Updated handbook on European asylum, borders and immigration law

This 2026 update of the handbook:

• reflects key legal developments since the previous edition in 2020 and provides clear, accessible guidance on EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), alongside other Council of Europe (CoE) standards;
• takes into account major changes across the European legal landscape, including the adoption of the 2024 EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which introduces wide-ranging reforms to EU asylum and migration rules. It also reflects recent developments in EU legislation on legal migration and border management;
• incorporates important case law from Europe's two apex courts. The Court of Justice of the European Union - in its ever-expanding case law - has further clarified how EU rules on asylum, borders and migration should be interpreted and applied in practice. In parallel, the ECtHR has likewise delivered key judgments shaping the scope of rights protection under the ECHR in the migration context.

The FRA-ECtHR handbook provides an overview of the European legal standards relevant to asylum, borders and immigration. It ensures more consistent application of EU and CoE legal standards at national level and supports the effective protection of fundamental rights in the implementation of migration and asylum policies across Europe.

The handbook is intended for lawyers, judges, prosecutors, border guards, immigration officials and others working with national authorities, as well as national human rights institutions and non-governmental organisations.

The 2026 edition of the handbook is currently available in English. Versions in Greek, German, French and Italian will become available in the coming months. All EU languages will be covered in due course.