Europe | EMN

Deadline to respond to call for proposals to improve migrants’ integration

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The EU Commission launched a call for proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to finance projects aiming to improve healthcare access for migrants, support migrant women through better labour market integration, enhance digital literacy, create accessible education, ensure the protection of migrant children. The available call budget is EUR 34 million.

Main theme: Integration

Keywords: asylum and migration fund, access to healthcare, labour market integration, digital literacy, education, migrant child

Secondary school teachers have a new tool to address diversity and inclusion in the classroom

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The Education Department of Caritas International Belgium, in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Sankaa, has launched "Building Bridges", an educational resource for secondary school teachers. This resource helps educators address key topics such as identity, prejudice, racism, and media representation. At its core, "Building Bridges" explores the central question: How can we create a more supportive and inclusive society where everyone has a place?

Main theme: Integration

Keywords: inclusion, secondary school, diversity, migratory background, discrimination

EMN Estonia Conference: Beyond Temporary: Building for the Future

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The conference will explore the future of Ukrainian displaced persons beyond temporary protection and will bring together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for policy transitions, address employment related integration challenges, share best practices, and examine the role of the diaspora in supporting long-term solutions.

Main theme: Integration, Temporary protection

Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, Ukraine

Fedasil's Reach Out Team informed approximately 1.700 migrants in precarious situations in Brussels and Flanders in 2024

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Last year, Fedasil’s mobile and multilingual Reach Out team provided information to 1.702 migrants in precarious situations in Brussels and Flanders. Representing more than 75 nationalities, these individuals received counselling on a wide range of topics, from international protection and reception to healthcare, employment, and voluntary return.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: migrant, precarious situation, Reach Out Team, counselling

Odysseus Summer School on EU immigration and asylum law and policy (2 weeks)

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In July 2025, the Odysseus Network for Legal Studies on Migration and Asylum in Europe organises the 25th edition of its yearly summer school. It will focus on the European immigration and asylum policies from a legal perspective, including the latest developments in 2025. Special emphasis will be placed on the adoption of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Main theme: Cross-sectional

Keywords: asylum law, migration law, New Pact on Migration and Asylum

EMN Poland high-level presidency conference: Countering irregular migration and addressing its root causes

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This high-level conference will provide panel discussions among EU Member States’ ministries, the European Commission, EU agencies, national stakeholders, international organisations, and third-country officials to exchange views on tackling irregular migration, border management, countering migrant smuggling, and addressing root causes of migration.

Main theme: Irregular Migration

10.793 victims of trafficking in human beings were registered in the EU in 2023

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Eurostat released trafficking in human beings statistics, revealing that 10.793 victims were registered in the EU in 2023, an increase of 6.9% compared with 2022 and the highest recorded value in the period 2008-2023. Several countries explained that it is partly reflected through increased attention of the authorities and agencies that fight against trafficking in human beings.

Main theme: Data & Statistics

Keywords: victims of human trafficking, trafficker, forced labour

Amnesty International urges the Belgian government to immediately provide sufficient reception places

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In a new report, Amnesty International urges the Belgian government to ensure that all people seeking asylum are given adequate housing and that they have access to adequate healthcare services, including specialised psychological support, regardless of their housing situation. Belgian authorities are also called to activate the "dispersal plan" outlined in domestic law and implement contingency plans to manage fluctuations in the number of asylum applications.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception crisis, reception capacity, housing, access to healthcare

In the fourth quarter of 2024, 28.630 persons were returned to third countries following an order to leave an EU country

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According to recent data released by Eurostat, 124.935 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave an EU country, and 28.630 persons were returned to third countries following an order to leave. When compared with the same quarter of 2023, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave went up by 16.3%, while the number of people returned to third countries increased by 24.3%.

Main theme: Data & Statistics

Keywords: order to leave the territory, voluntary return, forced return, irregularly staying third-country national

EMN Belgium brings together key stakeholders involved in asylum and migration for its 2025 policy event

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On 27 March 2025, EMN Belgium brought together over 130 key stakeholders in the areas of asylum and migration in Belgium. The Minister for Asylum and Migration addressed this large audience of experts from various fields. Participants examined recent developments as well as current and future challenges related to asylum and migration in Belgium and within the EU context. They then explored key topics in breakout sessions and used informal networking opportunities to strengthen connections and explore new collaborations.

Main theme: Cross-sectional

Keywords: annual EMN policy event

Reception centre staff now has a new tool to capture children’s experiences and better understand their needs

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On 25 March 2025, the Belgian Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN) participated in a study morning dedicated to the presentation of a new tool: "The Reception Centre as Seen by Children." The new tool provides practical methods for capturing children's experiences, enabling professionals to better understand their needs and enhance the quality of care in these centres.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception centre, child, child-friendly environment

Nearly 9.000 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2024, according to IOM

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According to new data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 8.938 persons have died or gone missing on migration routes in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record. This continues a five-year trend of increasing fatalities, surpassing the previous high of 8.747 deaths recorded in 2023.

Main theme: Data & Statistics

Keywords: Missing Migrants Project, migrant death

EU Ministers push for continued work on migration and fast progress on the return proposal

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At the European Council on 20 March 2025, EU Ministers encouraged work in the field of migration, particularly regarding cooperation with third countries and the implementation of existing legislation. They also called on the Council and the European Parliament to advance on files with a migration dimension, especially the recent Commission proposal on returns.

Main theme: Cross-sectional

Keywords: EU Council, common return system

Belgium launches social media campaigns to discourage asylum seekers from coming

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The Belgian Minister of Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, has launched dissuasion campaigns on YouTube and via a WhatsApp channel that directly disseminates deterrence messages to potential asylum seekers. Several organisations have reacted to these campaigns, particularly criticising the messages conveyed by them.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: dissuasion campaign, deterrence campaign

Belgium, Germany and Italy join forces in Europol operation, resulting in multiple arrests for migrant smuggling across the English Channel

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Several raids were carried out on 19 March 2025 by German authorities, with the support of investigators from the Belgian Federal Police. The operation targeted a criminal network based in Germany, facilitating the crossing of the English Channel by small boats. It resulted in 6 arrests under Belgian judicial orders.

Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking

Keywords: Europol, joint operation, English channel, small boat

The Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, ends the subsidies for new Local Reception Initiatives

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The Minister for Asylum and Migration has decided to discontinue the Impuls Fund, which had been established to provide additional support to local authorities in covering the extra costs associated with opening new Local Reception Initiatives. The Minister will now move towards a more collective approach to reception, with existing Local Reception Initiatives being gradually phased out.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception crisis, local reception initiative, subsidy

The new proposal for a regulation establishing a common return system has been released

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The European Commission has released a proposal for a regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union. The new rules introduce, among other things, stronger obligations for returnees and the legal possibility of returning individuals who are illegally staying in the EU and have received a final return decision to a return hub in a third country. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU must now examine and negotiate the proposal.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Keywords: common return system, return hub, European return order, obligation to cooperate, security risk, risk of absconding, fundamental right

The reduction of reception places is a counterproductive and costly measure, say seven humanitarian and civil society organisations

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In their report 2024, seven humanitarian and civil society organisations raise concerns over the Belgian government's plan to reduce reception places for applicants for international protection, warning that this measure could increase homelessness, negatively impact individuals' health and integration prospects, and generate significant hidden costs for society.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception crisis, homelessness

EU Parliament study suggests exempting humanitarian assistance and actions aligned with international protection from criminalisation

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In a recent study, the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) recommended clarifying the scope of criminal offences in the Facilitation Directive to ensure that only activities involving organised criminal networks are included and called for the explicit exemption of humanitarian actions aligned with international protection from criminalisation.

Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking

Keywords: Facilitation Directive, criminal offence, criminalisation, humanitarian assistance, solidarity, exemption

Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt presents her policy orientation paper

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In the note submitted to the Chamber of Representatives, Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt described the current situation as operationally, financially, and socially untenable. She announced her intention to urgently submit, as an initial step, a package of crisis measures to address the ongoing asylum and reception crisis. Additionally, she outlined a broader range of measures covering key aspects, including asylum and reception, migration, the protection of vulnerable groups, return and security, the social welfare system, and access to Belgian nationality.

Main theme: Asylum, Migration

Keywords: policy orientation paper, asylum policy, migration policy, asylum crisis, reception crisis

The CGRS temporarily puts on hold the processing of cases of applicants who are not registered with the UNRWA and come from the West Bank

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On 12 March 2025, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) announced that it would temporarily suspend the notification of decisions granting subsidiary protection, refusing refugee status and refusing subsidiary protection status from applicants from the West Bank until they have access to sufficient objective information to accurately assess the general situation in the West Bank.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: West Bank, refugee status, subsidiary protection status

ECHR condemns Belgium for failing to provide sufficient safeguards in age assessment of foreign national

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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.

Main theme: Vulnerable groups

Keywords: age assessment, minor, unaccompanied minors, right to respect for private life, bone test, consent, last resort

EMN Luxembourg Conference: 40 Years of Schengen: People, Borders, Politics

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The European Migration Network Luxembourg (EMN Luxembourg) and the UniGR-Center for Border Studies (UniGR-CBS) organise this conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement and to reflect on it critically in light of current developments. Places are limited.

Main theme: Borders & Visa

Keywords: Schengen Agreement, anniversary, internal border control, temporary reintroduction of border control

4.370 persons obtained Belgian nationality in December 2024, according to Statbel

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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.370 persons obtained Belgian nationality in December 2024. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in December are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and France.

Main theme: Data & Statistics

Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality

Collaborative research workshop: Migration attitudes, polarisation, and policy analysis

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This workshop, jointly organised by the Migration Policy Center (MPC) and the Mercator Forum Migration and Democracy (MIDEM), will provide a platform for presenting and discussing empirical research on public attitudes toward migration, the sociopolitical mechanisms driving migration-related polarisation, and the policy responses addressing these challenges.

Main theme: Migration

Keywords: public attitude, public perception, polarisation, policy response