Migration News Sheet Summary July 2009

Issued on 10/07/2009

Summary

Every month the Migration Policy Group produces the Migration News Sheet, an information bulletin on immigration, refugees and ethnic minorities with updates on migration law and policies, news on irregular migration, asylum, racism and discrimination at the EU and across countries in Europe.

The Migration News Sheet is available by subscription only

Description

Below is a small selection of articles in the July 2009 issue:

MNS Summary July 2009

Migration Policies/Law

NETHERLANDS: Immigration to the Netherlands reached a record high last year
Around 140,000 immigrants entered the Netherlands in 2008, the first time that the country reported positive net migration in six years. The immigrants who arrived last year were mainly "imported" spouses and east Europeans...to read more, subscribe here

EU: 'Metock ruling': European Commission's guidelines to be published soon
BELGIUM: Another Belgian Ambassador implicated in issuing visas of convenience for Thai dancers
DENMARK: Police chiefs blame Schengen's absence of internal border for aggravation of criminality and women trafficking
UK: UK has turned into a 'laughing stock' for academics and cultural artists

Irregular migration

SPAIN: Meteorological conditions and not state of the Spanish economy dictates migrant flows
Once again it is being shown that good meteorological conditions and not the state of the Spanish economy and employment prospects influence the movement of migrants in search of a better life. They do not consult financial bulletins, but rather weather reports...to read more, subscribe here

UK: Study suggests UK migrant amnesty worth £3 billion to the economy
The Conservative Mayor of London, Boris JOHNSON, has welcomed the report of a study which he commissioned to look into the issue of irregular migrants and the consequences of having an amnesty. Carried out by the London School of Economics, the report claimed that an amnesty would not lead to a rise in migration, but would raise spending on welfare services and housing and add up  £3 billion to the economy...to read more, subscribe here

BELGIUM: End of hunger strike after 79 days
GREECE: Opposition Socialists present an eight-point plan for 'zero illegal migration'
SPAIN: Video footage of three policemen maltreating a Senegalese before his forced repatriation has caused considerable embarrassment for the Government

Asylum/Refugees

EU: Libya asks EU for 'billions and billions' of Euros to combat irregular migration
On 4-5 June 2009, at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, Ministers discussed Tripoli's request for some US$1 billion (roughly 700 million Euros) worth of technical assistance and equipment in exchange for more collaboration in preventing the departure of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers from the shores of Libya to the southern EU Member States...to read more, subscribe here

UK: UK Home Office spent more than £1m to repatriate rejected asylum-seeking family
According to a report by the Children's Society, the Home Office spent more than £1 million on a project that was supposed to result in the repatriation of 260 rejected asylum-seeking families. In the end, the scheme dealt with just 13 rejected asylum-seeking families and only one left the UK...to read more, subscribe here

EU: European Council accepts burden sharing principle on voluntary basis
EU: EU agreement in principle to accept Guantanamo detainees - conditions more severe than those governing resettlement of 15 Palestinians of the Church of the Nativity
FRANCE: Airport procedure: NGO accuses authorities of expelling Tamil woman before court could hear appeal
NETHERLANDS: Dutch Refugee Council urges Government to exempt refugees from integration exam
UK: 9 Law Lords unanimously rule that control order system applied to suspected 'terrorists' unfair because persons concerned are told nothing

Racism/Discrimination

UK: Most of 115 Romanians subjected to racist attacks decide to return to home country

Other Issues

EU: Another stark warning of massive migration due to global warming
BELGIUM: First parliamentarian with an Islamic veil
FRANCE: Call for committee of inquiry into wearing the burqa
GERMANY: Federal Minister agrees to principle of Islam on equal footing with Christianity, but conditions must be satisfied first
ITALY: Italy 'too African' for Prime Minister BERLUSCONI
SWEDEN: Proposal to end exemptions from lessons in swimming and sex in Swedish schools
UK: Electoral success of far-right British National Party due to immigration influx and lower wages accepted by migrants