Flemish Minister for Home affairs, Administrative affairs, Civic integration and Equal opportunities, Bart Somers, wants newcomers to succeed in 9 out of 11 questions about the Belgian fundamental values.

In 2022, 2,673 persons voluntarily returned to their country of origin. The number is higher than before the corona period, when 2,426 persons returned voluntarily in 2019. 

People affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria who wish to travel to Belgium to receive support from their families will have their visa application handled faster.

Ahead of the Family Reunification Directive’s 20^th anniversary, this new comparative report provides a comprehensive overview of the current implementation of the Directive and other forms of realisation of family unity for individuals in need of protection across 23 European countries based on ECRE’s Asylum Information Database (AIDA).

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. 

According to estimates, Belgium has 23,000 women circumcised and 12,000 girls at risk of being circumcised. The Group for the Abolition of Female Genital Mutilation (Gams) raises awareness of the two treatment centers for victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) accredited in Belgium. 

Many cities throughout the European Union hosted people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. To gauge how cities addressed Europe largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) approached selected cities in the EU.

State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, is putting in place prevention campaigns to prevent asylum seekers under the responsibility of other European countries, from starting an asylum procedure in our country. This secondary migration from other EU Member States creates additional pressure on Belgium's asylum system and reception network.

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. 

On 24 January 2023, the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole De Moor, attended the Commission for Home Affairs, Security, Migration and Administrative Affairs in regard to the reception challenges Belgium faces regarding applicants for international protection.

The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 was published today. It shows inter alia that climate change increases vulnerability to trafficking and that armed conflicts are another breeding ground for trafficking.

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).

In a policy note published this week, ECRE analyses EU Member States’ policies and practices on “pendular” movement to and from Ukraine and makes recommendations to ensure security of status and rights for people covered by the TPD regime.

In 2022, Fedasil welcomed 71 refugees resettled in Belgium, mostly Syrians from Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. This figure is not in line with the objectives set at the beginning of last year.

As from 4 January 2023, beneficiaries of temporary protection with an A card valid until 4 March 2023 can present themselves to the municipality to request a new one valid until 4 March 2024.

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.

The selected migrant integration indicators allow monitoring of the Commission’s actions defined in the Action plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027 in relation to education and training, employment opportunities and skills recognition, as well as access to health services, and adequate and affordable housing. 

The Commission is proposing two new Regulations to strengthen the use of advanced passenger information. The new rules, that will replace the 2004 API Directive, will enhance external border controls and the fight against serious crime and terrorism within the EU.

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.

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.

The Conference allowed participants to gain insight into legal provisions against labour exploitation and to examine the role of different actors in upholding the rights of foreign workers. Good practices and lessons learnt from selected countries were presented and discussed.

During the High Level Forum to protection and resettlement cooperation, 16 EU Member States pledged more than 29.000 places for resettlement and humanitarian admission for 2023, including continued and expanded support to Afghans in need of protection.

The Court of Justice of the European Union interpreted Article 2(f) and Article 10(3)(a) of the Family Reunification Directive in its decision from 17 November 2022 in the case X v Belgium. An unaccompanied refugee minor residing in a Member State does not have to be unmarried to enjoy the right to family reunification with first-degree relatives in direct ascending line.

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.

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.