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Egypt adopts its first-ever asylum law, without improving the current system
On December 16, 2024, Egypt ratified its first-ever national asylum law. Despite its historic significance, it failed to improve the existing legal framework developed through the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — the organisation responsible for registering asylum applications, granting international protection, and supporting refugees in Egypt.
« It is very frustrating for us, lawyers who work in this field and are really compassionate about migration »: in Sweden, a legislative proposal is about to restrict legal aid
While Sweden was seen as a welcoming country and a “leader in human rights” in the European union for years, since 2022, the right-wing and far-right coalition has been tightening reception conditions for migrants, including asylum seekers. In 2025, a new bill aims at significantly restricting the legal aid available to asylum seekers. Viktoria Nyström, a lawyer specializing in migration law, analyses this policy shift and its consequences for those affected.
In Spain, a new regularisation campaign goes against the European retreat
For the ninth time in its history, Spain will implement in May 2025 a reform facilitating the “extraordinary” regularisation of tens of thousands of migrants. While these residence permits allow beneficiaries to work and reside legally in the country, obstacles to the integration of third country nationals and their access to public services remain.
Court of Justice of the European Union: a transgender refugee has the right to correct his gender identity in the Hungarian national asylum register
On 13 March 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down a major decision for transgender people in Hungary, recognising the right of a transgender man to rectify his gender identity in the Hungarian national asylum register.
Eszter Polgári, director of the Legal Programme at the Háttér Society, an LGBTI+ organisation in Hungary, explains this decision and its consequences for LGBTI+ people and refugees in Hungary.
Three years on, the state of play for Ukrainians in Europe
In 2022, following Russia’s war against Ukraine, an unprecedented burst of European solidarity enabled several million Ukrainians fleeing the conflict to find shelter within a few weeks. However, almost three years on, and despite the extension of temporary protection until 2026, several European countries are quietly withdrawing from welcoming Ukrainians.
Court of Justice of the European Union: ‘All Afghan girls and women seeking asylum are thus entitled to refugee status, solely on the basis of their nationality and gender’
On October 4th, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down a decision that marked a clear step forward for Afghan women’s right to asylum, giving gender an important place in international protection. Keren Rajohanesa, a legal expert specialised in the rights of victims of gender-based violence at Passerell, analyses this decision.
The European Commission’s fight against people smugglers: a risk of criminalisation for exiles and NGOs
In November 2023, the European Commission unveiled a new proposal for a directive to combat people smugglers. NGOs and the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees are concerned about this text, which could lead to further criminalisation of people in exile and solidarity associations.
« The suspension of the examination of asylum applications is a violation of international law »
Just a few kilometres from Lebanon and Syria, Cyprus has seen an increase in the number of Syrian exiles arriving by boat directly on its coasts in recent months. In spite of a stable total number of asylum seekers, the Cypriot government reacted to these more visible arrivals by announcing tougher reception conditions for asylum seekers in the country.
Corina Drousiotou, coordinator and legal adviser at the Cyprus Refugee Council, sheds light on the situation in Cyprus and the impact of recent government measures on asylum seekers.
Italy-Albania agreement: towards a reduction of asylum seekers’ guarantees
On Monday, November 6, 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama signed an agreement to “strengthen bilateral cooperation on migration.” Currently suspended, this agreement aims to create identification and detention centers in Albania where asylum applications from migrants rescued at sea would be processed.