Publication date: 04 September 2025
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, warns that externalised asylum and migration policies must be carefully designed to avoid serious human rights risks. His report highlights how transferring asylum, return, and border control functions to other countries can expose migrants to torture, arbitrary detention, and collective expulsions. Particular risks arise in the external processing of asylum claims, return procedures including “return hubs,” and outsourcing of border control. The Commissioner calls on states to adopt precautionary approaches, safeguard vulnerable people, and ensure transparency and accountability.
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Main theme: External Dimension
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: externalisation, return hub, border management, fundamental right, human rights
Publication date: 23 March 2023
This briefing discusses key recent trends and figures and provides an overview of EU policy developments relating to the management of the EU's external borders.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: external border, border management, border security
Publication date: 29 May 2018
This publication takes stock of recent EU developments in the area of asylum, borders and external cooperation on migration.
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Main theme: External Dimension, Asylum, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: border management, ECAS, external coorperation
Publication date: 03 January 2013
This EMN Inform provides a short overview of the main developments that took place in the EU in 2011 in response to increasing migratory pressure and specifically in relation to the six strategic priority areas of the EU Action on Migratory Pressure.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, External Dimension
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: border management, migration management, mobility partnership, readmission agreement
Publication date: 09 January 2012
Irregular migration is a subject of ongoing public debate in Europe. Policy makers are under pressure to reduce it and majorities often view it as a problem. Have policy interventions contributed to a decline in irregular migration? Have new hotspots of irregular entry emerged?
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: border management, detection, illegal entry
Publication date:
The European Commission announced that the operations of the Entry/Exit System (EES), an advanced IT system that will digitally record the entries and exits of third-country nationals traveling to 29 European countries for short stays, are set to start on 12 October 2025.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, entry exit system, European Commission
Publication date:
On 21 October 2024, the European Ombudsman closed her inquiry on respect for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). She concluded, inter alia, that the Commission should set out the criteria on which the suspension of contracts due to violations of human rights in the implementation of EU-funded projects in Tunisia would be based. These criteria should be made public.
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Main theme: External Dimension
Keywords: memorandum of understanding, Tunisia, human rights, border management, border control
Publication date:
EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson announced that the Entry-Exit System (EES) which aims to modernise EU border management and which was supposed to start on 10 November 2024, has been postponed with no new date set. Ms Johansson suggested that the EU may roll out the EES gradually.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: entry exit system, border management, biometric check
Publication date:
On 25 and 26 June 2024, EMN Belgium and its partners organised a high-level conference to present the Pact and outline subsequent steps for its implementation. The event, which convened 400 representatives from pivotal institutions and organisations, highlighted the opportunities and challenges associated with the Pact as well as the need and potential for partnerships in effectively implementing it.
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Publication date:
This online annual conference, organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA), will debate the latest developments and challenges in the EU’s internal and external border management. It will inter alia analyse the latest proposals and reforms on the functioning and operation of EU border management systems, including Schengen, as well as Frontex’ role and responsibilities.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, internal border, external border, Schengen governance
Publication date:
Today, the Belgian Presidency of the Council and European Parliament negotiators have provisionally agreed on two regulations that govern the collection and use of air passenger data for border management and law enforcement.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: advanced passenger information, border management
Publication date:
The national conference organised by EMN Austria this year will facilitate an insightful discussion among experts on the efficient and humanitarian management of EU’s external borders.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: external border, border management
Publication date:
This hybrid annual conference will debate the latest developments and challenges in the EU’s internal and external border management. It will analyse the latest proposals and reforms on the functioning and operation of EU border management systems, including Schengen, as well as Frontex’ role and responsibilities. A particular focus will be given to the ongoing situation at the EU’s eastern border.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, EU border agency, Schengen, Frontex, migrant smuggling
Publication date:
Several major challenges have affected the EU's external borders in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. These multiple challenges impacted figures and trends and urged policy developments which are clearly presented in a briefing released today by the European Parliament.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, border security, external border
Publication date:
Today the upgraded Schengen Information System (SIS) enters into operation to enhance security and border management in Europe. The renewed SIS is being enhanced to include new categories of alerts, biometrics such as palm prints, fingermarks, and DNA records for missing persons, and additional tools to combat crime and terrorism.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen Information System, border management
Publication date:
The 2nd European Border Managament Conference was held in Athens on 23 and 24 February 2023. Participating Member States inter alia underlined the importance of effective control of EU's external borders and required legal, financial, operational and technical measures as well as a whole-of-the-route approach to ensure this.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border control, border management
Publication date:
Today, Frontex published its Risk Analysis for 2018, which concentrates on the scope of Frontex operational activities and, in particular, on irregular migration at the external borders of the EU and Schengen Associated Countries.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Frontex, risk analysis, border management
Publication date:
Following up on the Commission's Action Plan to support Italy from 4 July, the EU Trust Fund for Africa adopted today a programme worth €46 million to reinforce the integrated migration and border management capacities of the Libyan authorities.
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Main theme: External Dimension, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Keywords: EU Trust Fund for Africa, Libya, border management
Publication date:
Today the new Regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, European Border and Coast Guard
Publication date:
On the occasion of President Juncker's 2016 State of the Union address, the European Commission today set out their view on how the European Union can enhance security in Europe by improving the exchange of information in the fight against terrorism and strengthening external borders.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard, English, border management
Publication date:
This conference is organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vilnius office, the EMN, the Ministry of Interior and the University of Vilnius.
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Main theme: Migration, Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, migratory route
Publication date:
On the 7th October 2015, the EMN Annual Conference took place in Esch-Belval (Luxembourg). It was dedicated to the 30 years of the Schengen Agreement, as well as to the current challenges to the system regarding border management and irregular migration.
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Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: border management, EMN Annual Conference, refugee crisis, Schengen
Publication date:
Today, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the "Smart Borders Package", one of the priorities included in the European Agenda on Migration. All citizens (EU nationals and non-EU nationals) and organisations are invited to contribute.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, European Commission
Publication date:
On 11 November 2014, the European Commission has released its 6th bi-annual report on the functioning of the Schengen area covering the period from 1 May to 31 October 2014.