The Western Balkans are at the heart of the European continent, surrounded by EU Member States. The migration situation in the region remains complex and challenges the institutional capacities of the Western Balkans, particularly in relation to border management, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Action Plan for the Western Balkans
During two lunch & learn sessions this week, the team of EMN Belgium met around 70 practitioners of the Immigration Office to inform them about the European Migration Network, to invite them to actively participate in the national network, and to explore concrete cooperation opportunities.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
This morning, EMN Belgium participated in a roundtable, moderated by Special Envoy on Migration and Asylum Lieven De la Marche, with the contribution of representatives of the cabinet of the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) and the coalition for international solidarity (11.11.11). Belgian actors could share their views on the report which was presented to them.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: migration management
The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor signed today an agreement with the Senegalese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Annette Seck. Belgium and Senegal agreed to cooperate on the return of irregularly staying Senegalese nationals and on legal migration.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: voluntary return, legal migration, circular migration
Today marks a decade and a half of the European Migration Network (EMN) providing objective and reliable migration and asylum information. Throughout the years, the EMN has been meeting the information needs of Community institutions and of Member States’ authorities and institutions on migration and asylum, and supporting policymaking in these areas.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
On 11 and 12 May 2023, EMN Belgium participated in the Swedish Presidency Conference. Many actors were invited to contribute: professors, researchers, policy-makers, analysts, development actors, national government officials – both from EU countries and beyond – and EU officials, representatives of international organisations and NGOs.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: climate change, displacement
Today, the Internal Market Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee adopted a draft negotiating mandate on the first-ever rules for Artificial Intelligence (AI). MEPs substantially amended the list to include bans on intrusive and discriminatory uses of AI systems. They also expanded the classification of high-risk areas.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: artificial intelligence
Given the ticking clock, the European Commission reviews the state of affairs regarding progress on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and ECRE shares concerns about the possible outcomes of the current negotiations.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Today the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, traveled to Tunisia, showing the importance of the migration partnership between Tunisia and the EU and the willingness for such partnership to be deepened in cooperation with the EU Member States.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: partnership, migrant smuggling, return, irregular migration, legal migration
Members in the European Parliament (MEPs) agreed to open talks with EU Member States on key migration and asylum policy files. Following the plenary’s green light, MEPs may open talks on the final form of these legislative texts with the Council on those files for which the Member States have already agreed on their own position, notably the screening procedures.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: European Parliament, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Today EMN Belgium visited its Dutch counterpart in The Hague to exchange best practices and establish future collaboration. A great opportunity to meet in person and strengthen the European Migration Network!
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
During this morning national event, EMN Belgium presented key developments on migration and asylum in 2022 and invited numerous key experts to explain important issues and perspectives for 2023.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: annual EMN policy event
The learning tool “Destination Europe” is now offered to Dutch-speaking secondary school teachers who want to introduce their students to decision-making on migration and integration.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Destination Europe
The Justice and Home Affairs Council took place in Brussels on 9 and 10 March 2023. Ministers inter alia discussed the internal and external aspects of migration and the overall state of the Schengen area.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Council of the European Union, Schengen area, visa policy
The first package of reforms contains several measures. Nicole De Moor said in a statement that, according to the texts to be discussed in Parliament, reception places will be allocated to those in an ongoing asylum procedure, cooperation on return will be enshrined in law and abuses in family reunification will be combated. Finally, a solution will be offered to vulnerable persons in specific situations such as statelessness.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: reform
On Tuesday 7 March, the Belgian Contact Point of the EMN discussed current information needs with the Cabinet of Nicole de Moor to make EMN resources available to policymakers.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: information exchange, policymaking
Today, EMN Belgium was invited by Hogeschool Gent to present the learning tool "Destination Europe" to a group of 45 Bachelor students. The role plays engaged them in real-life scenarios of decision making around migration and integration.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Destination Europe, migration decision
While condemning attempts to instrumentalise migrants for political purposes, EU leaders agreed on immediate measures to reduce pressure at the EU's external borders, notably through enhanced cooperation with third countries on returns and readmissions.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
During today’s informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Stockholm, the Ministers discussed how to meet migratory challenges. The Swedish Presidency concluded that more needs to be done, both at national and EU level.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
The EU could see an influx of up to four million more Ukrainians in 2023, and Russia will seek to further weaponize migration from North Africa and the Middle East. These are just two of the forecasts made in the latest Migration Outlook report 2023 from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
The Swedish Presidency programme sets out the priorities and main direction for the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January until 30 June 2023.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Council of the European Union
The EMN Member Countries have voted on the topics which will be analyzed in studies and informs in 2023. 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
During the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8-9 December 2022, Ministers highlighted the need to address the external dimension of migration in a comprehensive manner, taking into account all routes and making joint or complementary efforts where possible.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Justice and Home Affairs Council
On 15 and 16 November 2022, EMN Belgium welcomed over 20 enthusiastic young people from a variety of backgrounds at its EMN Migration Youth Event. Over the course of two days, they were submerged in a programme focusing on both the theory and the practice of asylum and migration policy in Belgium and the European Union.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
In the Chamber of Representatives today, Nicole de Moor presented the main lines of its policy on asylum and migration. Despite the many current challenges, the State Secretary intends to carry out reforms in this field.
