PICUM report: Criminalisation of solidarity with migrants in the EU

When refugees fleeing to Greece found themselves in mortal danger at sea, the phone number of Tommy Olsen, founder of the Greek humanitarian and watchdog organisation “Aegean Boat Report,” was often one of their last lifelines. On March 16, 2026, that line went silent when Olsen was arrested at his home in Norway under a European arrest warrant issued by Greece, simply for rescuing refugees.

Unfortunately, Olsen’s case is not unique: according to PICUM’s latest report, at least 110 people faced legal proceedings in the EU in 2025 for assisting refugees. They were charged for attempting to rescue people in distress at sea or at EU borders, participating in acts of civil disobedience, providing legal assistance or simply information, or supplying food, water, and/or shelter to refugees. The report notes that the majority of those facing legal proceedings provided assistance in Greece (50), Poland (20), Italy (19), and France (14). The report also highlights additional cases from Latvia, Malta, Slovenia, and Cyprus.

Organisations collaborating within the WING project — including the Hungarian Helsinki Committee — contributed to the collection and monitoring of the cases featured in the report, with the aim of promoting the protection and empowerment of civil society actors.

The report is available at this link.