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.

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.

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.

This FRA Position Paper outlines the Agency’s position on the creation of 'return hubs' in non-EU countries for migrants who have been ordered to leave the EU. Considering the serious fundamental rights risks connected with running return hubs, this legal analysis presents the conditions that would have to be met for return hubs to respect fundamental rights and comply with EU law. These include setting up agreements with the host countries and creating independent human rights monitoring mechanisms. The position paper does not examine centres in third countries that process asylum applications.

FRA publishes annual updates on the forced return monitoring systems that EU Member States have set up under Article 8 (6) of the EU’s Return Directive (2008/115/EC). This latest update covers the period until the end of 2023.

Council of Europe (CoE) and European Union (EU) Member States have an undeniable sovereign right to control the entry of non-nationals into their territory. While carrying out border control, states have a duty to protect fundamental rights of all people under their jurisdiction, regardless of their nationality, status, or age. Children as a category
of vulnerable persons with special needs require heightened protection.

FRA publishes annual updates on the forced return monitoring systems that EU Member States have set up under Article 8 (6) of the EU’s Return Directive (2008/115/EC). This latest update covers the period until the end of 2022.

Since October 2018, FRA has been publishing regular updates on NGO ships involved in search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean, and the status of legal proceedings against them. This latest update covers until the end of June 2023.

L’Agence européenne pour l’asile (EUAA) et l’Agence des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne (FRA) ont uni leurs forces pour élaborer une série d’outils pratiques destinés aux tuteurs d’enfants non accompagnés ayant des besoins en matière de protection internationale. Le but est de soutenir les tuteurs dans leurs tâches et responsabilités quotidiennes durant la procédure d’asile, y compris durant le système de Dublin et la
protection temporaire.

Az Európai Unió Menekültügyi Ügynöksége (EUAA) és az Európai Unió Alapjogi Ügynöksége (FRA) egyesítette erőit, hogy kidolgozzon egy gyakorlati eszköztár sorozatot a, nemzetközi védelemre szoruló kísérő nélküli kiskorúak gyámjai számára. A cél a gyámok támogatása a menekültügyi eljárás – beleértve a dublini eljárást és az átmeneti védelmet is – során felmerülő mindennapi feladataikban és kötelezettségeikben.

L’Agenzia dell’Unione europea per l’asilo (EUAA) e l’Agenzia dell’Unione europea per i diritti fondamentali (FRA) hanno unito le loro forze nello sviluppo di una serie di strumenti pratici per i tutori di minori non accompagnati con esigenze di protezione internazionale. L’obiettivo è sostenere i tutori nei loro compiti e responsabilità quotidiani durante la procedura di asilo, compresa la procedura Dublino e la protezione temporanea.

Europos Sąjungos prieglobsčio agentūra (EUAA) ir Europos Sąjungos pagrindinių teisių agentūra (FRA) suvienijo jėgas ir parengė praktinių priemonių rinkinį, skirtą nelydimų vaikų, kuriems reikalinga tarptautinė apsauga, globėjams. Šiuo rinkiniu siekiama padėti globėjams atlikti kasdienes užduotis ir įsipareigojimus prieglobsčio procedūros metu, įskaitant Dublino procesus ir laikinąją apsaugą.

Eiropas Savienības Patvēruma aģentūra (EUAA) un Eiropas Savienības Pamattiesību aģentūra (FRA) ir apvienojušas spēkus, lai izstrādātu praktisko rīku sēriju aizbildņiem, kas atbild par bērniem bez pavadoņa ar starptautiskas aizsardzības vajadzībām. Mērķis ir sniegt atbalstu aizbildņiem viņu ikdienas pienākumos un pienākumos patvēruma procedūras laikā, tostarp Dublinas procedūras un pagaidu aizsardzības laikā.

Het Asielagentschap van de Europese Unie (EUAA) en het Bureau van de Europese Unie voor de grondrechten (FRA) hebben samengewerkt aan een reeks van praktische instrumenten voor voogden van niet-begeleide kinderen die internationale bescherming nodig hebben. Het doel is voogden te ondersteunen bij hun dagelijkse taken en verantwoordelijkheden tijdens de asielprocedure, waaronder de Dublinprocedure en de tijdelijke bescherming.

Agencja Unii Europejskiej ds. Azylu (EUAA) i Agencja Praw Podstawowych Unii Europejskiej (FRA) wspólnie opracowały szereg przewodników praktycznych dla opiekunów małoletnich bez opieki, którzy wymagają ochrony międzynarodowej. Celem jest zapewnienie wsparcia opiekunom w ich codziennych zadaniach i obowiązkach podczas procedury azylowej, w tym dotyczących systemu dublińskiego i tymczasowej ochrony.

Agenția Uniunii Europene pentru Azil (EUAA) și Agenția pentru Drepturi Fundamentale a Uniunii Europene (FRA) și-au unit forțele pentru a crea o serie de instrumente practice pentru tutorii minorilor neînsoțiți care au nevoie de protecție internațională. Obiectivul este de a-i sprijini pe tutori în sarcinile și responsabilitățile lor zilnice în timpul procedurii de azil, inclusiv în ceea ce privește procedura Dublin și protecția temporară.

Agentúra Európskej únie pre azyl (EUAA) a Agentúra Európskej únie pre základné práva (FRA) spojili sily pri vypracovaní súboru praktických pomôcok pre opatrovníkov maloletých osôb bez sprievodu, ktoré potrebujú medzinárodnú ochranu. Cieľom je podporiť opatrovníkov v ich každodenných úlohách a povinnostiach počas konania o azyle, a to aj počas dublinského konania a trvania dočasnej ochrany.

Агенцията на Европейския съюз в областта на убежището (EUAA) и Агенцията на Европейския съюз за основните права (FRA) обединиха усилия за разработването на поредица от практически инструменти за настойници на непридружени деца, нуждаещи се от международна закрила. Целта е да се подпомогнат настойниците в ежедневните им задачи и отговорности по време на процедурата за предоставяне на убежище, включително дъблинската процедура и предоставянето на временна закрила.