What?

The project involved the development of a handbook legal professionals on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration. The handbook examines relevant law stemming from two European systems - namely, the European Union and the Council of Europe - and is based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), as well as on relevant EU regulations and directives. European Union legislation and the body of case law by the two European courts are presented in the handbook in an accessible way.

Why?

This project seeks to raise awareness and knowledge amongst legal practitioners of fundamental rights guarantees in the area of asylum, immigration and border control - as European law in these areas is not always readily understood or known. The ECHR and EU law provide an increasingly important framework for protection of the rights of foreigners. In this regard EU legislation relating to asylum, borders and immigration is developing fast, and there is an impressive body of case law by the ECtHR relating, in particular, to Articles 3, 5, 8 and 13 of the ECHR. In parallel, the Court of Justice of the European Union is asked to pronounce itself more with regard to the interpretation of European Union provisions in this field. 

How?

The handbook is intended to assist legal practitioners at national and European level, including lawyers, judges, prosecutors, border guards, immigration officials and others working with national authorities, as well as non-governmental organisations and other bodies that may be confronted with legal questions in any of the areas the handbook sets out to cover. The FRA has and will continue to work with the ECtHR, Frontex, EASO, UNHCR and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) in an effort to ensure that the handbook is used by key actors working in the areas of asylum, borders and immigration. 

This project page was last updated on 20.09.2013.