The European Commission has launched the second Annual Migration Management Cycle under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The cycle provides an annual overview of the migration and asylum situation in the EU and identifies pressures on Member States. It includes the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report, a Commission decision determining the migratory situations in Member States, and a proposal for the Annual Solidarity Pool for 2027. Belgium is among the Member States identified as being at risk of migratory pressure.

On 6 November 2026, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted a bill allowing the police, subject to prior authorisation by an investigating judge and under specific conditions, to enter a private residence to apprehend certain third-country nationals subject to an enforceable return decision and considered to pose a danger to public order or national security. The adoption follows several months of parliamentary examination and public debate, with the proposed measure drawing criticism from human rights organisations, legal professionals and civil society organisations.

The EMN Finland 2026 National Conference will bring together policymakers, public authorities, researchers and representatives of organisations to discuss the development of a shared, long-term vision for Finland’s immigration policy. Against the background of demographic change, labour market needs and wider societal challenges, the conference will explore how immigration policy can be better integrated across different policy areas and how a more coherent and efficient immigration administration can be achieved.

This conference will bring together national and European institutions, international organisations and other stakeholders to discuss how to promote the legal employment of foreign workers and strengthen their protection in the labour market. Against the background of growing labour shortages and an increasing reliance on foreign workers in Slovakia, the event will focus on preventing labour exploitation, improving access to protection and developing effective referral and complaint mechanisms. Discussions will also address victim-centred approaches, cooperation between relevant authorities and better access to information on workers' rights and available support.

On 4 November 2026, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen and 11.11.11 published a joint position paper advising the Belgian government against investing in return hubs in third countries. The organisations raise concerns about the human rights implications, diplomatic risks and uncertain effectiveness of this approach. Their position comes amid ongoing discussions in Belgium and at EU level about the possible establishment of such hubs. They instead advocate greater investment in individual guidance, alternatives to detention and sustainable solutions tailored to individual circumstances.

On 27–28 October 2026, the European Migration Network (EMN) participated in the first European Peer-Learning Platform on Alternatives to Detention (ATD), organised by the International Detention Coalition (IDC) in Madrid, Spain. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange practical experiences and approaches to alternatives to immigration detention, a topic of particular relevance to the work of the EMN Return Expert Group (REG).

On 27 October 2026, the European Commission presented proposals to reinforce the mandate, operational capacity and resources of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The proposed changes aim to strengthen the Agency’s support for Member States in managing the EU’s external borders, coordinating returns and responding to crisis situations. The Commission also proposed a separate Regulation to digitalise return, readmission and reintegration procedures. The proposals will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council.

On 21 October 2026, Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt provided an update on the number of applicants for international protection awaiting a place in the reception network and on the reception places still financed by the federal authorities under the Brussels Deal.

According to preliminary data published by Frontex on 19 October 2026, just over 91.000 irregular border crossings into the EU were detected in the first nine months of 2026, a decrease of almost one-third compared with the same period in 2025.

Ahead of EU Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October, the European Commission presented a new strategy to combat trafficking in human beings on 16 October 2026. The strategy sets out six priorities to strengthen prevention, law enforcement and victim protection, addressing emerging challenges such as the use of digital technologies by traffickers, links with organised crime and risks of exploitation in the context of migration and crises.

As of 15 October 2026, Member States can enter a new type of information alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS). The new alert allows information received from non-EU countries and international organisations on third-country nationals suspected of involvement in terrorism or serious crime to be made available to authorities across the countries using the system.

On 14 October 2026, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives’ Committee on the Interior approved in second reading a bill amending the Law of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, settlement and removal of foreign nationals. The bill aims to make Belgium more attractive to highly qualified workers from outside the EU while strengthening safeguards against abuse in labour migration. It also provides for enhanced protection for certain workers who are victims of serious social offences committed by their employers.

On the occasion of the European Day against Trafficking in Human Beings on 18 October, PAG-ASA is organising the fifth edition of its Human Trafficking Awareness Week in Brussels. From 12 to 18 October, a series of activities will raise awareness of the different forms of human trafficking, its impact on victims and the Belgian protection framework. The programme includes a public awareness installation, a documentary screening, professional training sessions and a photographic exhibition.

Trade unions have filed a joint strike notice at Belgium’s closed centres, citing staff shortages, inadequate infrastructure and increasing aggression towards staff. They are calling for better staffing levels, additional resources and improved working conditions. Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt has responded by highlighting measures already taken to address staffing and infrastructure needs.

On 7 October 2026, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives’ Committee on the Interior approved in second reading a bill amending the Law of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, settlement and removal of foreign nationals. The bill would allow, under specific conditions and with authorisation from an investigating judge, home searches to apprehend certain foreign nationals subject to an order to leave the territory. The proposal has raised concerns regarding the protection of the inviolability of the home and fundamental rights.

This national conference will examine the role of civic and language training in supporting the inclusion of third-country nationals in Italy. It will discuss policy and institutional frameworks, experiences from the 2023–2026 programming cycle and practices developed at regional and local level, while also exploring approaches from other EU Member States.

The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its fourth evaluation report on Belgium, covering the period from July 2022 to June 2026. The report examines vulnerabilities to trafficking, measures to prevent and detect them, and the identification, protection and assistance of victims. It also assesses investigations and prosecutions and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in trafficking. GRETA identifies a number of areas where further action is needed to strengthen Belgium’s response to human trafficking.

More than 3.600 people took part in the Refugee Walk organised by Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen on 4 October 2026. Participants walked 20 or 40 kilometres from Brussels or followed a route of their choice. According to the organisation, the event had raised €750.000 by the day of the walk, exceeding its initial target of €500.000. The funds will support Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen’s activities for people seeking protection in Belgium.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled on the examination of applications for international protection lodged by persons who already benefit from temporary protection. It found that EU law does not allow Member States to automatically suspend the examination of such applications for the entire duration of temporary protection. The applicable time limits for examining applications for international protection continue to apply, subject to possible extensions justified by objective reasons.

On 1 October 2026, EU home affairs ministers discussed, among other topics, the overall state of the Schengen area, cooperation with priority non-EU countries on readmission, and measures to strengthen the EU’s migration situational awareness and early warning capabilities. The Council also adopted new rules on return for non-EU nationals who have no right to stay in the EU.

The Samusocial emergency shelter at the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Brussels closed on 30 September 2026, after eight months of operation. The closure results in the loss of 130 emergency accommodation places for single men, reducing the Samusocial's capacity for this group from 370 to 240 places.