What we work on

We work on various policy areas and policy files that affect the lives of undocumented people and people with precarious residence status in Europe, as well as people who wish to come to Europe. Find below related publications, videos, and other resources.

© Picture: Katja Tähjä

Work areas

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EU Advocacy

We work on a range of policy areas that affect the lives of undocumented people and people with precarious residence status in Europe, as well as people who wish to come to Europe. Click on the work areas to find our latest publications, videos, and other resources.

Children, Families and Youth Criminalisation Detention and Deportations Digital Technologies Gender Equality Health Housing and Anti-Poverty Justice and Policing Regularisation Work

Much of our work addresses specific EU laws and policies that affect – directly or indirectly – the lives of undocumented people in Europe, and of people who wish to  come to Europe. Click on the files below to find out relevant publications, videos, and other resources.

AI Act

The Artificial Intelligence Act regulates the use of artificial intelligence in the European Union, across fields, including migration.

Press release: European Parliament endorses protections against AI in migration Joint statement: how the EU AI Act fails migrants and people on the move

Anti-trafficking Directive

The Anti-Trafficking Directive sets out measures to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings and to protect its victims. The European Commission proposed a revision in December 2022.

Joint statement

EU Migration Pact

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is a policy document that sets out the EU’s agenda on migration for the years to come and a package of legislative proposals and recommendations. The Pact was presented by the European Commission in September 2020.

FAQ - EU Pact on Migration and Asylum FAQ - Non-refoulement Brief on Immigration detention and de facto detention Brief: More detention, fewer safeguards PICUM Recommendations on Child rights in the Asylum and Migration Pact Brief on the Commission's push to link asylum and return procedures
Screening Regulation

The Screening Regulation introduces a ‘pre-entry’ screening of third country nationals at the EU’s external borders.

PICUM Recommendations Brief: Help is no crime
Asylum Procedures Regulation

The Asylum Procedures Regulation establishes a common procedure for international protection in the European Union.

PICUM Recommendations
Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management

The Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management aims at replacing the current Dublin Regulation and introducing rules on responsibility sharing for examining international protection applications.

PICUM Recommendations
Crisis Regulation

The Crisis Regulation  provides specific derogations to the asylum rules in situations of crisis, risk of crisis or force majeure.

PICUM Recommendations
Recast Return Directive

The Recast Return Directive defines common standards and procedures in Member States for deporting third-country nationals in an irregular situation.

Report on Barriers to return Guidance to protect children's rights in return policies Report on Regularisation mechanisms and programmes
Eurodac

The Eurodac Regulation establishes a database of biometric data for identifying third-country nationals or stateless people in an irregular situation and for law enforcement purposes.

PICUM Recommendations on safeguarding children's rights in the Migration and Asylum Pact proposals

European Care Strategy

The European Care Strategy is a non-binding policy document that aims to strengthen long-term care and early childhood education and care.

Joint recommendations PICUM Recommendations on access to early childhood education

European Child Guarantee

The European Child Guarantee is an EU-wide policy wanting to prevent and combat social exclusion of children, including undocumented children, by guaranteeing effective access to a set of key services. These are free early childhood education and care, free education (including school-based activities and at least one healthy meal each school day), free healthcare, healthy nutrition, and adequate housing. It dovetails with the EU’s broader objective to lift 5 million children out of poverty by 2030.

PICUM Brief on access to early childhood education and care for undocumented children and families Blog: EU Council adopts Child Guarantee that benefits undocumented children

Istanbul convention

The Istanbul Convention is a human rights treaty of the Council of Europe that aims to combat violence against women and domestic violence.

PICUM Fact sheet

Long Term Residents’ Directive

The Long Term Residents’ Directive defines conditions concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents in the European Union.

PICUM Recommendations

Schengen Borders Code

The Schengen Borders Code defines the rules governing border controls at the internal and external borders of the Schengen area.

PRESS RELEASE: New Schengen Borders Code to legitimise racial profiling Joint statement Press release: Racial profiling key element in the new deal on the Schengen Borders Code

Single Permit Directive

The Single Permit Directive sets out a single application procedure for both residence and work permits for third-country nationals and defines a common set of rights for third-country workers regularly residing in the European Union.

Joint statement on the revision of the directive

Victims’ Rights Directive

The Victims’ Rights Directive sets out minimum rights and standards for protection for victims of crime in the European Union. The European Commission proposed a revision in July 2023.

Guide to the directive PICUM First reactions to the European Commission proposal to revise the Directive Joint Civil Society Position on the proposed directive

Violence against women Directive

The Violence against women Directive foresees provisions to combat violence against women and domestic violence.

Press release: New EU Directive on Violence Against Women leaves out migrant women PICUM Red lines