This Inform, covering developments across 22 EMN Member Countries, as well as Norway and Serbia, explores the use of alternatives to providing in-kind housing for applicants for international protection between January 2020 and October 2025. It examines how such measures were implemented while respecting legal obligations and supporting applicants’ autonomy, addressing their vulnerability, and promoting their integration into society. The Inform focuses on financial allowances and vouchers as alternatives to accommodation provided directly by the state and highlights national approaches and innovative solutions identified across participating countries.

This Inform examines how international protection applicants and accommodation centres are distributed across 23 EMN Member Countries and Serbia, and how such policies are governed and managed. It compares approaches, criteria and mechanisms used by different countries, highlighting both challenges and good practices. The study also looks at how local communities and stakeholders are informed and engaged in the process. Finally, it identifies opportunities for further collaboration to support effective reception and integration.

This inform provides insights into the governance and processes of accommodation for applicants for international protection in EMN Member and Observer Countries. This governance of accommodation is crucial for responding to challenges, such as fluctuating asylum applications, limited housing capacity, and community relations.

This Inform explores good practices and challenges in the coordination between different stakeholders and between different stages of return and reintegration of third-country nationals in EMN Member and Observer Countries. It explains how improved coordination among stakeholders, enhanced institutional frameworks, and effective national strategies can facilitate a consistent and structured approach to return and reintegration across Europe.

Most EMN Member and Observer Countries reported pressures and challenges in housing applicants for international protection between 2017 and 2021. This inform highlights the challenges encountered and best practices for responding to the emergency.

What bilateral readmission agreements exist between EU Member States, Norway and third countries to facilitate the return of migrants staying irregularly on the EU territory? This EMN inform aims to map these agreements and understand how they work.

What incentives and motives exist that impact a third-country national’s decision to depart voluntarily? This EMN inform focuses on the issue of voluntary departures from EU Member States and Norway, in compliance with - or in anticipation of - a return decision.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on return procedures had been significant across EU countries as well as OECD countries in and outside Europe since March 2020. This Inform looks into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on voluntary and forced return procedures and on policy responses. 

These three EMN Informs look into i.a. possible approaches for return counselling, support for return counsellors, and information provision for the return of migrants.

This EMN Inform summarizes the main findings of the EMN study “The effectiveness of return in EU Member States: challenges and good practices linked to EU rules and standards”.

This Inform presents an overview of the EMN Study on “Challenges and practices for establishing the identity of third-country nationals in migration procedures”. 

This EMN Inform summarizes the main findings of the EMN study "The Illegal Employment of Third-Country Nationals in the EU".

This EMN Inform summarises the main findings of the EMN Study "The Return of Rejected Asylum Seekers in Belgium and in the EU: Challenges and Good Practices".

This EMN Inform provides an overview of the results of the review of 87 programmes implemented by 23 Member States and Norway to assist migrants to return and to support their reintegration.

This EMN Inform summarises the main findings of the EMN Study "Dissemination of Information on Voluntary Return: how to reach irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities".

This EMN Inform provides information concerning EMN national Contact Points’ practices on return and reintegration to Western Africa.

This Inform summarizes the main findings of the corresponding EMN study aimed at analyzing Member States’ use of entry bans and readmission agreements as the EU main policy measures to implement effective return policies

This EMN Inform provides information concerning Member States’ practices on return and reintegration to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This Inform summarizes the main findings of the corresponding EMN study aimed at analyzing Member States’ use of detention and alternatives to detention in the context of immigration policies

This EMN Inform summarizes the key findings of the corresponding EMN study which aimed to identify good practices and mechanisms to allow for flexible and efficient reception facilities whilst maintaining the quality of reception conditions.

This EMN Inform provides an overview of current aspects of return in EU Schengen Member States and Norway, including statistics.

This EMN Inform provides a short overview of the main developments that took place in the EU in 2011 in response to increasing migratory pressure and specifically in relation to the six strategic priority areas of the EU Action on Migratory Pressure.