This ad hoc query identifies which EMN Member Countries foresee an obligation for the employer to secure adequate accommodation for migrant workers, other than seasonal workers. It examines whether this obligation applies to certain types of permits, what criteria make it possible to define adequate housing, what proof is required in this regard and what possible sanctions are foreseen against employers who don't provide adequate housing.
06/12/2023
The Return Expert Group (REG) within the EMN conducted a successful workshop dedicated to advancing multistakeholder governance towards case resolution of undocumented migrants. Facilitated by EMN Belgium and the Belgian Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), this event focused on fostering connections between national authorities, local administrations and civil society organisations (CSOs).
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20/11/2023
In a press release published today, Doctors of the World declared that it opposes a new article of the draft law presented by Nicole de Moor, providing for the possibility of carrying out medical examinations under constraint to facilitate the forced return of third-country nationals. Doctors of the World says this measure risks further complicating access to health care for these particularly vulnerable people.
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17/11/2023
The European Migration Network (EMN) held a two-day conference titled ‘Shaping the future of EU legal migration: where are we and where do we want to go?’. The event was part of Spain’s current presidency of the Council of the EU, with a focus on legal migration strategies to attract the talent and skills needed from abroad.
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28/09/2023
Organised under the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this conference will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and representatives of industries and worker unions, and allow for meaningful discussions on the current state of labour migration, trends, challenges, and possible solutions.
15/11/2023
Within the framework of the Return Expert Group (REG), this ad hoc query aims to identify innovative collaborations related to multistakeholder governance. The focus is on partnerships between national authorities, local authorities, and civil society organizations to facilitate information sharing, guidance, and case resolution for migrants with return decisions or those remaining undocumented and off the radar of national authorities.
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15/11/2023
The Commission is today presenting a Skills and Talent Mobility package to make the EU more attractive to talent from outside the EU and to facilitate mobility within it. Today's measures include a new EU Talent Pool to match employers in the EU with jobseekers in third countries, as well as measures to promote the recognition of qualifications and learner's mobility.
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14/11/2023
The European Migration Network (EMN) Glossary is an essential resource, which offers an EU-wide multidisciplinary vocabulary of approximately 500 terms and concepts related to asylum and migration. Let's focus today on the term "labour shortage" to make sure we have a common understanding and use of the term!
10/11/2023
This ad hoc query explores the use of a minimum salary threshold for granting regular residence permits to migrant workers in EMN Member Countries. This overview compares the different amounts, the policymaking and dissemination styles, and the indexation over time.
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08/11/2023
Nicole de Moor presented today a draft law which aims, in accordance with the federal government agreement, to enshrine in law a proactive return policy. The draft law inter alia provides for the obligation to cooperate in the return procedure and for the intensive individual follow up of third-country nationals who have received an order to leave the territory.
25/10/2023
The 2023 Innovation Awards were awarded at the IOM Global Chiefs of Missions Meeting (GCOMM) in Istanbul on 25 October 2023. In the category "Regular Pathways", Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E), which facilitates skilled migration for displaced talent to respond to labour market shortages, was acknowledged as the changemaker.
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18/10/2023
After the terrorist attack perpetrated by an illegally staying failed asylum seeker in the centre of Brussels on 16 October, various policymakers plead for better follow-up of failed asylum seekers and stricter enforcement of orders to leave the territory.
18/10/2023
The Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic is currently looking into a special program enabling a fast-track admission procedure for third-country national lorry drivers due to the shortage of workers in this field. This ad hoc query examines whether other EMN Member countries experience a shortage of lorry drivers and whether special procedures are in place to facilitate the admission of third-country nationals able to fill these positions.
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11/10/2023
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.
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21/09/2023
In its judgment in Case C-143/22 | ADDE and Others, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled today that the Return Directive applies to any third-country national who has entered the territory of a Member State without fulfilling the conditions of entry, stay or residence. That also applies when the person concerned has entered that territory even before crossing a border crossing point where such checks are carried out.
06/09/2023
In its judgment in Case T-600/21 | WS and Others v Frontex, the General Court dismissed today the action of a number of Syrian refugees who had brought a claim for compensation before the General Court of the European Union. The applicants claimed that Frontex engaged in improper conduct with regard to them.
05/09/2023
The Swedish government has established a committee to review aspects of Swedish legislation concerning the return procedures for third-country nationals. The committee's goal is to propose new measures and revisions to existing laws to enhance the effectiveness of the return process. Consequently, they initiated an ad hoc query to gather information about the regulations related to the limited validity period of return decisions and the duration of entry bans.
05/09/2023
The European Migration Network (EMN) Belgium was at the European Parliament today for a presentation on “The Power of Labour Mobility Pilot Projects to Support the EU Legal Migration Reform”, organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
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01/09/2023
Flanders has published a new list of medium-skilled shortage occupations open to migration which enters into force today. The new list has been adapted to the current economic reality and labor market situation - it now contains 29 positions.
30/08/2023
Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo has written to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to call for the regularisation of undocumented immigrants capable of working in jobs in short supply, reports L’Echo.
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03/08/2023
Due to the increased need for foreign labour force, Member States are multiplying their negotiations of bilateral agreements and programmes with third countries on labour mobility. In order to have a current state of play and with a view to better coordinate this matter, the European Commission asked EMN Member countries to provide information on any bilateral agreement or programme supporting mobility from third countries.
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01/08/2023
New research carried out in the context of the Equality Law Clinic at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) focuses on the EU Single Permit Directive and shares concerns regarding the complexity and efficiency of the application (and renewal) procedure, the exclusion of certain categories of migrants from the scope of the Directive and the lack of protection of migrant workers from exploitation.
24/07/2023
Myria has published the fourth thematic section of its 2023 annual report. This section entitled "Economic migration, free movement en students" reports that 8.098 long-stay visas were granted for professional reasons to third-country nationals in 2022 (46% more than in 2021) and 19.721 single permits were issued to third-country nationals in 2022 (75% more than in 2021).
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05/07/2023
EMN Luxembourg launched an ad hoc query on the implementation of the Seasonal Workers Directive. More specifically, the questions focus on the possible requirement for seasonal workers to undergo a medical examination upon or before entry into the country, as well as on the national implementation of the right to equal treatment, as enshrined in Article 23(1) of said Directive.
30/06/2023
FAIRWORK Belgium's 2022 annual report analyses inter alia the complex system of single permits. Given current practices, this system "benefits dishonest employers" according to the organisation.
