Magnus Ovilius, Chair of the EMN and Head of Sector for Forecasting, Preparedness and Policy Monitoring at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, delivered the opening remarks. He recalled the EMN’s role in providing reliable, objective and comparable information on asylum and migration and referred to the continued development of the network. He also highlighted the European Asylum and Migration Overview as one of the EMN’s key publications and thanked the EMN Member and Observer Countries for their contributions. He further acknowledged the role of civil society organisations and researchers in contributing knowledge and perspectives to the work of the network.

Piotr Juchno, Team Leader for Migrant Integration, Administration of Immigration and Asylum at Eurostat, presented key findings from the Statistical Annex. As of 1 January 2025, 30.9 million third-country nationals were residing in the EU and Norway, representing 6.8% of the total population. Approximately 673.000 first-time applications for international protection were lodged in 2025. Venezuelan nationals were the largest group of first-time applicants for international protection, accounting for 13.3% of applications and overtaking Syrian nationals. Afghan nationals represented the largest group granted protection at first instance, followed by Venezuelan and Ukrainian nationals. Syrian nationals were the largest group among those granted protection following an appeal. At the end of 2025, more than 4.4 million people were benefiting from temporary protection, reflecting the continued impact of displacement from Ukraine.

Hans Lemmens, National Coordinator of EMN Netherlands and co-chair of the EMN Asylum and Migration Overview Working Group, presented the main trends identified in the 2025 edition. At EU level, developments included the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the first annual migration management cycle, developments in the areas of return, safe country concepts and migrant smuggling, and progress on large-scale EU information systems. At national level, the presentation highlighted evolving policy priorities. Several countries introduced measures to facilitate legal migration for specific categories of third-country nationals, while also tightening certain admission and stay requirements in response to security concerns and the misuse of legal migration channels. Other developments concerned pressures on asylum procedures and reception systems, the digitalisation of migration management, labour market integration, longer-term approaches towards people displaced from Ukraine, the protection of vulnerable groups and cooperation with third countries.

The online launch event also presented two examples of how national administrations and organisations are translating broader migration and asylum developments into practice:

• Liis Valk, Head of the Identity and Status Bureau at the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, presented Estonia’s experience in digitalising migration management. She described Estonia’s transition from separate digital tools towards more integrated and user-oriented services covering different stages of migration procedures. The presentation addressed how digital solutions can help reduce administrative burdens, improve the exchange and reuse of data and make procedures more accessible for applicants, employers and public authorities. It also highlighted the importance of secure data management, interoperability between systems and support for users who may face difficulties accessing digital services.
   
• Raffaella Greco Tonegutti, Coordinator Human Mobility at Enabel, presented Belgium’s experience with talent partnerships, skills mobility and entrepreneurship mobility. She highlighted a partnership between Belgium and Morocco in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. The initiative combines labour mobility with investments in training and skills development, as well as stronger cooperation between employment services, training institutions and employers. It seeks to respond to labour market needs while also strengthening skills and employment opportunities in the partner country. She also presented the “Boosting Gambian Talents” project, which aims to connect entrepreneurs, businesses and investors in Belgium and The Gambia. The initiative includes coaching, business networking, matchmaking and temporary or circular mobility opportunities. It also recognises the role of diaspora communities in facilitating knowledge exchange, investment and entrepreneurship. The Belgian examples illustrated how legal mobility initiatives can combine labour market objectives with skills development, entrepreneurship and private-sector growth in partner countries.

Anne Sheridan, Policy Officer for Situational Awareness, Preparedness and Forecast at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, delivered the closing remarks.

The event concluded by acknowledging the EMN Member and Observer Countries and other contributors involved in the preparation of the European Asylum and Migration Overview 2025, as well as the speakers and those who followed the online broadcast.

The EMN will continue to promote the accessibility and dissemination of the overview and encourages readers to consult the publication and its Statistical Annex to explore the key trends and developments in greater detail.