This EMN Policy Brief examines trends in applications for international protection and irregular movements of third-country national migrants across the EU and Norway. It focuses on the period 2012 - 2016 and – where data is available - up to August 2017. This is an update of the Policy Brief published in December 2015.

This report reviews data relating to migrants' access to information on their rights in 19 reception and detention facilities of 8 EU Member States, including Belgium. It includes recommendations on how to make information provision effective.

This report points to the need for reform in the European asylum system. There is a need for a more balanced distribution of asylum seekers between the Member States and more uniform decision-making on asylum within the EU. The authors argue that a person seeking asylum should have the same chance of being granted asylum irrespective of the country in which the application is made. 

This publication is based on social media research conducted by a small UNHCR team. Between March and December 2016, they issued weekly monitoring reports which have now been compiled into this synopsis.

This briefing provides a short overview of major developments relating to asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention of asylum seekers and content of international protection accros the countries covered by the Asylum Information Database (AIDA).

24 (Member) States provided information on their policies and practices regarding the application of the ‘safe countries of origin’ concept in their procedures for international protection. This ad hoc query was launched by the Dutch and the Estonian Contact Points of the EMN.

We know surprisingly little about how NGOs and asylum lawyers conduct research for asylum claims. To close this gap, Asylos interviewed 20 asylum lawyers and NGO staff in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece and the UK  to understand the challenges of researching evidence, as well as the opportunities for improving the research process. Access the findings in our report

16 (Member) States provided information on their policies and practices regarding the implementation and execution of provisions of EU directives on public order and public security. This ad hoc query was launched by the Dutch Contact Point to the EMN.

Le nombre de demandes d’asile introduites en Belgique en 2016 a diminué de plus de la moitié par rapport à l’année passée et le nombre de décisions prises par le CGRA a atteint un niveau record.