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The European Court of Justice has ruled that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic did not meet their legal obligations under EU law when they decided against participating in a mandatory relocation system for refugees in 2015. Moreover, Poland and the Czech Republic failed to fulfill a voluntary system designed to relocate 40,000 asylum seekers. EU Commission will present a new Migration Pact after Easter.

Source: Euractiv

The Moscow Mayor’s Office has launched a phone application to monitor coronavirus patients who are isolating and recovering at home. The application has been criticised because it raises many digital privacy issues.

Source: Meduza

Millions of Roma living in poor conditions in Europe are facing an increase in racism and discrimination because of the coronavirus. The governments in Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have implemented even more stigmatising measures on the Roma community, sometimes using force, instead of improving their already substandard living conditions and providing aid.

Source: Deutsche Welle

The Danish government is forcing 29 low-income neighbourhoods that it has classified as ‘ghettos’ to cut the proportion of their public housing to no more than 40%. The resulting mass evictions are happening as part of a government plan to deal with the ‘ghetto list’ and to supposedly increase immigrant communities’ integration in Danish society. The plan has received a lot of backlash, including from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Source: The Guardian

The Hungarian government has proposed a draft law that would prevent citizens from legally changing their gender. EU lawmakers and the Council of Europe criticise the bill and warn that it will cause greater discrimination towards transgender people.

Source: Euractiv

Moscow residents can now register with City Hall to receive digital passes required to drive or ride anywhere in the capital or its surrounding region. The new digital passes will be required, beginning on Wednesday, April 15. They are necessary only for vehicular travel.

Source: Meduza

French authorities have released inmates from overcrowded prisons as part of efforts to deal with the coronavirus outbreak but others have seen their detentions extended as trial dates are suspended. The International Prison Observatory alleges that prisoners' rights are being curtailed as authorities implement new emergency rules to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: France24

The UK home secretary Priti Patel has refused pleas to accept more unaccompanied children from the refugee camps on the Greek islands. Holding facilities on all five Aegean isles are currently six times over capacity, coronavirus outbreak in the camps, where social distancing is impossible for many, could prompt a public health emergency.

Source: The Guardian

The Russian Investigative Committee said it will open a criminal case into the recent removal of a controversial statue of a Soviet World War II marshal in the Czech capital, Prague. The committee would investigate the alleged "defiling of symbols of Russia's military glory”, although it has no legal jurisdiction in the Czech Republic.

Source: RFE/RL