EU immigration policy

Towards a common European immigration policy - latest news about Immigration Policy in the European Union.

EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes — 08 February 2012, 17:29 CET

Romanian and Bulgarian hopes of rapidly joining the Schengen visa-free travel zone were dealt a new blow Wednesday as an EU report urged them to take more action against corruption and organised crime.

EU refuses to fund 'pointless' Greece-Turkey border fence — 07 February 2012, 19:01 CET

The European Commission rejected on Tuesday a request from Greece to help pay to build a fence along its porous border with Turkey, calling the project "pointless."

Greece starts building border fence with Turkey — 06 February 2012, 16:40 CET

Greece on Monday started building a fence on its border with Turkey to keep out thousands of illegal migrants and refugees seeking to cross into Europe, a minister said.

Romanian leader slams Dutch 'abuse' over Schengen — 02 February 2012, 12:28 CET

Romania's President Traian Basescu on Thursday accused the Netherlands of abuse over its blocking of Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the visa-free Schengen area.

Germany tells Greece to improve asylum conditions — 26 January 2012, 15:41 CET

Greece must provide proper asylum conditions in line with European norms before asking other EU member states to share the burden of taking in asylum seekers, Germany said at an EU justice and interior ministers' meeting Thursday.

Bulgaria opens to Schengen visa holders to boost tourism — 25 January 2012, 18:24 CET

Bulgaria said Wednesday it had decided to offer visa-free business and tourist travel to all Schengen visa holders, despite remaining outside Europe's border-free travel area.

Libyan official says illegal immigration resumes — 19 January 2012, 17:06 CET

Libya's interior ministry said on Thursday illegal immigrants have started entering the country again in their thousands, appealing to the European Union to help curb the flow of people.

Romania president bitter at Schengen, labour restrictions — 19 January 2012, 16:58 CET

Romanian President Traian Baseescu on Thursday blasted the EU's veto of his country's accession to the visa-free Schengen area and labour market restrictions imposed by nine member states.

Six Afghan migrants missing on Greece-Turkey river border — 12 January 2012, 18:05 CET

Six Afghan migrants trying to cross illegally into Greece from Turkey were missing Thursday after two boats sank on a fast-flowing and frigid river, a Greek police official said.

Polish-Nigerian bogus marriage network dismantled — 03 January 2012, 19:21 CET

Poland has broken up a network that arranged fraudulent marriages for Nigerian men for 5,000 euros ($6,000) in exchange for residence permits in the European Union member state, a report said.

Immigration to Germany from debt-wracked euro states soars — 22 December 2011, 12:23 CET

Germany saw a sharp rise in immigration in the first half of the year, due mainly to newcomers from crisis-wracked European states, according to official statistics released Thursday.

EU court bars asylum transfers risking 'inhuman' treatment — 21 December 2011, 23:41 CET

The European Union's top court on Wednesday barred EU states from transferring asylum seekers to other nations in the bloc where they could face "inhuman treatment."

Afghan illegal migrants detained in Poland — 28 November 2011, 20:04 CET

Eleven illegal migrants from Afghanistan hiding in the back of a lorry in a shipment of mandarines from Greece have been detained in Poland, a spokeswoman for the Polish border guard said Monday.

Illegal migrants being denied rights: EU agency — 21 November 2011, 16:57 CET

Illegal migrants in the EU are being denied basic rights to education and healthcare, even though governments have a legal obligation to respect them, the bloc's watchdog agency said Monday.

One click to Europe: EU launches migration website — 18 November 2011, 15:37 CET

The European Union launched a website Friday to help would-be migrants navigate a maze of 27 states with their own immigration rules for workers and students.

Arab Spring prompts surge of illegal immigrants to EU — 16 November 2011, 16:54 CET

European authorities caught thousands more illegal immigrants in the first nine months of 2011 than the same period last year, the EU border security agency said Wednesday, attributing the increase to turmoil in the Arab world.

Europe launches sensitive debate on family migration laws — 15 November 2011, 19:21 CET

The European Union launched a debate Tuesday on whether to change laws on bringing migrant families back together, a sensitive issue in acontinent facing an economic crisis and rising populism.

Finland agrees to two-track Schengen for Bulgaria, Romania — 15 November 2011, 13:19 CET

Finland has dropped its opposition to membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Europe's passport-free Schengen area, allowing them to join in two stages, Finnish EU Affairs Minister Alexander Stubb said Tuesday.

Foul play behind surge in Albanian asylum seekers: Belgium — 18 October 2011, 18:00 CET

Belgium warned Tuesday that foul play may be the cause for a surge in Albanian asylum seekers this month, but said they would be sent home quickly in accordance with visa-free regime regulations.

EU court halts Swedish expulsion of 91-year-old to Ukraine — 18 October 2011, 18:00 CET

The widely criticised expulsion of a 91-year-old Ukrainian woman suffering from dementia was halted at the last minute Tuesday when the European Court of Human Rights told Sweden to delay the move.

Bulgaria's Schengen accession 'matter of fairness': Barroso — 13 October 2011, 22:32 CET

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso Thursday backed Bulgaria's bid to join the visa-free Schengen area, saying accession was a "matter of fairness" once all requirements had been met.

Germany hopeful for Romania, Bulgaria Schengen progress — 05 October 2011, 18:44 CET

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Wednesday he was hopeful Romania and Bulgaria could make progress toward entry into the passport-free Schengen area despite continued resistance.

Bosnia's asylum seekers to be repatriated: Belgium — 28 September 2011, 22:31 CET

Bosnian asylum seekers in Belgium whose numbers have increased in recent months after the introduction of a visa-free regime will be repatriated, a Belgian official said Wednesday.

Croatia stops Afghan, Pakistani EU-bound immigrants — 28 September 2011, 16:28 CET

Croatian police Wednesday said they had arrested 16 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, half of them minors, when they were trying to cross the border hidden in a trailer.

Bosnia to take steps against visa-free travel abuses — 27 September 2011, 17:21 CET

Bosnia announced on Tuesday it will steps against its nationals who abuse the visa-free travel regime to EU countries, in force since late 2010, after warnings from Brussels.