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.

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 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.