2026
Schengen borders: more deportations, surveillance and militarisation in the works
An internal EU report obtained by Statewatch offers an update on efforts to strengthen border and immigration controls in the Schengen area in the first half of 2025. The report reflects a desire to step up the anti-migrant policy agenda pursued by European policymakers in recent years – more deportations, more surveillance and more militarisation of borders.
EU member states want to expand police surveillance of travel
In the name of fighting crime and terrorism, EU law requires mandatory police surveillance of international air travel. Governments are now considering surveillance of all other modes of transport, in particular maritime travel. They also want to use data for new purposes, such as immigration control. A working group has been set up to consider new legal proposals.
Prints in politics: cheap, easily replicated and widely accessible
Printmaking is an ideal medium for wide and diverse engagement with art: it is replicable, cheap, and widely accessible. These features have made prints particularly attractive to political activists looking to inspire collective mobilisation. The Statewatch Library & Archive contains a number of examples of the medium, from a wide variety of movements.
EU to increase lethal migration cooperation with Libya
The EU is set to fund migration control infrastructure in the eastern region of Libya, a move that will increase cooperation with general Khalifa Haftar, once a pariah to western states. The plan to extend EU cooperation into eastern Libya comes despite long-standing condemnation of Libyan and EU involvement in human rights abuses, shooting at NGO vessels, and accusations of crimes against humanity.
Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.