The term “instrumentalisation of migrants” describes a strategy where countries outside the EU use the movement of people to put political pressure on the Union or one of its Member States. This has happened at several borders in recent years and has had real human consequences. A new paper from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) explains what the phenomenon is, the dilemmas it creates, and why responses must strike a careful balance.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: instrumentalisation, migrant, refugee, fundamental right
EU allocates €81 billion for migration, border management, and internal security in 2028–2034 budget
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission unveiled its proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), totalling nearly €2 trillion. A significant portion of this budget—approximately €81 billion—is earmarked for migration, border management, and internal security. Within this amount, €34 billion is specifically allocated to migration management, tripling the funding compared to the previous period.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: multiannual financial framework, European Union, budget
Need help understanding asylum and migration jargon? The EMN Glossary is now easier to use than ever
The European Migration Network (EMN) has made its popular Glossary more accessible than ever, now available through a redesigned website and mobile app. With over 540 asylum and migration terms in 27 languages, it helps make complex concepts easier to understand. Whether you're a student, journalist, frontline worker or just curious about asylum and migration in Europe, the EMN Glossary offers clear definitions, trusted translations and smart search features — all for free, and accessible to everyone.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: glossary, common terminology, website, mobile application
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published its Asylum and Migration Overview 2024, with contributions from 30 Member and Observer Countries. The Belgian and EU-wide reports are both made available today, with the European report presented today 9 July 2025 at an online launch event gathering over 260 participants. For the first time, the EU report is available in an interactive format offering dynamic access to key data and trends.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Asylum and Migration Overview, interactive format, interactive map
From 1 July to 31 December 2025, Denmark will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Presidency’s programme emphasises key priorities such as tackling irregular migration, strengthening border control, and fostering cooperation with partner countries. It also aims to enhance legal migration pathways and address the situation of displaced persons.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Danish Presidency, Council of the European Union
Myria has published the first thematic section of its 2025 annual report. This section, entitled "Population and movements", reveals that foreign nationals made up over 13% of the Belgian population as of 1 January 2024. Immigration from Romania, France and Ukraine was particularly high. The report also details key trends in foreign residence permits, demographic profiles and migratory flows.
Main Theme: Data & Statistics, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: migrant population, immigration, emigration, first residence permit, temporary protection
Albania has officially joined the European Migration Network (EMN) as an Observer Country. An Administrative Agreement was signed on 24 June between the European Commission and the Albanian Ministry of Interior. The arrangement was concluded on the margins of a conference co-organised by EMN Poland and establishes formal cooperation between the two parties within the EMN framework.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: European Migration Network, observer country, Albania
On 11 June 2025, the European Commission published a report reviewing the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, halfway through its implementation phase, which is expected to be completed by June 2026. The report provides an overview of progress across the main elements of the Common Implementation Plan, while identifying remaining operational and legal challenges. A mid-term review of the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021–2027 was also released.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, implementation, Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has released its 2025 Fundamental Rights Report, offering a detailed overview of key developments in the EU’s human rights landscape. Among the areas of concern, the report draws particular attention to migration and asylum at the EU’s external borders, where challenges continue to raise fundamental rights issues.
On 5 June 2025, World Environment Day highlights the complex links between climate change and human mobility. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued statements emphasising both the scale of climate-induced displacement and the growing recognition of migrants’ potential contributions to environmental resilience. Discussions on the role of migrants in addressing environmental challenges have become more prominent, i.a. in a recent MPI podcast dedicated to this topic.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: climate change, environmental migration, climate-induced displacement
On 21 and 22 May 2025, the European Migration Network’s Return Experts Group (EMN REG) convened a two-day workshop, hosted by the Belgian Immigration Office and EMN Belgium. The event brought together 50 participants from EU Member States, EU agencies (including Frontex and the EU Asylum Agency), civil society organisations, and international organisations. The workshop focused on the development and implementation of effective alternatives to detention (ATDs) within the EU’s migration and return systems.
The European Commission has approved an additional €3 billion in funding to assist Member States in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum and to support the hosting of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. This amount is composed of €1.8 billion from the revision of the current Multiannual Financial Framework and a €1.2 billion top-up to the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI).
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
Statbel has published demographic projections for 2024-2070 and concluded that Belgium’s population will reach 12.9 million by 2070. International migration will be the main driver of growth after 2038, as the natural balance turns negative by the end of the 2030s.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: population growth, natural balance, international migration balance, demographic growth
During the last Justice and Home Affairs Council under the Belgian Presidency, Ministers agreed to extend the temporary protection for Ukrainians for one year. This will run until March 2026.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine, visa policy, Schengen, border control, interoperability
During this conference, representatives from the European Commission, EMN NCPs and universities, shared practices and critical reflections on information campaigns, new tools and innovative approaches as well as benefits and challenges in the current context. Particular attention was paid to evaluating the impact of information campaigns.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: information campaign, prevention campaign, irregular migration, migrant smuggling
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 "residence permit" to make sure we have a common understanding and use of the term!
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: legal migration, residence permit
EU Home Affairs Ministers met today in Brussels during an informal meeting. Emphasis was placed on the need to finalize the legal texts of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and to start the implementation process. Ministers also discussed the future of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection in Europe.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union, Ukraine, temporary protection, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Each year, International Migrants Day is observed on 18 December. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 2000, in response to increasing migration around the world, the day aims to draw attention to migrants' human rights and highlight their contribution to our societies.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: international migrants day
The Flemish Bar Association obtained in court that the Immigration Office provide lawyers with a detailed organisation chart allowing them to enter directly into contact with the employees handling the cases they are defending.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: transparency, Immigration Office
Following preliminary questions from German courts, the Court of Justice of the European Union clarified, in a judgment today, the conditions for loss of status under Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: long term resident, loss of status
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.
Main Theme: Migration
EMN Belgium participated in the EMN Cyprus and EMN Luxembourg Joint national conference titled "Six months into applying the Temporary Protection Directive". The event took place in Cyprus on 13 October 2022.
Main Theme: Migration
The new State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) presented his General Policy Paper on Asylum and Migration in Parliament on 18 November 2020.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: policy paper
On the 26th of October 2018 the general policy note on asylum and migration of the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration was published. The policy note provides an overview of the main achievements and priorities in the field of asylum and migration.
