02/12/2024 – 17/12/2024
- Two new bilateral deals are about to be signed between the EU and Jordan and Morocco respectively. The one with Jordan is expected to be signed at the end of January, while the one with Morocco will follow later. Migration is expected to be an important part of both deals.
- On 13 December, members of the Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted a Council Position on a proposed directive setting minimum rules to prevent migrant smuggling. The law would replace the current EU framework, which dates from 2002, and provide common ground on definitions and sections across member states. Civil society has raised several concerns especially due to the risk of criminalization against people on the move and NGOs.
- On 11 December the European Commission adopted a new support package for Member States bordering Russia and Belarus, with an additional €70 million to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunications networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone incursions. Furthermore, in the case of the “instrumentalization” of migrants at the EU’s borders, member states will be able to restrict the exercise of certain fundamental rights, such as the right to asylum, in exceptional cases.
- On 9 December, the European Commission said it was too early to decide on the status of Syrian refugees after the fall of the Assad regime and that Syria wasn’t yet a safe country to return to.
- On 4 December, during a Human Rights Committee debate, it was said that specific human rights conditions would be set for future budget support with Tunisia and that the EU would monitor the situation closely before disbursing additional funds to Tunisia.