In 2022, 2,673 persons voluntarily returned to their country of origin. The number is higher than before the corona period, when 2,426 persons returned voluntarily in 2019. 

People affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria who wish to travel to Belgium to receive support from their families will have their visa application handled faster.

Ahead of the Family Reunification Directive’s 20^th anniversary, this new comparative report provides a comprehensive overview of the current implementation of the Directive and other forms of realisation of family unity for individuals in need of protection across 23 European countries based on ECRE’s Asylum Information Database (AIDA).

How can we create flexible housing capacities for asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection? This conference will gather national and international experts to discuss challenges, good practices and lessons learnt when it comes to dealing with pressures on the asylum housing system, both in the context of international and temporary protection.

While condemning attempts to instrumentalise migrants for political purposes, EU leaders agreed on immediate measures to reduce pressure at the EU's external borders, notably through enhanced cooperation with third countries on returns and readmissions. 

According to estimates, Belgium has 23,000 women circumcised and 12,000 girls at risk of being circumcised. The Group for the Abolition of Female Genital Mutilation (Gams) raises awareness of the two treatment centers for victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) accredited in Belgium. 

Many cities throughout the European Union hosted people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. To gauge how cities addressed Europe largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) approached selected cities in the EU.

This Innovation Challenge will support studies focused on the effectiveness of new solutions (interventions, data/tools, policy actions) which improve cross-border labor mobility and labor market integration of international migrants and refugees. Interested participants must submit their Expression of Interest by 31 January 2023.

State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, is putting in place prevention campaigns to prevent asylum seekers under the responsibility of other European countries, from starting an asylum procedure in our country. This secondary migration from other EU Member States creates additional pressure on Belgium's asylum system and reception network.

During today’s informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Stockholm, the Ministers discussed how to meet migratory challenges. The Swedish Presidency concluded that more needs to be done, both at national and EU level. 

On 24 January 2023, the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole De Moor, attended the Commission for Home Affairs, Security, Migration and Administrative Affairs in regard to the reception challenges Belgium faces regarding applicants for international protection.

The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 was published today. It shows inter alia that climate change increases vulnerability to trafficking and that armed conflicts are another breeding ground for trafficking.

The EU could see an influx of up to four million more Ukrainians in 2023, and Russia will seek to further weaponize migration from North Africa and the Middle East. These are just two of the forecasts made in the latest Migration Outlook report 2023 from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

In a policy note published this week, ECRE analyses EU Member States’ policies and practices on “pendular” movement to and from Ukraine and makes recommendations to ensure security of status and rights for people covered by the TPD regime.

In 2022, Fedasil welcomed 71 refugees resettled in Belgium, mostly Syrians from Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. This figure is not in line with the objectives set at the beginning of last year.

As from 4 January 2023, beneficiaries of temporary protection with an A card valid until 4 March 2023 can present themselves to the municipality to request a new one valid until 4 March 2024.

The Swedish Presidency programme sets out the priorities and main direction for the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January until 30 June 2023.