Polish miners steadfastly blocked the overhaul of the coal industry for decades, but further delay has become too costly. BIRN reports the backstory of a landmark deal with the unions that signals the last days of the industry, and looks at what the future holds for these communities.

The European Commission is proposing, as part of its new migration pact, to create independent monitoring mechanisms to investigate allegations of migrant rights abuses. Central and Southeast European member states have reasons to resist this.

Rights organisations are dismayed by the Greek government’s decision to close two model facilities on Lesbos – whose exemplary conditions differed markedly from the infamous, now destroyed, Moria camp.