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EU Asylum Agency workshop covers access to legal aid for returnees

FRA spoke in a panel of the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) conference on legal assistance and representation in asylum procedures.

The panel focused on access to legal assistance at the border and/or in detention facilities and related strategic litigation before the European Court of Human Rights.

Panellists included representatives of leading NGOs litigating migrants’ and asylum seekers’ rights from selected Member States.

FRA presented key findings from its comparative report on 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. The report also examines when people are entitled to free legal aid and how this aid is funded. In addition, it covers who provides representation and which factors limit the scope of legal aid.

The hybrid event took place on 2 March in Malta and online. The event included seven thematic panels and 22 speakers discussing different legal topics, with over 200 participants in attendance.