BORDER MANAGEMENT Twelve Member States call for walls at EU external borders Twelve EU Member States have addressed a joint letter to the European Commission, calling for amendments to the Schengen Borders Code, to allow for the construction of walls at the EU external borders as a tool to fight against irregular migration. The signatories further call for the walls to be funded by the EU budget. The letter follows tensions with Belarus as the country has been allowing migrants to cross its territory and reach the borders of neighbouring EU countries. The European Network Against Racism has denounced this latest attempt to further legitimise violence against migrants. Violence against migrants at Lithuania’s borders increase In the first week of October, Frontex reported 14 collective expulsions from Lithuania, while indicating the EU agency itself had not been involved in the forced removals. In more recent declarations, Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri hinted at the possibility that violations could be even higher. Frontex chief failed to comment about the possibility of suspending the agency’s operations in Lithuania, which EU law foresees in case of serious fundamental rights abuses. The EU’s border agency presence in Lithuania has recently increased to 126 officers. See our blog for more information on the current situation in Lithuania. European Human Rights Commissioner calls on states to protect people fleeing Afghanistan The Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe has called on Member States to guarantee the respect of Afghans’ human rights. In particular, the Commissioner highlighted the need to protect people in vulnerable situations, and ensure that the fight against irregular migration does not interfere with safeguarding human rights and offering protection to Afghans already in the Member States territories. The Commissioner further endorses the resolution passed by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly which calls Member States to respect the principle of non-refoulement, ensure safe pathways, introduce humanitarian visas, and re-evaluate asylum applications from people who have already fled from Afghanistan. Human rights organisations call on Cyprus to end illegal pushbacks EuroMed Rights, KISA and other civil human rights organisations are calling on Cyprus to end pushbacks, to facilitate family reunification procedures and increase regular pathways and humanitarian corridors. The calls follow recent cases of illegal pushbacks of Syrian nationals to Lebanon, including cases of family separation. In one instance, a pregnant mother was separated from her two children and her husband, who were pushed back to Lebanon at the end of August. European Council adopts visa restrictions against The Gambia The EU Council has adopted visa restrictions against the Gambia in retaliation against the country’s “insufficient cooperation” on readmissions. By further restricting access to regular pathways to Europe, it is likely that this kind of measure will only increase irregular migration from the Gambia. Following proposals from the European Commission, the Council is currently discussing similar measures against Bangladesh and Iraq. Italian court condemns ship captain for violating the principle of non-refoulement The Court of Naples has sentenced the Asso 28 ship captain to one year in jail for delivering 101 migrants to the Libyan coast guard in 2018. The Asso 28 had first rescued the migrants at sea, but then proceeded to hand them over to the Libyan authorities, disregarding calls from search and rescue crew Open Arms. This is the first time that such a verdict has been issued in Europe.