Migration in Senegal: Societal visions instead of criminalisation and the rhetoric of deterrence Published: 13 January 2021 Analysis In the last few months, more than 500 migrants have lost their lives trying to leave West Africa for the Canary Islands and thus Europe, in a terrible repeat of the situation of 2005/2006. In 2006 alone, more than 32,000 migrants set off on the perilous journey from the coast of West Africa hoping to reach the Canary Islands across the sea. By Usha Ziegelmayer
Aegean chronicles: A reporter’s confrontation with Europe’s failures and moral imperative Published: 22 December 2020 Background A 6-year-old boy from Afghanistan drowned in November 2020 off the coast of Samos. Ηe was with his father and other asylum seekers onboard a dinghy that was shipwrecked. The tragic loss of a child’s life hardly made an impression on the international media or public discourse in Greece. By Giorgos Christides
Individual liberties in Tunisia during Covid-19: the crisis has only reinforced an existing problem Published: 17 December 2020 Interview What are the challenges in Tunisia of deploying effective Covid-19 measures while remaining committed to the protection of individual rights and liberties for the whole period of the crisis? Mahassen Segni interviews Professor Wahid Ferchichi, founder of the Tunisian Association for the Defence of Individual Liberties. By Mahassen Segni
Hassan Fazili: caught between the duties of a director, a father and a husband Published: 4 December 2020 Interview When the Taliban put a bounty on Afghan director Hassan Fazili’s head, he was forced to flee the country with his wife and two young daughters. He captured the family’s uncertain journey at first hand, documenting their harrowing trek across numerous borders. By Zora Siebert
Precarious peace – Nagorno-Karabakh after the ceasefire agreement Published: 24 November 2020 Analysis The new ceasefire agreement negotiated between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan has grave geopolitical and domestic consequences for the South Caucasus states. Stefan Meister, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation South Caucasus, explains 10 consequences of the agreement. By Dr. Stefan Meister
Dublin Forever - Nothing New for the South Published: 26 October 2020 Commentary In contrast to many declarations that Italy should not be left to face the challenges of mass boat arrivals from North Africa alone, the New Pact's proposals if anything renew the obsolete “Dublin system”. By Christopher Hein
Three views on Belarus from Warsaw, Kyiv and Moscow Published: 23 October 2020 Background Our local Heads of Office are turning their attention to Belarus: Joanna Maria Stolarek discovers the spirit of Polish Solidarność on the streets of Belarus. Sergej Sumlenny reports on unexpectedly cautious, neutral and ambivalent responses from Ukraine. And in Moscow, President Aljaksandr Lukashenka remains the partner of choice, Johannes Voswinkel writes. By Joanna Maria Stolarek , Sergej Sumlenny and Johannes Voswinkel
Poland wants no refugees – NGO’s critical look at the New Pact on Migration and Asylum Published: 20 October 2020 Commentary Despite its tough public rhetoric, the Polish government might turn out to be more flexible behind closed doors regarding the New Pact, to prevent embarrassing defeats on issues that are far more important from a domestic policy point of view, such as the rule of law. By Joanna Maria Stolarek and Gert Röhrborn
Is Czechia finally ready to show some solidarity? Published: 19 October 2020 Commentary In Czechia, debates about the EU's New Pact focus only on border protection, return and detention, rather than discussing more relevant proposals on legal migration, integration and inclusion. By Magda Faltová
Migration and asylum policy à la carte: a free hand for the obstructionists Published: 14 October 2020 Commentary In mid-September 2020, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke out strongly in favour of a human and humane approach to the common EU Asylum Policy. Her lofty promises did not, however, survive very long. By Eva van de Rakt , Anna Schwarz and Zora Siebert