“In front of walls and behind bars”

Children’s rights are being trampled on at the external borders of the European Union Children and young people are forcibly pushed back at the EU’s external borders (“pushbacks”) and detained after arriving in the EU – a systematic practice in several EU external border states. On the occasion of the meeting of the EU interior ministers…

Understanding the Pact: How the EU is Abolishing the Right to Asylum

On the 27 November 2023, the BVMN hosted a webinar with speakers from Refugee Support Aegean, Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration (ASGI) University of Keele and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. We discussed some provisions outlined in the pact – namely, the Screening Regulation, Asylum Procedures Regulation, and the topic of ‘instrumentalisation’ – and how…

Despite widespread racial profiling in the EU, legislators are considering measures that would increase it

Joint Civil Society Statement on Article 5 of the EU Screening Regulation We, the undersigned civil society organisations, express our concerns regarding the potential retention of Article 5 in the proposed EU Screening Regulation (one of key legislative files encompassing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum) during trilogue negotiations. This provision would extend the…

Anti-migrant EU pilot projects net results in Bulgaria, Romania

Details are emerging of EU-funded pilot projects in Bulgaria and Romania to fast-track asylum and fund border technologies. “The results are excellent,” Ylva Johansson, EU’s commissioner for home affairs, told reporters on Thursday (19 October). She said people not entitled to asylum are being prevented from entering, while others are sent home in what she…

Commission reports on progress made by Bulgaria and Romania on the Pilot Projects for Fast Asylum and Return Procedures

Today, six months since the start of implementation of the pilots projects for fast asylum and return procedures, the Commission is reporting on the good progress made by Bulgaria and Romania. Overall, solid results have been achieved with best practices identified in the area of accelerated asylum procedures and effective returns, border management and reinforced cooperation with neighbouring…

Statement of “Voice in Bulgaria” on the “Regulation of the European Commission and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence – Artificial Intelligence Act” and its application in Migration

Statement of “Voice in Bulgaria”  on the “Regulation of the European Commission and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence – Artificial Intelligence Act” and its application in Migration   Part I – Overview of EU regulation on Artificial Intelligence   1. Introduction   On 14 June 2023, the European Parliament will vote…

Over 100 Church members beaten and arrested at the Turkish Border

KAPIKULE, TURKEY, May 24th, 9:00 GMT]- Over 100 members of The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, a persecuted religious minority, who have presented themselves at the Turkish-Bulgarian border claiming asylum this morning have just been refused entry, violently beaten, pushed back and taken to Edirne public safety office. Gunshots were fired at them, they…

Open Letter to Bulgarian Authorities and Frontex

We, the undersigned, are writing to urge you to fulfil the fundamental rights obligations Bulgaria are bound by under the Law on Asylum and Refugees, Article 18 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Directive 2013/32/EU, the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human…

LET’S PAVE THE WAY – IT IS UP TO US!

Campaign in support of a legislative initiative to regulate the status of undocumented people in Bulgaria. Who are these people and why are they in this situation? Check out the stories told by them in the link to the video channel of CCI – Voice in Bulgaria on YouTube. Support the campaign by signing the…