Survivors of the February 26 shipwreck off Steccato di Cutro in the southern Calabria region and a 17-year-old Pakistani national accused of smuggling have appeared in court.

Joint efforts to tackle irregular migration - in particular along the Balkan route - was one of the central themes discussed by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a visit to Croatia and Slovenia last week.

Germany is said to be considering whether it can resume sending Afghans who commit crimes or pose a threat to society back to their homeland. According to German newspaper reports the government is under pressure to re-start deporta1

Hundreds of refugees protested in Athens on Saturday to mark their opposition to the Greek government's migration policy. Migrants held up banners accusing the government of having "blood on your hands."