News
Network of Focal Points on Migration discusses its future development and enhancing member states’ dialogue with Council of Europe
The 13th meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on Migration (NFPM) took place in Strasbourg and online on 18–19 June, bringing together representatives of Council of Europe bodies, member states, and international organisations to exchange views on key developments in migration...
Council of Europe anti-torture Committee (CPT) publishes report on its 2025 visit to the Netherlands
Dutch immigration legislation distinguishes between two types of administrative detention of foreign nationals: border detention and territorial detention. Since 2007, the CPT has been advocating for immigration facilities for territorial detention to be removed from the scope of the Penitentiary...
Report on mission to Czechia outlines progress in reception and protection of war-displaced Ukrainians
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has released a report following its mission to Czechia in April 2026. Czechia currently hosts the highest per capita number of war-displaced Ukrainians in Europe. The report analyses key initiatives undertaken to support the reception...
Inter-institutional meeting underlines importance of National Independent Monitoring Mechanisms under the Pact on Migration and Asylum
Representatives of Independent Monitoring Mechanisms (IMMs), including National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) met online to discuss the operationalisation of IMMs under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. This came ahead of its entry into...
Final report on migration action plan presented to Committee of Ministers
Council of Europe gives significant support to countries dealing with people on the move
EU humanitarian and migration retreat underscores need for fact-based communication on migration
On 29 May, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR)participated in a retreat which was organised in Geneva by the Cyprus Mission to the UN in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The head of the Division, Nikos Sitaropoulos, spoke in the panel which included...
Committee of Ministers welcomes work of the Network of Focal Points on Migration
On 15 May, in its decisions taken during the Ministerial Session in Chișinău, the Committee of Ministers welcomed the work of the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on Migration, managed by the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), recognising its role in facilitating exchanges of...
Council of Europe foreign ministers adopt political declaration on the ECHR and migration
Foreign ministers from the 46 Council of Europe member states have adopted a political declaration underlining and clarifying key aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights system, notably in the context of migration. The declaration was adopted by consensus at the annual session of the...
Division on Migration and Refugees participates in the 40th Meeting of the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights
On 12–13 May, the Head of the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the 40th Meeting of the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights, held in Brussels. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views with the 15 international organisations and...
Building Futures: Legal Pathways and Psychosocial Support for Young Refugees and Migrants in transition to adulthood
On 28-30 April the Council of Europe Youth Department in cooperation with the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), and the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) held a seminar on strengthening the implementation of Recommendation...
Commissioner for Human Rights on safeguarding Ukrainians displaced across Europe
Over four years ago, at the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression, while leading an EU agency, I deployed a team to Ukraine’s borders. The extraordinary solidarity shown by the people of Europe’s villages and towns was striking. Host countries provided Ukrainians with the right to stay and...
Frontex Consultative Forum publishes its 13th annual report
On 6 May, the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights released its 13th annual report, summarising its 2025 observations and recommendations for Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and its Management Board. The Division on Migration and Refugees represents the Council of...
Division on Migration and Refugees takes part in 1st meeting of Council of Europe Committee of Experts on combatting the smuggling of migrants (PC-TM)
The Committee of Experts on combatting the smuggling of migrants (PC-TM) held its first meeting on 28-29 April 2026 in hybrid form, marked the start of work on drafting of a Recommendation on deterring and fighting the smuggling of migrants (SoM), through legal means and other actions, and on...
Mission to Czechia looks into the protection, reception and integration of war-displaced Ukrainians
On 22-24 April the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Prague, to collect and analyse information on the protection, reception and integration of war-displaced Ukrainians, Czechia currently hosting around 400 000 of temporary protection (TP) beneficiaries, the...
Video and presentations now available: Webinar on vulnerability of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees under CoE and EU standards.
On 20 March, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University (Jean Monnet Chair), organised a webinar today focusing on the vulnerability of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of Council of Europe...
Advancing coordinated action for children of Ukraine: taking stock and shaping next steps
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the 9th Plenary meeting of the Council of Europe’s Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) in Strasbourg (14-16 April 2026), bringing together member states, international organisations, civil society and experts to take...
Head of PACE’s Migration Committee urges creation of European search-and-rescue corps to save lives
Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co‑operation, made the following statement : “On Easter night, tragedy once again struck in the Mediterranean. A vessel carrying migrants capsized, claiming the lives of at least...
Division on Migration and Refugees publishes report on mission to Poland
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a report following its mission to Poland on 4 -5 February 2026, which focused on the reception and integration of Ukrainian war-displaced persons in the country, currently approximately one million, making Poland the...
PACE General Rapporteur urges EU to abandon proposal to detain migrant children in coming Returns Regulation
Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE), the General Rapporteur on Asylum and Migration of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has raised the alarm over the position adopted at the end of March by the European Parliament, which would allow for the detention of migrant...
Progress in implementing Council of Europe pledges under UN Global Compact on Refugees
On 31 March, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) organised the 23rd meeting of the Inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration (CGM), focusing on progress made by the Council of Europe in implementing its pledges under the Global Compact on Refugees. The meeting...
