Newsletter February 2026
NFPM meeting points to significance of Independent Monitoring Mechanisms for protecting human rights and rule of law at borders
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a summary report on the online thematic session of the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on Migration (NFPM), which was held on 30 January 2026 and focused on the development of Independent Monitoring Mechanisms (IMMs) at borders....
Mission to Poland focused on the reception and integration of Ukrainian displaced persons and the situation at the eastern border
On 4 and 5 February, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Poland. The visit focused on the reception and integration of Ukrainian war-displaced persons in the country, currently numbering approximately one million, making Poland the...
Register of Damage for Ukraine opens claims to Ukrainian refugees abroad
The Register of Damage for Ukraine, part of an international compensation mechanism within the framework of the Council of Europe, has opened a new category of claims for those seeking compensation for damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression. Category A1.2, concerning “Involuntary...
Council of Europe addresses harmful narratives about migration and human rights monitoring at the UN
On 16 February, the Council of Europe Permanent Delegation to the United Nations and other international organisations took part in two sessions of the intersessional panel discussion on the human rights of migrants, held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. Addressing the session on...
Commissioner for Human Rights encourages Iceland's parliament to amend the bill on "Departure Centre" to avoid detention of migrant children
In a letter to the Parliament of Iceland’s Judicial Affairs and Education Committee published , the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty encourages Committee members to amend the bill establishing a departure centre for foreign nationals to exclude provision for the...
PACE General Rapporteur on European Migration and Asylum Policies reaffirms Convention’s foundational role during visit by UK parliamentarians
PACE’s General Rapporteur on European migration and asylum policies has recalled the foundational role of the European Convention on Human Rights during a visit to the Council of Europe by a cross-party group of British parliamentarians dealing with the question of migration. Lord Michael German...
Storm Harry: with estimates of up to 1,000 deaths, a call for better ways to save lives at sea
On 11 February, Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co‑operation, made the following statement : “Reports from the central Mediterranean following Storm Harry in January 2026 point to a tragedy of immense scale, with...
Publication of the Compendium of Promising Practices on Access to Nationality for Stateless Children
The European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) has published the Compendium of Promising Practices on Access to Nationality for Stateless Children, following its adoption at its 105th plenary meeting (18-20 November 2025). This compendium was prepared by the CDCJ’s Limited Working Group on...
European Court of Human Rights rules in case of O.H. and others v. Serbia
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case of O.H. and others v. Serbia. The case concerns the removal of migrants from Afghanistan to the Republic of Bulgaria after they had expressed their intention to seek asylum in Serbia, and a lack of effective domestic remedies against their...
Council of Europe continues strengthening the institutional capacity of the General Inspectorate for Migration through an IT equipment donation
The Council of Europe delivered a batch of advanced IT equipment to the General Inspectorate for Migration of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova. The donation, valued at 84.000 EUR, consists of computers, TV monitors, laptops and specialised analytical software. The...
Proposal lab workshop in Armenia: From promising ideas to strong research proposals
The Proposal Lab empowered civil society organisations working on the rights of displaced population to transform their research concepts into impactful and ethically grounded proposals. Through a one-day interactive workshop featuring peer reviews, revision sprints, and expert clinics,...
CDDH held a second extraordinary meeting
The CDDH held an second extraordinary meeting on 25-27 February 2026. In the Framework of follow-up to the Informal Ministerial Conference held on 10 December 2025, the CDDH continued its work on the preparation of elements for a political declaration to be adopted at the 135th Session of the...