April 2024
Under the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EMN Belgium, together with its partners, organise a high-level conference on 25-26 June 2024 to discuss the operationalisation and implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. If you wish to join us in Brussels or online, make sure to register now!
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
April 2024
During its annual policy event, the Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network (EMN) invited experts in the field of asylum and migration in Belgium to reflect on developments in 2023 and prospects for 2024. Subgroups examined in more detail measures in response to the reception crisis, the new right of residence for stateless persons, information campaigns in third countries, one-stop desk models for information provision, ongoing challenges and projects in the CGRS, Belgium’s talent mobility projects and emerging trends in the field of labour migration.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: annual EMN policy event
April 2024
On 10 April 2024, the European Parliament narrowly approved ten legislative texts to reform the European migration and asylum policy. The so-called New Pact on Migration and Asylum now only needs the final green light from Member States, which is expected at the end of the month.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
March 2024
The House of Representatives approved a draft law creating a prevention mechanism to safeguard the rights of people detained in prisons, closed centres and police stations. The mechanism will be overseen by the Federal Institute for Human Rights, in conjunction with the Central Prison Monitoring Council, the Federal Migration Centre Myria, and 'Committee P'.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: prison, closed centre, monitoring, torture
March 2024
During the European Council on 21-22 March 2024, EU leaders reviewed the state of play on migration following the Communication from the Commission and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to continue pursuing a comprehensive approach to migration as agreed in its conclusions of December 2023.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, Council of the European Union
March 2024
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson together with the Mauritanian Minister of Interior and Decentralisation, Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, have signed a Joint Declaration launching an EU-Mauritania migration partnership. Both parties will hold a dialogue on a regular basis to implement this Joint Declaration.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: migration dialogue, Migration Partnership
February 2024
Today, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved the inter-institutional agreement achieved in December with the Council on the Migration and Asylum Pact.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
February 2024
Today, EU Member States’ representatives meeting in the Coreper approved key laws which will reform the EU’s asylum and migration system. The EU laws of the Pact touch upon all stages of asylum and migration management.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
January 2024
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
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union, Ukraine, temporary protection, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
January 2024
Today the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, in the presence of all relevant asylum and immigration services, presented the new migration code. This new code aims to clarify procedures, simplify the texts and better fight against abuse.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Migration Code, immigration law, reception law
January 2024
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) looks forward to cooperating with the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union and stands ready to offer its continued support and expertise. With a view to building this partnership, the IOM publishes some recommendations on migration and mobility for 2024.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Hungarian Presidency, Council of the European Union, recommendation
January 2024
For the next six months, Belgium will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a position it hasn't held since 2010. The Belgian Presidency will be particularly important as it will steer the debates on the European Council’s Strategic Agenda and lead up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union
December 2023
As the end of the year is approaching, the team of the Belgian Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN) wishes you a happy holiday season. We also wish you and your loved ones, all the best for the new year!
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
December 2023
After three years of negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached an agreement on the core political elements of five key regulations that will thoroughly overhaul the EU's legal framework on asylum and migration.
December 2023
The European Migration Network (EMN), marks a significant milestone this year, celebrating 15 years of dedicated service providing objective, comparable, and policy-relevant information on emerging issues related to asylum and migration. For this occasion, the EMN publishes a document spotlighting its most influential achievements and contributions from 2018 to 2022 at both EU and national levels.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: European Migration Network, impact analysis, 15th anniversary
December 2023
This morning, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo officially presented the program and priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union. From 1 January 2024, Belgium will be at the head of all meetings and negotiations within the Council of the European Union for six months.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union
November 2023
In a press release published today, Myria says it receives many reports from people linked in one way or another to Belgium, who are stuck in extremely threatening circumstances in Gaza.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Gaza, Palestinian, visa application, international protection
November 2023
Through its campaign “So what, we continue the exploitation?”, the CIRÉ underlines that undocumented workers who informally fill the labour needs, are at risk of being exploited. It pleads to give them access to legal work, particularly through the single permit procedure.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: undocumented migrants, undocumented worker, single permit, labour shortages, labour exploitation
November 2023
The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration discussed today with mayors and aldermen of the five major cities of Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège to find ways to reduce the administrative burden in the field of asylum and migration, to guide illegally staying third-country nationals towards return and to implement social initiatives promoting, among others, the employment of applicants for international protection.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: cities, administrative burden, proactive return policy, labour market access
October 2023
Home Affairs Ministers met at the JHA Council in Brussels on 19 October. They discussed progress on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and exchanged views on the EU’s approach to the external dimension of migration. They stressed that the EU should efficiently use all the tools at its disposal to develop a preventive model which would hinder irregular departures, as well as to foster the effectiveness of returns.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Justice and Home Affairs Council, New Pact on Migration and Asylum, external dimension, return policy
October 2023
The European Council invited the Commission to present an Action Plan on the Eastern Mediterranean route, as part of a broader approach to help alleviate the pressure on Member States faced with large numbers of irregular arrivals along the route. This Action Plan identifies operational measures that will contribute to addressing the ongoing challenges along this route.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: EU Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean route
October 2023
The EMN Steering Board has voted on the topics which will be analysed in studies and informs in 2024. In line with the targets outlined in the 2023-2025 work programme of the EMN, 3 new studies and 10 new informs will be published next year.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
October 2023
In a new state of play published today, the European Commission reviews the state of affairs regarding progress on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Key developments since the last state of play from April 2023 are highlighted.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
October 2023
At a meeting of the Council’s permanent representatives committee (COREPER), Member States sealed their negotiating mandate on a regulation on crisis situations, including instrumentalisation of migration, and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum. This position will form the basis of negotiations between the Council presidency and the European Parliament.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: crisis regulation, migration instrumentalization, solidarity, relocation, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
September 2023
During the Justice and Home Affairs Council today, Ministers inter alia supported the need to strengthen the external dimension of EU migration policy in order to face the migratory challenges the EU shares with other continents and countries.