BVMN Monthly Report - May 2025: Detention

This is the first of a series of thematic reports, where we will look into overarching themes affecting people on the move across Europe.

This report looks into the detention conditions and practices faced by people on the move in multiple countries in Europe, in the context of increasing externalisation and securitisation of borders by the EU and its member states. While these practices are examined in relation to existing national and international legislations in order to highlight the states’ lack of accountability, BVMN is against the use of immigration detention in all circumstances.

BVMN is a network of watchdog organisations active in the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, Poland and France including Rigardu, Mobile Info Team, Collective Aid, Blindspots, Pushback Alarm Austria, I Have Rights, Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria, Mission Wings, We Are Monitoring, InfoPark, Legal Centre Lesvos and Human Rights Observers. Combining insights from these different members and other partners, such as Glocal Roots (Greece), this month’s report covers, among other things:

• Overview of the detention/deportation facilities in Serbia
• Lukavica Detention Centre in Bosnia-Herzegovina
• A case study of Vordernberg Detention Centre in Austria
• Prolonged and illegal use of detention in police stations in Greece
• CCACs in Vastria, Samos and Kos
• Overview of the detention situation in Turkey
• Systemic failures and inhumane conditions persist in Harran Temporary Accommodation Centre in Turkey
• CRAs: Towards a carceralisation of administrative detention in France