War in Syria contributes to increase in asylum claims Violence around the world, including in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, contributed an 8% increase in asylum applications in industrialized countries during 2012, according to UNHCR’s reporton asylum trends in 44 industrialised countries. The sharpest rise refers to asylum requests from Syrians who are now the second […]

German Government to take in 5,000 refugees from Syria The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced this week that it will receive some 5,000 refugees from Syria. The first refugees should arrive in Germany by June. According to the official statement, the German Ministry of Interior intends to promote a coordinated European response together […]

European Parliament: Helping migrants access employment without discrimination is key to integration and growth In a resolution approved this week, the European Parliament has called for a concerted effort to attract well-qualified migrants to the EU, and to assist them in achieving their potential through skilled employment. To this end, the report makes a number of recommendations; […]

Afghans working with European troops face uncertain fate Since the announcement of the scheduled retreat of most international troops from Afghanistan by 2014, the fate of the Afghan staff and interpreters who have worked with NATO forces has been in question. These staffers, labelled as ‘traitors’ or ‘infidels’ by the Taliban are now calling for assistance from […]

Unaccompanied children and victims of torture will not be excluded from accelerated and border asylum procedures in revised Asylum Procedures Directive Unaccompanied asylum seeking children and victims of torture and other serious forms of violence will not be exempt from accelerated and border asylum procedures, as established in the compromise text of the recast Asylum […]