According to preliminary data published by Frontex on 19 October 2026, just over 91.000 irregular border crossings into the EU were detected in the first nine months of 2026, a decrease of almost one-third compared with the same period in 2025.

On the occasion of the European Day against Trafficking in Human Beings on 18 October, PAG-ASA is organising the fifth edition of its Human Trafficking Awareness Week in Brussels. From 12 to 18 October, a series of activities will raise awareness of the different forms of human trafficking, its impact on victims and the Belgian protection framework. The programme includes a public awareness installation, a documentary screening, professional training sessions and a photographic exhibition.

On 7 October 2026, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives’ Committee on the Interior approved in second reading a bill amending the Law of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, settlement and removal of foreign nationals. The bill would allow, under specific conditions and with authorisation from an investigating judge, home searches to apprehend certain foreign nationals subject to an order to leave the territory. The proposal has raised concerns regarding the protection of the inviolability of the home and fundamental rights.

The European Commission has proposed a five-point plan to strengthen the resilience and security of the EU’s external borders and improve preparedness for sudden mass arrivals. The plan sets out actions for the Commission, Member States and EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies in five areas, covering cooperation with partner countries, border management, monitoring and early warning, action against migrant smuggling and trafficking, and returns.

Belgian coastal police zones tested drone surveillance during summer 2026 as part of efforts to prevent irregular crossings to the United Kingdom by small boats. Following an evaluation meeting on 10 September, the West Flanders acting governor announced plans to develop the approach on a structural basis in 2027, subject to external funding.

On 9 September 2026, the European Commission decided to provide Spain with €114.7 million in emergency assistance to help manage the situation in Ceuta, following the large-scale irregular border crossings on 30 and 31 July.

Frontex is deploying maritime assets to support French search and rescue operations in the English Channel. Spanish and Lithuanian vessels will temporarily reinforce the French maritime rescue arrangements between September 2026 and January 2027.

On 25 August 2026, the European Commission confirmed that it had received a formal request from Spain for emergency funding to address the migratory situation in Ceuta. The Commission said it was assessing the request as a priority, with a view to taking a swift decision, and stood ready to provide further EU support, including through EU agencies. It also identified the swift return of people remaining irregularly in Ceuta as a priority.

The City of Tournai has adopted a common protocol to guide the dismantling of informal migrant camps, with the aim of ensuring coordinated interventions while safeguarding the dignity and fundamental rights of the persons concerned. The protocol was developed jointly by local authorities, police and civil society organisations following discussions prompted by previous dismantling operations.

Coastal rescue services along the Belgian North Sea are being briefed on how to respond to increased small boat activity linked to attempted irregular crossings towards the United Kingdom. The sessions aim to strengthen awareness and improve coordination with relevant authorities ahead of the start of the beach surveillance season.

Based on data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly 7.900 deaths or disappearances were recorded on migration routes worldwide in 2025. This compares with approximately 9.200 recorded in 2024. The figures bring the cumulative total to more than 80.000 deaths or disappearances recorded since 2014, when the Missing Migrants Project began collecting data.

Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is carrying out a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit takes place in the context of a marked increase in asylum applications from Congolese nationals in Belgium in recent years. The mission aims to discourage unfounded asylum applications, address the misuse of visa procedures, counter document fraud and misleading messages from smugglers, and strengthen cooperation on return and the fight against irregular migration. 

On 27 March 2026, EMN Belgium participated in a seminar organised by Myria and the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC) entitled "The status of victim of smuggling under the microscope", where the results of the research report on the practical application of this status were presented.

On 1 February 2026, Belgian Ministers Anneleen Van Bossuyt (Asylum and Migration) and Bernard Quintin (Interior) announced the extension of targeted internal checks, in place since July 2025, until at least 31 July 2026. The measures aim to curb irregular migration and secondary movements into Belgium while enforcing residence requirements and enhancing security. Targeted checks are conducted on major roads, long‑distance buses, selected trains, and intra‑Schengen flights.

Belgian Ministers of Justice and Asylum and Migration, Annelies Verlinden and Anneleen Van Bossuyt, visited Albania and Kosovo on 6–8 October 2025. Their discussions addressed migration management, prison overcrowding, and bilateral cooperation in justice and security. Meetings involved national authorities and highlighted ongoing collaboration between Belgium and the two countries.

The Fedasil Info Point in Brussels has been supporting asylum seekers and other migrants for two years, providing accessible and centralised information in one location. Since reopening on 27 September 2023 at the former Bordet Hospital site, it has welcomed over 22.000 visitors, mostly single men with ongoing asylum procedures. Visitors most frequently ask about accommodation, medical care, legal support, and other practical matters. Partners such as Caritas International and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) assist in providing guidance and support.

Belgium introduced targeted internal checks in July 2025 to address irregular and secondary migration. The measures are applied at airports, international bus and rail stations, and motorway rest areas. Over 11.000 individuals have been checked, with some ordered to leave the territory or placed in closed centres. The government plans to continue the checks and to conduct a six‑month evaluation.

Did you know that the UNHCR Operational Data Portal provides detailed, up-to-date information on sea arrivals in Europe? As of 24 August 2025, a total of 89.189 people have reached European shores by sea. The majority of these arrivals have been recorded in Italy and Greece, while Spain also received significant numbers. In 2024, a total of 187.337 sea arrivals were reported, illustrating the continued importance of Mediterranean and North-West African routes.

In the first half of 2025, West Flanders saw 72 transit migrants intercepted, a significant decrease compared with previous years. Most were from Ethiopia, while earlier periods involved people from Sudan, Iraq and Vietnam. Authorities cite preventive policing and cross-border controls as key factors.

On 24 June 2025, EMN Belgium participated in the Polish Presidency Conference on countering irregular migration. The discussions examined this phenomenon from three perspectives: strengthening the EU’s external borders to prevent irregular entries, combating migrant smuggling to dismantle criminal networks, and addressing the root causes of irregular migration and providing safe and legal alternatives.

On 19 June 2025, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt announced that, starting from summer 2025, federal police, local police, and the Immigration Office will collaborate to conduct targeted checks within Belgium. These measures aim to combat irregular migration and secondary movements towards Belgium. Reactions have emerged regarding the capacity required to implement such checks, their actual effectiveness in reducing irregular migration, and whether they can deliver a real deterrent effect or remain largely symbolic.

On 3 June 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered a judgment clarifying the scope of the offence of facilitation of unauthorised entry into the EU. The Court ruled that a third-country national cannot be criminally penalised for bringing minors under their care into an EU Member State, even if this entry breaches border rules. This decision emphasises the protection of family responsibilities and fundamental rights within EU law.

According to preliminary data published by Frontex, the number of irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 27% between January and April 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Nearly 47.000 crossings were detected during the first four months of 2025.

On 11-12 May 2025, Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt visited Chisinau to emphasise that asylum applications from Moldovan nationals—coming from a country considered safe—are processed through an accelerated procedure in Belgium. She also announced the immediate discontinuation of the return incentive, which is seen as encouraging misuse of the asylum system. 

The UK Home Office released provisional figures showing that more than 36.000 people were detected in 2024, making the crossing of the English Channel in small boats. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that at least 78 migrants died trying to cross the Channel in 2024.