This ad hoc query focuses on the early detection and identification of presumed victims of torture or other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in international and temporary protection procedures. It inter alia collects information from EMN Member Countries on guidance and training available to competent authorities, on referrals to medico-legal assessments and use of medico-legal documentation as well as on challenges and good practices in this field.

In response to the growing awareness of the barriers for irregularly staying adult migrants to access higher education, vocational training and employment, the Netherlands sought to map out existing legislation and practices in other EMN Member countries to facilitate this access.

In response to the large influx of Ukrainian refugees, the Estonian Ministry of Culture is looking into setting up new possibilities for e-learning the local language. The objective of this query is to map other EMN Member and Observer Countries’ experience with technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality, to develop an offer of virtual language learning.

Have Member States planned to extend or issue new documents certifying the right of residence to beneficiaries of temporary protection whose certificates/visas/residence permits issued in 2022 are going to expire on 4 March 2023? This ad hoc query explores how Member States will address this, taking into account the large number of Ukrainians concerned.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of 15 November 2022, more than 7.8 million people have left Ukraine in search of safety, arriving primarily in neighbouring European Union (EU) and third countries. These Informs analyse the arrangements European Union (EU) Member States have put in place for accommodation and housing and access to specific services namely social benefits, education, employment, and healthcare for beneficiaries of temporary protection, in the context of the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) (2001/55/EC), triggered in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Are the Member States providing any support measures to Ukrainian citizens wishing to go back to Ukraine on a voluntary basis? This ad hoc query launched by Estonia examines the current measures as well as possible plans, including to develop long-term support measures/programs for Ukrainians who wish to voluntarily go back to Ukraine.

Do Member States grant access to the labour market to family members of international students and, if so, to which family members and under which conditions? This ad hoc query launched by Belgium shows that policies and practices in this matter still vary among Member States.

On 25 April 2022, the EMN published its inform on attracting and retaining international researchers, which provides an overview of the means adopted by Member States to enhance attractiveness for international researchers, as well as the main challenges and best practices that they encountered to admit and retain them.  

This EMN inform outlines approaches, experiences and best practices in monitoring, detecting and addressing the misuse of authorisations to reside in the EU for the purpose of study.

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the ability of international students to enrol in a HEI abroad and to travel to that country to take up studies. How did EU & OECD countries respond? Did they adapt their admission processes? An answer to these and other questions can be found in the Inform.

Attracting students from third countries and facilitating their entry into the national labour market is a priority to the EU. The EMN has published a study on 25 EU countries’ efforts to provide opportunities for international students.

23 (Member) States provided information on how they are currently dealing with some aspects of Directive 2016/801, in particular types of financial resources used by international students, the use of frozen/blocked accounts by international students, and approved/recognised organisations mediating au pairs. This ad-hoc query was launched by the Belgian Contact Point to the EMN.