Newsletter December 2025 - January 2026
Migration challenges: Council of Europe ministers call for political declaration on rights
Council of Europe ministers have called for the preparation of a political declaration on issues related to migration and the European Convention on Human Rights, and a new recommendation on migrant smuggling for 2026, in a set of conclusions adopted by all 46 member states. At a conference held...
CDDH held an extraordinary meeting on 13-15 January 2026
The CDDH held an extraordinary meeting on 13-15 January 2026. In the Framework of follow-up to the Informal Ministerial Conference held on 10 December 2025, the CDDH has started the preparation of elements for a political declaration to be adopted at the 135th Session of the Committee of...
Council of Europe holds session on Independent Monitoring Mechanisms at borders
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) organised an online thematic session of the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on Migration (NFPM) focusing on the development of Independent Monitoring Mechanisms (IMMs) at borders. The session brought together member states’ officials,...
Report on first roundtable on fact-based communication on migration
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has released the summary report of the first Roundtable on fact-based communication on migration which was organised by DMR on 7 November this year. The event was held in a hybrid format, gathering more than 120 participants,...
Efficiency through dignity: why Europe’s return policies need human rights
For far too long, the conversation around migration in Europe has been framed as a zero-sum game. We are told we must choose between a system that is “tough” and one that respects human rights. In recent years, I have watched this false choice take centre stage in the political discourse, with...
New Chair and new mandate for PACE Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC) has been elected as the new Chair of the Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). An experienced Italian Senator, Ms Zampa has been an active member of the committee for...
Meeting with the PACE General Rapporteur on European Migration and Asylum Policies
On 27 January, the Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Gianluca Esposito, held a meeting with Lord German, PACE General Rapporteur on European Migration and Asylum Policies. They exchanged information on the Council of Europe’s action in the field of...
Updated list of European Court of Human Rights migration-related cases pending execution
The Division on Migration and Refugees has published an updated List of all cases pending execution concerning migration, prepared by the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The document provides an overview of judgments and decisions of the Court...
Human rights in migration: Division on Migration and Refugees and Frontex meet in Strasbourg
On 22 January, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) held a meeting in Strasbourg with the Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer as part of their longstanding cooperation and regular exchanges. The meeting between the Head of the DMR, Nikos Sitaropoulos, and the Frontex Fundamental Rights...
Division on Migration and Refugees takes part in Global Refugee Forum Progress Review
A delegation of the Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review meeting held in Geneva. During the meeting, the Head of the DMR, Nikos Sitaropoulos, updated participants on the Council of Europe’s implementation...
Contribution to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants
The Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law has submitted a contribution to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants in response to his call of 21 November 2025 in view of the preparation of a report on the externalisation of migration governance. The submission...
New thematic paper on ensuring a human rights–compliant end to refugee status
The Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has released a new thematic paper, Ensuring a Human Rights-Compliant End to Refugeehood through Integration, Naturalisation or Voluntary Repatriation, which analyses the legal standards and human rights safeguards that must guide any...
CPT publishes reports on Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina
In December 2025, the CPT published the report on its April 2025 ad hoc visit to Cyprus, together with the response of the Cypriot authorities. The visit focused inter alia on the treatment and conditions of detention at the First Reception Centre of Pournara, where the CPT noted significant...
Focus on rights of children in migration context
As part of the Joint European Union-Council of Europe Child-friendly Justice Project - Children's Rights, multidisciplinary professionals gathered at the High Council of Justice in Brussels in November 2025 for a capacity-building session focused on the rights of children in migration context....
Armenian communities addressing the needs of refugees through grant-funded initiatives
In the framework of the Congress’ “Support to Communities Hosting Refugees in Armenia” project, four Armenian municipalities (Byureghavan, Martuni, Tumanyan and Vedi) successfully completed grant-funded initiatives, improving local participation and access to social services for the refugee...
Supporting front-line professionals and civil servants in implementing effective guardianship for children in the context of migration
On 23–24 January 2026, the Council of Europe project “Protecting the Rights of Children in Armenia” held a capacity-building session on effective guardianship for children, including unaccompanied and separated children in the context of migration. The two-day training equipped 20 participants,...