EPIM Policy Update July 2017

The July 2017 Edition of the EPIM Policy Update, prepared for organisations interested in European policy developments in the areas of migration and integration, is now available online.

EPIM has commissioned the European Policy Centre (EPC), a Brussels-based think tank, to produce regular Policy Updates.

EPIM Policy Updates address topics relevant to EPIM’s Thematic Funds: Immigration Detention; Reforming the Common European Asylum System; Children and Youth on the Move; Mobile EU Citizens’ Access to Rights; and Building Inclusive European Societies.

This edition’s special focus is dedicated to the rising tensions over search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean. With an expected increase in the number of people trying to cross to Europe via the Mediterranean routes during the summer, tensions are rising between the various actors that are involved in search and rescue operations at sea. NGOs that are active near the North African coast have come into confrontational situations with the Libyan Coast Guard while far-right groups have attempted to prevent NGO ships from leaving port.  Further straining this already challenging environment, Italy announced that it will not continue to serve as the primary point of entry for rescued migrants, and may deny access to Italian ports for non-Italian vessels if other EU member states do not show more solidarity.

Other key highlights of this Policy Update include:

• The rights of children on the move which come into greater focus in the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council and the European Commission;
• Brexit talks and the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in EU member states;
• The CEAS reform talks by the European Parliament;
• A closer look from Future Worlds Centre on piloting alternatives to detention in Cyprus; and
• EU funding opportunities, relevant reports and facts and figures.