Nearly one in eight self-employed workers in Belgium do not hold Belgian nationality. This proportion rises to more than four in ten in the Brussels-Capital Region. An analysis of recent data from the National Institute for Social Security of the Self-Employed (INASTI) by the social insurance fund Acerta highlights these figures. The study also reveals differences in age, sector activity, and income between Belgian and non-Belgian self-employed individuals.

On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, NANSEN highlights its work with applicants for international protection who have experienced torture. The organisation provides legal information and tailored support to help them navigate the protection procedure. Victims of torture are entitled to specific procedural guarantees. NANSEN ensures that these rights are respected throughout their application process.

This conference will explore the role labour migration might play in addressing labour market shortages in the Netherlands and the broader European context, while considering both the benefits and the challenges it brings. Participants will look at case studies and delve into concrete examples from other EU Member States, and explore various approaches to managing labour migration. Policymakers and experts will engage in this dialogue to examine the diverse policy choices that might shape the future of labour migration policies. 

EMN Luxembourg, in cooperation with the Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents in Luxembourg and the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children, organise a joint capacity-building event to support Member States and their respective institutions in implementing the Pact, especially regarding children’s rights. 

On 27 May 2025, the Belgian Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN) participated in a capacity-building session on guardianship and the quality of care for asylum-seeking children in the context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The seminar was organised by the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC), in collaboration with OKaJu (Ombudsman for Children in Luxembourg – Ombudsman fir Kanner a Jugendlecher) and the Luxembourgish Contact Point to the EMN. The aim of the session was to discuss the impact of the new Pact on children in asylum procedures.

On 21 and 22 May 2025, the European Migration Network’s Return Experts Group (EMN REG) convened a two-day workshop, hosted by the Belgian Immigration Office and EMN Belgium. The event brought together 50 participants from EU Member States, EU agencies (including Frontex and the EU Asylum Agency), civil society organisations, and international organisations. The workshop focused on the development and implementation of effective alternatives to detention (ATDs) within the EU’s migration and return systems.

On 17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), the organisation Prisme has disclosed a set of recommendations highlighting the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking international protection in Belgium. These findings point to several shortcomings in the reception and asylum system and outline measures to ensure more inclusive procedures.

On 28 April 2025, Samusocial launched a new shelter dedicated to unaccompanied foreign minors living on the streets, often referred to as “wandering” minors. This centre aims to provide a safe and supportive space for young people with complex needs who do not have access to existing aid structures.

This data comes from Bruss’help’s eighth count, carried out through a large-scale collaboration across sectors and indicating a worsening trend of homelessness in Brussels. For the first time, data from reception centres for applicants for international protection were collected. Out of 5.135 individuals, 17 were required to leave their centre within 30 days without any housing solution, while 94 remained beyond their expected departure due to the lack of stable housing options.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case of F.B. v. Belgium, finding that Belgium failed to provide sufficient procedural safeguards in the decision-making process regarding the applicant’s age assessment. The Court concluded that this process violated her right to respect for private life under Article 8 of the European Convention. In particular, it highlighted the lack of informed consent and the failure to explore less intrusive methods before conducting medical tests.

The European Commission has developed a new interactive tool to map labour migration pathways across the 27 EU Member States. It helps to visualise the 290 pathways that were active at the time of the research and updated to February 2024.

As of 7 January 2025, 160 additional emergency shelter places are made available for homeless people sleeping on the streets in the Brussels Capital Region, supplementing the existing 2.600 places within the Brussels unhoused shelter network. The emergency shelter places are open to all homeless people, regardless of residence status.

In a recent judgment, the Court of Justice of the European Union stated that a Member State cannot exclude from the benefit of family allowances a foreign worker whose children, born in a third country, cannot prove that they have entered its territory lawfully.

This conference, organised by the Maltese National Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN), aims inter alia to examine ways to strengthen ties between migrant children and host communities and to foster mutual understanding. The inclusion of migrant children in local communities, through education, social work, advisory and community services, will be discussed.

This conference, organised jointly by EMN Estonia and IOM Estonia, focuses on labour shortages in the EU. It will offer insights into sustainable strategies to balance local labour demands while remaining competitive and attractive to migrant workers.

EMN Belgium visited the team of DEI Belgium - ECPAT to better understand each other's activities and deepen exchanges and opportunities for cooperation. EMN Belgium, for example, learned more about their work to protect migrant children and their parents in reception centres.

The Federal Public Service Justice is currently able to assign a guardian to an unaccompanied foreign minor within the normal period of 8 weeks. However, the demand for guardians remains high in Limburg, Antwerp and Brussels, and the Guardianship Service is still urgently looking for additional guardians.

18 November marks the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Children are the most vulnerable group in society and children who are migrating, especially if unaccompanied, face an increased risk of being subjected to violence, including sexual violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.