Tuesday 30 July is the International Day against Trafficking in Persons. On this occasion, the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office, together with the Labour Auditor's Office, invite as many people as possible to be vigilant and to report suspicious situations via the Belgian helpline for victims of human trafficking or via the new telephone number: 078/055.800.

This election year will be the fourth time that non-Belgians who reside in Belgium can vote in municipal elections. Yet participation remains low, as shown by the figures released by the FPS Interior ahead of the registration deadline, on 31 July 2024.

In a judgement from 29 July 2024, the Court of Justice of the EU states that a Member State may reject an abusive application for an authorisation to reside on its territory for the purpose of study, even if it has not correctly transposed the directive that provides for that option.

This capacity-building workshop, organised jointly by EMN Luxembourg and the Prague Process, aims to explore the current state of forecasting migration and asylum flows, address existing challenges, and consider the future of forecasting in migration management. Additionally, the workshop will showcase the latest technological advancements in migration, asylum, and data-driven societies and discuss prospects for their implementation in national and regional contexts.

EMN Italy organises a national conference laying focus on attracting international talent and skilled labor and on fostering co-development between Member States and third countries. Through an exchange of experiences and best practices, the legal framework and challenges in this matter will be discussed.

In a press release from 26 July 2024, Myria, the Federal Migration Centre, calls on the authorities, given the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, to make greater efforts in terms of information provision and administrative and procedural flexibility, both in terms of access to evacuation and the submission and processing of visa applications.

Before 8 October 2024, public bodies or a public or non-public implementing agency or body of a Member State can apply for funding and submit their proposal to support the implementation of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling and its call to action to strengthen international cooperation on preventing and responding to migrant smuggling.

Civil society organisations are invited to apply before 12 September 2024 to contribute to the 9th European Migration Forum (EMF) under the theme "Enhancing the role of civil society in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum".

On 22 July 2024, the Minister of Justice officially launched the Blue Heart Campaign at the Antwerp city hall. EMN Belgium joined local authorities, the three specialised centres for victims of human trafficking, Myria, the Social Intelligence and Investigation Service and the IOM on this occasion. As one in three victims of human trafficking globally is a child, this year's global campaign urges accelerated action to end child trafficking. 

In the 2024 Rule of Law Report, especially in the country chapter on the rule of law situation in Belgium, the European Commission recommends that Belgium takes measures to ensure compliance by public authorities with final rulings of national courts and the European Court of Human Rights, referring in particular to judgments finding the State responsible for not ensuring adequate reception of asylum seekers.

With 401 votes in favour, 284 against, and 22 cast blank or invalid votes, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission on 18 July. She presented her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, referring inter alia to security, external borders, and migration management.

On 14 July 2024, the revised EU Anti-Trafficking Directive enters into force with stronger rules to fight trafficking in human beings. The revised Directive introduces stricter criminalisation and provides stronger tools for public authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those that take place online, and ensure better assistance and support to victims.

The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union in the first six months of 2024 fell to roughly 94.000, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex. The Western Balkans and the Central Mediterranean recorded the largest decreases in detections of irregular border crossings, while the West African and the Eastern Land Border have seen the largest increases.

During a webinar followed by around 160 participants, the European Migration Network (EMN) and Eurostat launched the Annual Report on Migration and Asylum for 2023 and the accompanying Statistical Annex. Key highlights from the report were outlined as well as key figures to support policy-making and monitoring. National perspectives were also shared by Finland and Serbia.

On 9 July, almost 100 NGOs, which include ECRE and several ECRE member organisations, published a joint statement urging all EU Member States to guarantee the right to seek and enjoy asylum and uphold their commitments to the international refugee protection system.

According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.988 persons obtained Belgian nationality in April 2024. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in April are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Turkey.

According to recent figures published by Eurostat, Belgium sent 14.079 outgoing requests using the Dublin procedure, thus appearing in the top 5 countries that sent 86% of all outgoing requests in 2023. Belgium also reported 1.241 outgoing transfers in 2023.

If you want to learn more about key migration and asylum trends in 2023, join this EMN event! It will shed light on both EU and national perspectives, featuring insights from Eurostat on recent trends and statistics, and a national perspective from EMN Members and Observer Countries.

From 1 July 2024, adult asylum seekers who stay in a reception centre and who have a working income will have to contribute to this reception. Those who do not wish to contribute may consider staying outside the reception centre. They are free to leave the centre and find their own accommodation.

On 1 July 2024, Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for a duration of six months. Among the country’s seven priorities for its EU presidency are " stemming illegal migration” and bringing the Western Balkans countries “one step closer” to EU membership.

The Immigration Office disclosed a new website aimed at informing applicants for international protection about the purpose and course of the registration. Each step of the process is explained in 16 languages via texts, audio, and videos. The website was co-funded by the European Union.

According to Eurostat, the number of people returned to another country increased by 11% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023. In comparison with the previous quarter (fourth quarter of 2023), the number of returns went up by 6%.

In order to structurally shorten the duration of reception in Belgium, an amendment was made to the Reception Act. Anyone who receives a final negative asylum decision must leave the reception place within a period of 30 days.

On 25 and 26 June 2024, EMN Belgium and its partners organised a high-level conference to present the Pact and outline subsequent steps for its implementation. The event, which convened 400 representatives from pivotal institutions and organisations, highlighted the opportunities and challenges associated with the Pact as well as the need and potential for partnerships in effectively implementing it.

The Federal Judicial Police reveals that unaccompanied foreign minors in Belgium and throughout Europe are recruited by criminal organisations and forced to carry out theft or drug trafficking. The Federal Police draws attention to this invisible phenomenon and asks to make it a priority for action.