2020

Launched in 1999 and updated regularly, Statewatch News includes our own reporting and writing as well as articles, announcements, documents and analyses from elsewhere on civil liberties, EU policies and state practices. You can receive updates in your inbox by signing up to our mailing list, or use an RSS feed to get instant alerts.

02 March 2020

Frontex wants to disembark refugees in Senegal

An annual report published by EU border agency Frontex suggests that arrangements could be made with Senegal for the disembarkation of people intercepted at sea.

02 March 2020

Facial Recognition Technology Is the New Rogues’ Gallery

An article in Slate argues that facial recognition technology revitalises some very long-standing problems concerning policing and the presumption of innocence.

02 March 2020

First Success Against Facial Recognition in France

A French court has ruled that the use of facial recognition technology by two schools in Nice and Marseille was illegal.

28 February 2020

Justice and Home Affairs in the future UK/EU relationship: analysis of the negotiation positions

Steve Peers analyses the post-Brexit negotiating positions of the UK and EU in relation to justice and home affairs issues.

28 February 2020

Turkey says it will let refugees into Europe after its troops killed in Syria

"OUTSIDE SARAQEB, Syria/ANKARA (Reuters) - Refugees in Turkey headed towards European frontiers on Friday after an official said the borders had been thrown open, a response to the escalating war in Syria where 33 Turkish soldiers were killed by Russian-backed Syrian government troops."

28 February 2020

Greece invokes coronavirus to halt migration

"In an unexpected move, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided on Thursday (27 February) to upgrade border controls to the “maximum deterrent” level to prevent migrants affected with coronavirus from entering EU territory."

28 February 2020

New analysis: Drones for Frontex: unmanned migration control at Europe’s borders

Instead of providing sea rescue capabilities in the Mediterranean, the EU is expanding air surveillance. Refugees are observed with drones developed for the military. In addition to numerous EU states, countries such as Libya could also use the information obtained.

28 February 2020

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

ECRI Chair to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers: alarm bells are ringing over racism and intolerance

28 February 2020

UK: Failures in treatment and policing behind 'boom in illegal drugs'

A review of the relationship between drugs and serious violence finds that a failure to treat drug addiction and an over-zealous policing response are two key factors.

26 February 2020

Unprecedented human rights crackdown obligates EU to reevaluate relations with Egypt

The Cairo Institute of Human Rights calls on the EU to reconsider its relationship with the Egyptian government.

26 February 2020

Brexit: UK to withdraw from European arrest warrant

"The UK is to abandon a crucial tool used to speed up the transfer of criminals across borders with other European countries."

26 February 2020

Council Presidency and EU agencies want biometric databases for migrants and refugees in the Western Balkans

The EU should help introduce the biometric registration of migrants and refugees travelling on the 'Balkan Route', according to the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU, as part of a series of measures to tackle the "threats arising from an increase in migratory flows and smugglers' networks".

26 February 2020

Open Letter to the EU about Climate of Racism in Hungary

The European Roma Rights Centre warns that the Hungarian government is making anti-Roma statements.

26 February 2020

Scottish Government to seek Westminster support in rendition investigation

"In a reversal of its previous position, the Scottish Government now says it will seek the UK government’s support in obtaining the full US Senate torture report, in order to establish what role Scottish airports played in CIA rendition flights."

26 February 2020

'I want to restart the EU's migration debate from scratch'

Commissioner Ylva Johansson on sea rescues, relocations and a secret Libyan deal

26 February 2020

Ireland: Appeal in Dwyer case referred to EU Court of Justice

An Irish court has referred a series of questions to the European Court of Justice in a case in which a man convicted of murder is challenging the use of retained telecommunications data as evidence against him.

 

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