MEPs and civil society demand more EU action to save lives at sea On 13 July, the EU Parliament passed a resolution on search and rescue (SAR) that calls for international investigations of major SAR incidents, political and financial support for national and Frontex initiatives and an EU SAR mission. The resolution also asks that deals with third countries are more transparent and that allegations of human rights violations be assessed. On the same day, civil society organisations including Médecins Sans Frontières, ASGI, Emergency, SOS Humanity and Oxfam Italy submitted a complaint to the EU Commission to examine the compatibility with EU law of the Italian authorities’ practice of assigning distant ports to disembark survivors from NGO SAR vessels. The NGOs denounce these measures as not in line with fundamental EU principles and norms as well as international, conventional and customary maritime law. EU acknowledges Libyan coast guard infiltrated by criminal groups, delivers new boats EU Commissioner for Migration Ylva Johansson acknowledged that criminal groups are infiltrating the Libyan coast guard, soon after handing over new patrol boats. The EU has provided boats and funding, with some €100 million estimated to have been given to the Libyan coast guard, but there are concerns about the transparency of these funds and their use. The EU's efforts to support the coast guard's activities are part of a broader strategy to curb migration and step up border control, despite a UN fact-finding mission linked the coast guard to crimes against humanity. EU Ombudsman launches investigation into Frontex’s role in Pylos shipwreck The EU Ombudsman launched an investigation into the role of the EU's border agency, Frontex, in the sinking of the Adriana trawler on June 14, resulting in over 500 deaths off the Greek coast. The investigation aims to clarify accountability for the tragedy and assess Frontex's actions. Frontex had spotted the trawler and alerted Greek and Italian authorities but returned to base due to low fuel. The Ombudsman further highlighted her intention to investigate the EU's recent migration deal with Tunisia. New EU-Tunisia deal to curb migration On 16 July, the European Commission signed a deal with the Tunisian government, whereby it pledges to provide Tunisia with €105 million for migration management, including preventing irregular departures, increasing the return of undocumented Tunisians living in the EU, and delivering equipment to the Tunisian coastguard. The memorandum does not feature any references to persecutions of people from sub-Saharan Africa in the country nor recent mass deportations in desert areas near Libya and Algeria. Italy hosts international conference to fight “irregular migration” Leaders from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries gathered in Rome for an international conference on migration hosted by the Italian government. The conference initiated the "Rome process," which is set to address the causes of "irregular migration flows" in the Mediterranean, combat human trafficking, and encourage economic development in countries of departure. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the recent deal with Tunisia as a blueprint for similar cooperation with other countries. UK court strikes down Rwanda deal On 29 June, the UK Court of Appeals struck down the government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing (the “Rwanda deal”), as it found that Rwanda cannot be considered a "safe third country." The policy, introduced in 2022, targets people who try to reach the UK without valid travel or residence documents. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to challenge this ruling in the Supreme Court, while the Rwandan government remains committed to the deal. UK: Parliament adopts Illegal Migration Bill On 18 July, the UK Parliament adopted the government’s Illegal Migration Bill, which is now set to become law. The bill makes it the home secretary's duty to detain and deport anyone who arrives in the UK without valid travel or residence documents, even when they seek asylum. Almost 300 organisations from across the UK denounce the devastating impact on people’s lives of this bill. The UNHCR and UN Human Rights Office criticised the bill, saying it will “extinguish access to asylum for anyone who arrives in the UK irregularly”. The bill risks breaching multiple international human rights treaties including the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights while shielding the government from accountability. Attempting to implement this law will mean mass detention in what is almost certain to be squalid, unsuitable “accommodation”; the denial of rights to people who are simply seeking safety and a better life; and fuelling the continued demonisation of migrants and racism. Saudi Arabia: hundreds of Ethiopian migrants killed by border guards A new report by Human Rights Watch reveals that between March 2022 and June