On Friday 3 March, the European Migration Network (EMN) Belgium was invited by the Commission of Foreign Affairs of the Benelux Parliament to talk about joint migration issues in the Benelux. 

In the House of Representatives today, Nicole de Moor responded to numerous questions regarding possible fraudulent cases of applications for single permits. All involved actors, including the Flemish Region, the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Office, are now part of a working group to foster information exchange and avoid future abuses.

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 "displaced person" to make sure we have a common understanding and use of the term!

Today, EMN Belgium was invited by Hogeschool Gent to present the learning tool "Destination Europe" to a group of 45 Bachelor students. The role plays engaged them in real-life scenarios of decision making around migration and integration.

The 2nd European Border Managament Conference was held in Athens on 23 and 24 February 2023. Participating Member States inter alia underlined the importance of effective control of EU's external borders and required legal, financial, operational and technical measures as well as a whole-of-the-route approach to ensure this.

During a press conference at the maritime police in Ostend, the Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, said that the strong approach towards human smugglers has led to a 90% drop in transit migrants to the UK.

New analysis released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) estimates that, in 2022, around 966 000 applications for asylum were lodged in EU+ countries. The largest applicant groups were Syrians, Afghans and Turks, but applications were also high for a wide range of other nationalities.

The online seminar will provide legal practitioners with an update on the case law developed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) with relevance for asylum law. It will focus primarily on developments in 2022.

From this Wednesday, the three organizations offer immediate hosting in a building located in Anderlecht to applicants who will later be referred to a reception center from Fedasil.

Flemish Minister for Home affairs, Administrative affairs, Civic integration and Equal opportunities, Bart Somers, wants newcomers to succeed in 9 out of 11 questions about the Belgian fundamental values.

This MPI Europe webinar aims to examine what has been done to foster the integration of those staying long(er) in host societies, to organize first reception services for any additional newcomers, and to prepare the return of those set on going home and rebuilding Ukraine.

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.