News
Temporary protection of people displaced from Ukraine – New thematic paper provides a human rights and forward-looking assessment of policies in Europe
The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a new thematic paper entitled: Temporary protection and beyond: a human rights assessment of current and future European policies for displaced people from Ukraine. The European Union’s Temporary Protection Directive –...
France: the Committee for the Prevention of Torture observes a rise in tensions in immigration detention centres
The aim of this visit was to examine the treatment of persons detained under immigration legislation. To this end, the CPT visited six immigration detention centres (Centres de retention administrative or CRAs) and two airport holding areas at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Lyon-Saint Exupéry. The...
Webinar discusses how may refugee status end through integration, naturalisation or voluntary repatriation
On 23 October, the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) organised a webinar on ensuring a human rights compliant end to refugeehood through integration, naturalisation or voluntary repatriation, drawing on the recently published thematic paper covering this topic. The...
Council of Europe participates in OSCE Human Dimension Conference and 41st Consultative Forum of Frontex in Warsaw
On 13-14 October, the Council of Europe took part in the OSCE Human Dimension Conference and the 41st Consultative Forum of Frontex in Warsaw. Addressing Plenary Session 7 of the OSCE conference, which focused on refugees and displaced persons, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Warsaw,...
Mission to Finland addresses migrant integration and international protection
On 7–8 October, the Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Helsinki. Discussions focused on the integration of migrants and refugees, international protection, and the temporary protection provided to around 50,000 Ukrainians who have found refuge in...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
Roundtable on Ensuring Effective Communication on Migration and the European Convention on Human Rights - More than 300 participants registered
Save the date – 18 September 2026 Roundtable: Ensuring Effective Communication on Migration and the European Convention on Human Rights Strasbourg & online More than 300 participants have registered to attend the Roundtable on Ensuring Effective Communication on Migration and the European...
Ensuring a human rights-compliant end to refugeehood through integration, naturalisation or voluntary repatriation
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has released the final French version of its thematic paper “Ensuring a human rights-compliant end to refugeehood through integration, naturalisation or voluntary repatriation”: Mettre fin à la qualité de réfugié dans le respect des...
New Migration Newsletter is out
The latest edition of the Council of Europe Migration Newsletter is now available! Discover the latest developments in migration and refugee protection across Europe, including: the 13th Meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration; support for war-displaced Ukrainians; migrants' and...
DMR participates in conference on the transition of unaccompanied migrant children into adulthood
The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the international conference “Transition of Unaccompanied Migrant Children into Adulthood”, held online on 3 July in Ankara, Türkiye. The conference brought together over 100 representatives of public institutions,...
Council of Europe contributes to Forum on the Future of Protection in Cyprus
The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the Forum on “The Future of Protection”, held on 2 July at the University of Nicosia under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus. The event, organised...
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...
