News
Council of Europe plays major role in tackling migrant smuggling and preventing disappearances
Addressing a parliamentary conference on Envisioning Effective Public Policy to Prevent and Address Cases of Missing Migrants”, which was held on 23–24 April in Strasbourg, Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) at the Council of Europe, underlined the...
Migration and Citizenship service enhances customer support through its new Call Centre
Individuals with questions or concerns related to Armenian citizenship, documentation procedures, or services provided to foreign nationals now have a reliable and responsive point of contact. The Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia has officially launched its first-ever public Call...
National Preventive Mechanism Monitoring and migration – Council of Europe Workshop examines challenges and strategies
A workshop on National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) monitoring in the context of migration was organised by the Council of Europe on 9-10 April 2025 in Strasbourg. The event aimed to address challenges and strategies related to immigration detention, including the role of NPMs in ensuring that...
PACE plenary adopts resolution on "Putting an end to collective expulsions of aliens"; welcomes creation of Division on Migration and Refugees
On 8 April, PACE expressed concern about the growing divergence between international law and member states’ practice as regards collective expulsions of foreigners, recalling that such expulsions are “formally prohibited under Article 4 of Protocol No. 4 to the European Convention on Human...
Webinar on university education, vocational training and migrant students
On 3 April, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in a webinar on university education, vocational training and migrant students, organised by the Committee on Migration Issues of the Council of Europe Conference of INGOs. The webinar provided an opportunity to engage with...
Council of Europe participates in UK-led Border Security Summit
The Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) of the Council of Europe, Gianluca Esposito, addressed the Border Security Summit in London, reaffirming the importance of tackling migrant smuggling while safeguarding fundamental human rights. Held at Lancaster House, the Summit -...
Council of Europe reference documents on migration and refugees now online
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a comprehensive list of key Council of Europe treaties, recommendations, and other reference documents addressing migration and refugees on its website. It offers a structured overview of the Organisation’s legal and policy framework,...
Meeting of inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration focuses on border control standards
The 20th meeting of the Council of Europe inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration (CGM) organised by the Division on Migration and Refugees highlighted the Council of Europe’s action and standards concerning border controls and migration procedures. Gianluca Esposito, Director General...
Council of Europe and UNHCR collaborate on Nansen Refugee Award selection
The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) plays an active part in the selection process for the prestigious UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award by contributing its expertise in human rights and refugee protection to help identify outstanding individuals and organisations making a...
PACE Migration Committee welcomes creation of Division on Migration and Refugees
At its meeting in Paris on 11 March, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) welcomed the creation of the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) at the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DG1)....
France: Committee of Ministers closes case on failure to provide care and protect unaccompanied minor
At its Human Rights meeting from 4 to 6 March, the Committee ended its supervision of the execution of Khan c. France, concerning the failure of the authorities to care for and protect a 12-year-old unaccompanied foreign minor (UM) in transit to the United Kingdom, due to his particularly harsh...
Division on Migration and Refugees takes part in UN biannual exchange on child rights pledges
On 6 March, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the 2nd Biannual Exchange of Friends of the Child Rights Pledge: From Commitments to Action on Child Rights, organised by the United Nations Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts. The meeting provided a platform...
Exchange with FRA Migration and Asylum Sector
On 5 March, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) held an online meeting with representatives of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Migration and Asylum Sector. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing and future projects of common interest and explore...
Safe Third Countries: Division on Migration and Refugees attends first meeting of Steering Committee for Human Rights
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) Drafting Group on the Safe Third Country Concept (CDDH-PTS), held in Strasbourg from 4 to 6 March. In line with the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers'...
CDCJ publishes a feasibility study on a non-binding legal instrument on stateless children’s access to nationality
As a contribution to the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025) and the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027), the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) publishes a...
Council of Europe participates in FRONTEX Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights
The Division on Migration and Refugees, representing the Council of Europe, participated in the 36th meeting of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights, held on 18-19 February in Warsaw. The Council of Europe, represented by the Division on...
ECtHR Grand Chamber hearings concerning Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
The European Court of Human Right held three Grand Chamber hearings concerning three member States: Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The case R.A. and Others v. Poland concerns a group of 32 Afghan nationals who claim to have fled Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power. They were left stranded...
Latest edition of Migration Newsletter now available
The Division on Migration and Refugees has published the latest edition of its Migration Newsletter, providing an overview of key migration and refugee-related activities carried out in January 2025. With more than 3 thousand subscribers, the Migration Newsletter serves as a valuable resource for...
Council of Europe consolidates its action on migration and refugees
On 15 January, Secretary General Alain Berset informed the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers about his decision to consolidate and intensify the Organisation’s efforts to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the continent today. Recognising the need for stability and...
Blueprint for inclusive integration of migrants and refugees to Finland
A blueprint for multi-level governance of inclusive integration and good relations in Finland aims to provide guidance on how to incorporate key elements of the multilevel governance model developed by the Council of Europe into the practical implementation of the Finnish government’s policies on...
