The 20th meeting of the Council of Europe inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration (CGM) organised by the Division on Migration and Refugees highlighted the Council of Europe’s action and standards concerning border controls and migration procedures.

Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) and Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights, opened the session, setting the stage for discussions on human rights protections at external EU borders and the role of European institutions in ensuring compliance with human rights standards.

A key segment of the meeting featured Aydan Iyigüngör from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, co-chair of the FRONTEX Consultative Forum, who presented FRONTEX’s work in securing fundamental rights in cooperation with national border forces.

The discussion then shifted to Council of Europe actions and standards concerning screening, detention, and access to justice. Contributions from the European Court of Human Rights, Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Migration, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, provided a comprehensive overview of legal and procedural safeguards for migrants. CGM members also noted a growing use of hate speech against migrants and its increasing penetration into mainstream political rhetoric as a concerning trend requiring action.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of the next meeting of the Network of Focal Points on migration and refugees (19-20 June in Strasbourg) and a preliminary brainstorming session on the preparation of a new Council of Europe’s Action Plan on Migration and Asylum.