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.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine posed new challenges for the EU. Millions were forced to flee the war. As a result of the scale of people’s displacement, the EU activated for the first time the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). More than 1.3 million children sought international protection in the EU. This bulletin explores the respect, protection and fulfilment of the fundamental rights of displaced children and ways to safeguard their rights. The third in a series, this bulletin builds on the evidence in FRA’s Bulletin #1 and #2 on the experiences of displaced people seeking safety in the EU.

Over the span of nearly eight years, there have been developments in showing respect for the human rights of those who arrive at the EU’s borders. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shown how a large and sudden influx of people can be managed effectively and respectfully. Notwithstanding the improvements, the growing number of people crossing or attempting to enter the EU pose a wide range of fundamental rights challenges.

In this bulletin, FRA takes stock of concerns and improvements regarding the fundamental rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. It highlights the EU Member States’ legal and practical responses. It identifies key trends, promising practices, long-standing and emerging patterns, and persistent concerns.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered solidarity from EU governments, local authorities and society as they welcomed more than 7 million people fleeing the aggression. The European Union’s rapid response, activating the EU Temporary Protection Directive, offered welcome relief and much-needed support to those in need. It allowed displaced persons the opportunity to quickly settle and to work, travel and access services across the EU. But other pressing human rights issues have come to the fore and remain high on the EU’s agenda, such as human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, hate crime and hate-fuelled disinformation.

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.

EU Member States are increasingly involved in border management activities on the high seas, within – or i cooperation with – third countries, and at the EU’s borders. Such activities entail risks of violating the principle of non-refoulement, the cornerstone of the international legal regime for the protection of refugees, which prohibits returning individuals to a risk of persecution. This report aims to encourage fundamental-rights compliant approaches to border management, including by highlighting potential grey areas.

Ce « Focus » examine de façon approfondie les questions de l’asile et de la
migration dans l’Union européenne (UE) en 2015. Il se penche sur l’efficacité des mesures prises ou proposées par l’UE et
ses États membres pour gérer cette situation, en se concentrant en particulier sur le respect des droits fondamentaux.

This Focus takes a closer look at asylum and migration issues in the European Union (EU) in 2015. It looks at the effectiveness of measures taken or proposed by the EU and its Member States to manage this situation, with particular reference to their fundamental rights compliance.

Processing biometric data for immigration, asylum and border management purposes has become common. This focus paper looks at measures authorities can take to enforce the obligation of newly arrived asylum seekers and migrants in an irregular situation to provide fingerprints for inclusion in Eurodac.

For asylum and return (i.e. expulsion) procedures to be implemented effectively, people need to be at the disposal of the authorities so that any measure requiring their presence can be taken without delay. To achieve this, EU Member States may decide to hold people in closed facilities. Less intrusive measures, which are usually referred to as alternatives to detention, reduce the risk that deprivation of liberty is resorted to excessively.

Европейската конвенция за защита на правата на човека (ЕКПЧ) и правото на Европейския
съюз (ЕС) предоставят рамка за защита на правата на чужденците, чието значение
непрестанно расте.

Evropská úmluva o lidských právech (EÚLP) a právní předpisy Evropské unie (EU) poskytují
stále důležitější rámec pro ochranu práv cizinců. Právní předpisy EU v oblasti azylu, hranic
a přistěhovalectví se rychle rozvíjejí.

Den europæiske menneskerettighedskonvention og Den Europæiske Unions lovgivning udgør
en stadig vigtigere ramme for beskyttelsen af udlændinges rettigheder. Den Europæiske Unions
lovgivning vedrørende asyl, grænser og indvandring udvikler sig hurtigt.

Η Ευρωπαϊκή Σύμβαση για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου (ΕΣΔΑ) και η νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (ΕΕ) παρέχουν ένα πλαίσιο προστασίας των δικαιωμάτων των αλλοδαπών, το οποίο αποκτά ολοένα και μεγαλύτερη σημασία. Η νομοθεσία της ΕΕ σε θέματα ασύλου, συνόρων και μετανάστευσης εξελίσσεται με ταχείς ρυθμούς.

** Please note than an updated 2020 edition of this handbook is now available.** The Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration is jointly produced by the European Court of Human Rights and the FRA. It examines the relevant law in the field of asylum, borders and immigration stemming from both European systems: the European Union and the Council of Europe. It provides an accessible guide to the various European standards relevant to asylum, borders and immigration.

El Convenio Europeo para la Protección de los Derechos Humanos y de las Libertades Fundamentales (CEDH) y el Derecho de la Unión Europea (UE) constituyen un marco cada vez más importante para la protección de los derechos de los extranjeros. La legislación de la UE sobre
asilo, fronteras e inmigración se está desarrollando rápidamente.

Euroopa inimõiguste konventsioon (ECHR) ja Euroopa Liidu (EL) õigus pakuvad järjest suuremat tähtsust omavat raamistikku välismaalaste õiguste kaitseks. Euroopa varjupaiga-, piiri- ja sisserändeõiguse alased ELi õigusaktid arenevad kiiresti.