundamental rights at external borders in 18 EU Member States and candidate countries.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

Experts discuss accountability of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency

FRA presented the Agency’s perspective during an expert roundtable on the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) legal and non-judicial accountability in light of recent case law of the EU Court of Justice (CJEU).
Read report
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

Greek Ombudsman and FRA joint workshop on forced return monitoring

The Greek Ombudsman and FRA held an expert workshop for staff of the Cypriot and Greek ombuds bodies who work as forced return monitors
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

Fundamental Rights at Frontex

On 23 January, FRA and the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights attended the Frontex Management Board meeting. They addressed the protection of fundamental rights in Frontex operations.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

FRA and EU Asylum Agency visits Council of Europe to discuss asylum and migration

The Council of Europe’s Special Representative on migration and refugees hosted a visit from FRA and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

FRA kicks off Entry/Exit System project

On 11 January, FRA held the inception meeting for a new project on the Entry/Exit System (EES) with partners from its research network, FRANET.
View project
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

Visa Committee discusses support for human rights defenders

On 18 December 2023, FRA presented its report on human rights defenders to the Visa Committee which brings together all EU Member States.
Get report
Child alone with backpack.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

Protecting children at Europe’s borders – new guidance for border officials and other authorities

A new joint publication from the Council of Europe and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) outlines the relevant human rights standards at Europe’s borders that apply to children.
Download note
News Item
Child protection
Asylum, migration and borders

Training on guardianship for unaccompanied children

On 6-8 December 2023, the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum in collaboration with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) provided a training of trainers on guardianship for unaccompanied children.
Download training manual
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

Supporting human rights compliant asylum procedures

On 8 December, FRA contributed to discussion on human rights compliant asylum procedures in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. FRA reported about obstacles in accessing asylum procedures at EU’s external borders as described in its report Asylum and migration:
Hands crossing in Ukrainian colours
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

Ways to better support people fleeing the war in Ukraine locally

Longer-term plans, better information and administrative flexibility would support local authorities providing people who fled the war in Ukraine improved access to housing, education, jobs and healthcare in the EU, finds an EU Agency of Fundamental Rights (FRA) report. It examines how authorities responded to the first-ever activation of the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. It identifies good practices and suggests how authorities can tackle the many shared challenges they face.
Read report
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Child protection

Council of Europe consultation group on children from Ukraine meets for the first time

FRA took part in the first meeting of the Council of Europe consultation group focusing on children from Ukraine. The meeting focused on applicable law, guardianship, reception and mental health programmes.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

FRA takes part in EU Migration Preparedness network meeting

On 5 December, FRA presented key developments in terms of fundamental rights for asylum seekers and migrants during the plenary meeting of the EU Migration Preparedness and Crisis Blueprint.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Legal migration and integration

Shaping the future of EU legal migration

FRA contributed to a Spanish Presidency European Migration Network event on ‘Shaping the future of EU legal migration’. Participants discussed tools and challenges of labour migration policies as well as complementary pathways linked to work for people in need of international protection.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Child protection

Committee of the Regions seminar looks at protecting migrant children

On 22 November, FRA gave a presentation online on guardianship for unaccompanied children. The presentation was part of a seminar organised by the European Committee of the Regions and UNICEF to celebrate World Children’s Day.
Commercial passenger aircraft in white colour.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

Forced return monitoring across the EU – 2023 update

Every year, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) updates its overview of national forced return monitoring systems across the EU. The overview for 2022 is now available.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

Croatia’s border monitoring mechanism meets

On 14 November, the Advisory Board of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism of Croatia met in Zagreb. They discussed progress in implementing the activities agreed for 2023.
News Item
Asylum, migration and borders

Migration features in Justice and Home Affairs Agencies Network meeting

On 16 November, FRA took part in a seminar on information provision during the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies network meeting. The seminar covered information provision in different migratory contexts.