European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)

First #AIDA Country Report on Egypt (2025)    🔎 Egypt asylum context:   ▪️ Egypt serves as a country of transit, destination, and origin for migrants and refugees  ▪️Increased cooperation between Egypt and the European Union on migration issues.    🔎 Record number of refugees:  ▪️Egypt currently hosts over 9 million migrants and refugees, about 9% of its population.  ▪️The majority are Sudanese, Syrians, Yemenis, and Libyans.   ▪️Only about 958,179 are registered with UNHCR as refugees and asylum seekers.    🔎 Changing legal framework:  ▪️In November 2024, Egypt enacted its first national asylum law  ▪️This law shifts responsibility for asylum registration and management from UNHCR to national authorities  ▪️Implementation of the new law is pending until the Committee is formed and executive regulations are issued.    🔎 Challenges and shortcomings  ▪️Barriers to accessing the asylum procedure  ▪️ Forced deportations  ▪️Detention  ▪️Lack of access to health, residency and family reunification  ▪️ Lack of material support   ▪️The 2024 asylum law is criticised for not fully meeting international legal standards, lacking independence and adequate safeguards.    The report is released and edited by ECRE. It's written by the Refugees Platform in Egypt (RPE).    Full report here (AR & EN): https://shorturl.at/Prjzh

#AIDA Country Report on #Austria – Update on 2024 📊 Asylum statistics:   ▪️ 25,360 asylum applications were lodged in 2024, a 57% decrease from 2023.   ▪️Top nationalities: Syria (55%), Afghanistan (13%), Türkiye (4%).   ▪️International protection or humanitarian status was granted in 25,260 cases; 79% merit protection rate.   ▪️29,366 cases pending at the end of 2024; an overall decrease from 2023 📉 Asylum procedure:  ▪️Internal border controls with Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, Slovenia, and Hungary.   ▪️The average duration of the asylum procedure at first instance increased to 7.8 months in 2024, compared to 5.5 months in 2023 and 3.5 months in 2022   ▪️Fundamental concerns persisted regarding the structural contradiction of a state-run legal advisory body assisting refugees in challenging decisions 🏠 Reception conditions:  ▪️Only 10 Federal Basic Care facilities active (capacity: 3,831); 11 others decommissioned.   ▪️14,000 asylum applicants accommodated in the Basic Care System—the lowest in 10 years.  ▪️Benefits-in-kind car (Sachleistungskarte) introduced, limiting cash withdrawals and purchase options.  ▪️Pluxee card in Lower Austria does not allow cash withdrawals; limited usability. 🆘 Detention:  ▪️Detention for Dublin transfers to Italy continued despite Italy refusing transfers since 2022. Detainees released after short periods. 🗯️ Content of international protection:   ▪️All Syrian asylum procedures were suspended after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024; deportation planning started.  ▪️Over 6,000 withdrawal procedures (mostly Syrians) pending by March 2025.  ▪️9,000 arrivals in 2024 with family reunification visa; stricter DNA testing and visa re-examination   ▪️Temporary suspension of all family reunifications announced in March 2025. 🔎 Temporary protection: ▪️As of January 2025, 78,000 Ukrainians registered in Austria; 37,000 receiving Basic Care. ▪️Since October 2024, eligible for ‘Red-White-Red-Card-Plus’ residence permit, but uptake is low due to strict requirements. ▪️Social benefits: Access to family allowance and childcare subsidies extended only until October 2025. ▪️ Car ownership now excludes Ukrainians from basic care; ▪️Ukrainian pensions are deducted from Austrian benefits. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/gBp5rNNA

✒️ People on the move in Europe continue to face serious challenges: Greek parliament passes suspension of asylum claims for people from North Africa despite criticism Starmer hails ‘groundbreaking’ deal to return small-boat migrants to France  Senegal’s navy intercepts 201 people on deadly Atlantic route to Europe    ✊ Despite all these challenges, efforts to uphold people's rights continue: Activists in Greece protest the freeze on asylum claims after migration surge from Libya Human rights watchdog warns that International Protection Bill could ‘criminalise’ asylum seekers Palestinian woman from Gaza granted refugee status on the grounds of “nationality”    Read #ECREPressReview here: https://lnkd.in/gg3gXBX7 Subscribe here: https://shorturl.at/lfmdf 

Several European countries are experiencing a rise in attacks targeting people with a migrant background and racialised communities. 📣 This increase cannot be attributed solely to far-right groups. Mainstream political parties have increasingly contributed to this trend by using inflammatory and misleading rhetoric that: ▪️demonises and dehumanises people on the move, reducing them to " security threats", "crisis" or "system abusers". ▪️ obsesses over reducing the number of people seeking asylum in Europe, often prioritising political gain over moral and legal responsibility to protect people in need; ▪️ frames the movement of people seeking safety and dignity as an uncontrollable "flood", fueling fear and division among the public. 📝 Our message to 'Leftist' and 'centrist' parties: Stop capitalising on narratives originally advanced by far-right groups. By echoing these talking points, they legitimise xenophobic language, normalise inhumane policies, and advance divisive ideologies that undermine democratic values and human rights.

Several European countries are experiencing a rise in attacks targeting people with a migrant background and racialised communities. 📣 This increase cannot be attributed solely to far-right groups. Mainstream political parties have increasingly contributed to this trend by using inflammatory and misleading rhetoric that: ▪️demonises and dehumanises people on the move, reducing them to " security threats", "crisis" or "system abusers". ▪️ obsesses over reducing the number of people seeking asylum in Europe, often prioritising political gain over moral and legal responsibility to protect people in need; ▪️ frames the movement of people seeking safety and dignity as an uncontrollable "flood", fueling fear and division among the public. 📝 Our message to 'Leftist' and 'centrist' parties: Stop capitalising on narratives originally advanced by far-right groups. By echoing these talking points, they legitimise xenophobic language, normalise inhumane policies, and advance divisive ideologies that undermine democratic values and human rights.

📣 Julie Lejeune has been appointed as ECRE Director. She will replace Catherine Woollard who stepped down on 30 June. Julie has been involved in ECRE for some time, most recently as director of ECRE member organisation director of NANSEN – the Belgian Refugee Council. She gained her extensive experience in fundamental rights and issues related to international protection and statelessness through her active involvement in legal support to individuals, technical legal analysis, advocacy and capacity building for legal professionals. Prior to leading NANSEN, she held various positions in Belgian civil society organisations, the Belgian Federal Migration Centre (Myria) and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions. “I am thrilled and honoured to have been appointed as the next ECRE Director,” Julie said in a message to the Secretariat. “I’m well aware of the incredible work that has brought the alliance to where it is today, and I want to start by expressing my respect for the dedication and professionalism that stems so clearly from your collective action”. Speaking on behalf of the ECRE Board, Chairperson Sadhia Rafi said: “We are delighted that Julie will take up the leadership of ECRE. We are convinced that she will lead the alliance with vision, determination and a strong sense of purpose in these challenging times”. Julie will assume her new role on 1 October. In the meantime, the day-to-day running of the ECRE Secretariat will continue to be led by the Senior Management Team under the supervision of the Board. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gpJU9cYk

📢This week's LinkedIn ECRE Weekly Bulletin is out now! For those of you who don't currently receive the ECRE Weekly Bulletin by e-mail every Thursday, it’s a reliable source of information about the latest updates on migration and asylum in Europe. Each issue includes: 📰News and views from different European countries 📑Recent reports 📅Upcoming events 💼Open job vacancies 📢Ongoing campaigns 📝Calls for papers, project proposals, courses etc. We hope you enjoy the ECRE Weekly Bulletin on LinkedIn.

Check out the latest job vacancies in the area of #asylum and #migration: Subscribe to #ECREWeekly to receive them in your inbox every week (https://bit.ly/496vOul) ☀️ Safe Passage International France, Administrateurs / Administratrices, 20 July: https://shorturl.at/TFfeu ☀️ Europe Cares eV., Protection Officer, Lesvos, 14 July: https://shorturl.at/pExrM ☀️ IRD, Post-doctorat : projet gouvernement des migrations au-delà des frontières, 1 August: https://shorturl.at/CQdhu ☀️ Friedrich Ebert Stiftung MENA (FES), Illustrator (Political Feminism Blog), SWANA Region, 13 July: https://shorturl.at/uuWHd ☀️ The Indigenous Peoples Rights International, Advocacy Coordinator, Remote, 21 July: https://shorturl.at/4vJBp ☀️ MV Louise Michel , Chief Engineers: https://bit.ly/4eOOrXG ☀️ UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Assistant Social Protection Officer, Nouakchott, 20 July: https://bit.ly/4nISskh More at #ECREWeekly

#AIDA Country Report on Serbia – Update on 2024 📊 Asylum statistics and procedure:  ▪️Arrivals and Pushbacks: In 2024, Serbia recorded 19,603 arrivals.14,080 people were prevented from entering Serbia, 5,713 were informally sent to Serbia from Hungary, and only 462 were officially readmitted.  ▪️Airport Access: 4,706 foreign nationals were refused entry, including 1,757 at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. ▪️Asylum Decisions: The Asylum Office made 152 decisions for 200 applicants. Only 7 applications were granted, with a recognition rate of 12% (down 3% from 2023).  ▪️Appeals: The Asylum Commission made 45 decisions (2 appeals upheld, 41 rejected). ▪️Legal Aid: Still mainly provided by civil society organisations (CSOs) 🏠 Reception and detention:  ▪️Reception Conditions: Most reception facilities were closed in 2024. By year-end, only three reception centres and four asylum centres remained operational. Vulnerability assessments are not conducted by authorities but by CSOs.  ▪️Detention of Asylum Applicants: Eight asylum applicants were detained in 2024 (from Afghanistan, Russia, Syria, and Sweden). Detention centres face issues such as a carceral environment, a lack of interpreters, no health screening, and the absence of meaningful activities. 🔎 Integration and Rights:  ▪️Right to Work: No major challenges reported for access to the labour market.  ▪️Permanent Residency: Amended Foreigners Act allows those granted asylum to apply for permanent residency; first decisions were made in early 2024.  ▪️Education: No significant issues for refugee or asylum-seeking children’s access to education.  ▪️Travel Documents: 49 travel documents for refugees were issued by the end of 2024.  ▪️Family Reunification: No cases reported in 2024. 📝 Temporary Protection:  ▪️400 people registered under temporary protection (381 Ukrainians, 15 Russians, 4 others).  ▪️375 people granted temporary protection in 2024; 709 had their status extended.  ▪️Eligibility: Includes Ukrainian citizens and their families, stateless persons, and others unable to return to their country of origin. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/gxXmRe6r

📣 A message to journalists, We kindly ask that you avoid using terms such as "flow," "flood," and other water-related metaphors when referring to people seeking asylum. These expressions: ▪️ dehumanise people on the move; ▪️evoke images of danger, disaster, and threat, which can fuel public anxiety and xenophobia; ▪️ imply that migration is a sudden, overwhelming, and uncontrollable event; ▪️Lead to inhumane and restrictive asylum and migration policies. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)