WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE UK uk United Kingdom - STATEWATCH - Bi-weekly bulletin Issue 26/06.

 

View this email in browser ­ Donate Bi-weekly bulletin Issue 26/06 ­ welcome Dear Statewatcher, Yesterday, the European Parliament endorsed a compromise text of the deportations Regulation.  We released initial documents on the deportation Regulation in the May 2025 issue of our Outsourcing Borders bulletin. In September, we warned that a later text, produced by the Danish Council presidency, showed that member states had found new depths to sink to in their mistreatment of foreign nationals.  As the text has progressed, this has remained true. Our networks and partners have campaigned against the latest versions on the basis that they would 'bring ICE-style raids, detention centres, and mass deportations' to Europe. We are sickened that the proposed Regulation hasn't improved. Instead, it embeds a far-right approach to migration further into law. Yet, I'm also sad to say that this result was not unexpected. For years, we have seen policymakers consistently expand police and immigration powers. "ICE-style raids" have already been embraced, if not encouraged, by those upholding Fortress Europe. Detention centres have long been used, whether in the EU or externalised. And tracking Frontex chartered flights has shown us the alarming consistency of mass deportations—be they "voluntary" or, more often, otherwise. All this is not to say we should lose hope. We can and must continue to push for policy to begin shifting in a more humane and rights-based direction. And, we must also stay connected to this history. We must continue to stay ahead of policies and combat the secrecy states use to hide the slow degradation of our rights. A few weeks ago, on Chris Jones' last day as Director, we sat down for a chat about his last 15 years at Statewatch, and what he learned as its Director. This clip is from a part of the conversation I have been thinking about a lot today. If we want to create change, we need to identify and combat these policies at their source: when they are just ideas bubbling up in meetings, presidential notes and other obscure policy documents. At Statewatch, we will continue to play this role. If it helps cheer your week, as it did ours, we will leave you with this rather snarky note we recently received from the EU Council. It represents our promise to you that we are doing everything we can to stay ahead and keep you informed. As always, if you want to channel your frustration with the current state of the world, I would encourage you to become a Friend of Statewatch. Even if it is only a small amount, regular contributions are what allow us to keep up our "systematic monitoring of virtually all documents" that states try to keep hidden.  And yes, we are already investigating which documents we may have missed… In solidarity, Alamara Khwaja Bettum Statewatch Director make a donation in € >> make a donation in £ >> ­ what we're watching This is our bi-weekly round up of all the important news, events, and resources we've come across over the last two weeks. Find this resource useful? If so, please consider making a donation to support us. borders and frontiers ASGI wins appeal guaranteeing right to access centers in Albania Vie di fuga >> EU healthcare workers say they ‘refuse to be instruments’ in deportation plans Guardian >> How ‘stopping the boats’ kills Border Forensics >> MEP Maria Walsh: Why I’m voting against Europe’s ‘return hubs’ policy The Journal >> coercion and control NGO founder arrested over Greek warrant for smuggling and espionage  Greek City Times >> crime and collusion Border Labs how universities power europe’s border regime Transnational Institute >> French judge probes former EU border chief for complicity in crimes against humanity LeMonde >> discrimination and racism Revealed: a crypto billionaire’s political base hosting ‘anti-woke’ and rightwing activists in Westminster Guardian >> Racial profiling practices at EU internal borders Picum >> peace and war The new ‘Brussels effect’ — learning to be silent on US-Israel to keep funding  EUObserver >> secrecy and transparency Irídia denounces widespread judicial obstruction in Pegasus spyware investigations due to failure to execute European Investigation Orders Iridia >> Kemi Badenoch Accepted £7,500 Retreat from Chair of Climate Denial Group DeSmog >> surveillance and snooping Home Office use of AI in asylum cases could be unlawful, legal experts warn Independent >> Analysis of the Disclosures following the ICO Enforcement Notice on GPS Tagging of Migrants Privacy International >> New Report Examines the Role of EU Funding and Export of High-Risk AI Systems in Escalating Human Rights Violations in Palestine and the Region 7amleh >> AI predictive policing models: Dutch police and Frontex test concept of “digital twins” Matthias Monroy >> Europe Is Looking To Water Down AI Protections. It Should Reinforce Them. Tech Policy Press >> Digital technology use by labour authorities and migrant workers’ rights PICUM >> Legal Opinion: The use of Artificial Intelligence tools in asylum cases Open Rights Group >> ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Statewatch 88 Fleet St, EC4Y 1DH, London