Newsletter - September 2026
New thematic paper examines European Court of Human Rights’ case law on migration
The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) issued a new thematic paper providing an overview of the European Court of Human Rights’ case law concerning the entry and expulsion of non-nationals, with particular attention to key issues at the centre of public and political...
Effective communication on migration and the European Convention on Human Rights - roundtable highlights challenges and ways forward
Strengthening public understanding of the Convention system and its positive impact on people’s everyday lives, as well as improving communication to help address misinformation and misconceptions about migration and the ECHR, was the focus of a roundtable on Ensuring Effective Communication on...
Mission to Germany looks into progress achieved in the protection and reception of war-displaced Ukrainians
On 9-11 September, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Berlin. The visit focused on the reception, integration, and voluntary return prospects of war-displaced Ukrainians in Germany, which is currently hosting around 1.25 million beneficiaries...
PACE holds current affairs debate on ‘Solidarity with Ceuta: a test case for Europe’
“Desperate, unarmed migrants are not bargaining chips or weapons, they are human beings, men, women and children,” said Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE), opening a current affairs debate today on the topic Solidarity with Ceuta: a test case for Europe. “They may have been manipulated,...
AI and the future of work: protecting the rights of migrants and refugees
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on the role of the OECD in evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work, stressing the need for a human-centred and rights-based approach to the AI transition. The Opinion of the Committee on...
CPT ad hoc visit to five closed immigration centres in Belgium and detention zone at Brussels airport
From 8 to 17 September 2026, the CPT carried out an ad hoc visit to Belgium to examine the treatment and conditions of detention of persons detained under immigration legislation. The delegation visited five closed immigration detention centres and the detention zone at Brussels airport. It also...
Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine focuses on children’s transition out of temporary protection at its 11th plenary meeting
The Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) held its 11th plenary meeting online on 23 September 2026, bringing together more than 100 representatives from member states, including Ukrainian authorities, international organisations, and civil society. Discussions...
CDCJ finalises draft Recommendation on the nationality of children
The CDCJ’s Limited Working Group on Migration (CDCJ-MIG) held its 6th and final meeting online on 22–23 September. The Group finalised the draft revised Recommendation on the nationality of children, together with its draft explanatory memorandum and a draft checklist for policymakers. This legal...