A/67/299 of migrants. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that migration is being considered by those two high-level multilateral forums. A. Engagement with the Human Rights Council 10. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur undertook his first country mission to Albania, from 5 to 13 December 2011. The report was submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twentieth session in June 2012 (see A/HRC/20/24/Add.1, annex). The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank the Government of Albania for its positive response to his report. 11. The Special Rapporteur submitted his first thematic report to the Human Rights Council at the same session (A/HRC/20/24). The subject of the report, the detention of migrants in an irregular situation, was selected given the increasing tendency of States to engage in this practice, and in the light of the wide range of human rights impacts that detention has on detainees. The Special Rapporteur thanks all Member States who participated in the interactive dialogue and hopes that his recommendations will be taken up by States when considering their policies and programmes regarding the detention of migrants, in particular the principle that freedom should be the rule and detention the exception. B. Regional thematic study: management of the external borders of the European Union and its impact on the human rights of migrants 12. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur decided to dedicate the first year of his mandate to a regional thematic study on the management of the external borders of the European Union, focusing on the Mediterranean region. The Special Rapporteur is acutely aware of the increasing political attention on migration within Europe. In particular, he has observed the focus on border management by the European Union, in the context of the Schengen free-movement area, and the impact on the human rights of those migrants attempting to enter the European Union. 13. The study, developed in consultation with the European Union and relevant Member States, had the objective of assessing the progress made as well as the obstacles and challenges which remain in protecting and promoting the rights of migrants, paying particular attention to the human rights of migrants in an irregular situation. The Special Rapporteur will examine the European Union directives and national policies in place with respect to visa regimes and border control and will also analyse important bilateral mobility partnerships established between European Union and non-European Union countries as they affect border management, and the implications of such partnerships for the human rights of migrants. He will also investigate management policies and practices, interception practices, including on land and at sea, detention regimes and conditions, and returns and readmissions. 14. Thus, in April and May 2012, the Special Rapporteur visited Vienna and Brussels where he held consultations with the key European Union institutions responsible for protecting and promoting the rights of migrants, including, among others, the European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs, the Directorate- 4 12-46071