EuroMed Rights - 10/02/2025

The public inquiry into the tragedy of November 24, 2021 began on Monday March 3, with Judge Ross Cranston presiding. On that day, 33 migrants attempting to reach the UK found themselves in distress at sea, without help being sent despite their appeals. The toll was tragic, with 27 drowned and four missing.
On the weekend of March 1 to 2, 2025, the French marine rescue services, under the authority of the Préfecture Maritime de la Manche et de la Mer du Nord, carried out four operations to rescue 24 people from boats in difficulty, mainly off the Bay of the Somme.
On Wednesday February 26, against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria, French Prime Minister François Bayrou convened a meeting of part of his government to discuss measures to “regain control of migratory flows”. He expressed his intention to “re-examine” the 1968 agreements with Algeria, which govern the residence and working conditions of Algerians in France.
On Tuesday February 25, in Ouistreham, a man from Sudan tried to reach the ferry gangway by jumping into 6-degree water. When he reached the boarding quay, he collapsed and was subsequently hospitalized in a state of severe hypothermia.
On Thursday February 20, a bill to prohibit marriages when one of the parties is in France illegally was debated in the Senate. The bill has the backing of French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.
On February 15, off the coast of Calais, a boat sank, killing one person. The other 70 people on board were rescued and brought back to port. Tragedy follows tragedy in the English Channel: a total of 5 people died trying to reach the United Kingdom.
On February 13, the courts ruled that the French state must reimburse 836,000 euros to the Basque local authority, which had opened a reception center for migrants during the summer of 2018. The court found a “proven and prolonged” failure to welcome migrants.
On February 12, Jean-Noël Barrot French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs stated that Syrian nationals would be able to “travel to Syria on a transitional basis” without losing their international protection status. However, the situation remains unclear, as Ofpra (French office for the protection of refugees and stateless persons )has yet to issue an official statement on the subject.
On February 12, five hypothermic men aged between 18 and 35 were transferred to hospital after attempting to reach the UK. Rescuers intervened while they were crossing the Channel and took care of a total of 46 people from Syria, Eritrea and Yemen.

10/02/2025 – 06/03/2025

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