19 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!
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Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
15 April 2024
A large delegation from the federal government, accompanied by senior police officers and senior administration officials, is leading a mission to Morocco. The fight against illegal immigration and the return policy are among the priority issues discussed with the Moroccan authorities.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: irregularly staying third-country national, Morocco, prison, identification
12 April 2024
On Friday 12 April 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted the revised Single Permit Directive which defines the procedure for obtaining a single permit to work and reside in the EU with a common set of rights for third-country workers. The revision provides for a shortened application procedure and aims to strengthen the rights of third-country workers by allowing a change of employer and a limited period of unemployment.
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Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: single permit directive, recast
10 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.
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Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
06 April 2024
The Flemish Red Cross confirmed that the emergency village built in Mechelen in May 2022 for Ukrainians will close its doors in a few months. The rental contracts expire at the end of June 2024 and the Flemish Red Cross wants to help the 319 people still staying there find sustainable housing by then.
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Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine, emergency village
02 April 2024
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!
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: legal migration, residence permit
31 March 2024
On 31 March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania become Schengen members: the Schengen rules will apply in both Member States including on issuing Schengen visas and controls at the internal air and sea borders will be lifted. Discussions on a date for a possible lifting of the checks on persons at internal land borders will continue in 2024.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen, Schengen acquis, Bulgaria, Romania
29 March 2024
On a proposal from Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, the Council of Ministers approved a preliminary draft law defining the powers that members of the European Border and Coast Guard would have on national territory during official missions.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard, Frontex, border control, forced return, escort
28 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'.
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Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: prison, closed centre, monitoring, torture
28 March 2024
On 28 March 2024, the House of Representatives, during the plenary session, approved by a majority the ETIAS law which establishes the Belgian ETIAS National Unit and defines its organisation and functioning. It will enforce the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) regulation adopted by the European Union in 2018.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: ETIAS, European Travel Information and Authorisation System
25 March 2024
In 2023, Belgium registered 8,8% fewer first-time asylum applicants than in 2022, that is to say, 29.260 in 2023 compared to 32.100 in 2022. On the contrary, the number of first-time asylum applicants registered in the whole EU in 2023 reached 1.048.880, which represents an increase of 20.1 % compared to 2022.
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Main Theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: first-time asylum applicant, Eurostat
22 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.
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Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, Council of the European Union
20 March 2024
As labour and skills shortages have been increasing and are expected to continue rising over the coming decades in all EU Member States, the European Commission published an action plan setting out key measures that the EU, Member States and social partners should take in the short to medium term to address this challenge.
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Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour shortage, skills shortage, social partner, labour market integration, skills development, intra EU mobility, talent partnership
20 March 2024
The Expert Conference on Return and Reintegration, jointly organised by Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and the Migration Policy institute Europe (MPI-E) marked a significant moment during the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, sustainable return, reintegration
18 March 2024
On 18 March 2024, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGVS) and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) co-organized a conference during which participants reiterated the need for greater convergence between Member States to achieve a fair and efficient asylum system.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: convergence, asylum practices, Common European Asylum System, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
17 March 2024
In a joint Declaration signed in Cairo on 17 March 2024, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the European Union agreed to elevate their relationship to the level of a strategic and comprehensive partnership. The document identifies specific areas of cooperation, including migration and mobility.
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Main Theme: External Dimension
Keywords: partnership, Egypt, migration governance
13 March 2024
At a meeting of the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER), Member States agreed their position on a draft regulation which updates a mechanism that allows the EU to suspend visa-free travel for third countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa obligation when travelling to the Schengen area.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: visa-free travel, suspension mechanism
11 March 2024
According to the provisional monthly results of the statistics on changes of nationality, 3.885 persons obtained the Belgian nationality in December 2023. This raises the total figure for 2023 to 54.813 persons who obtained the Belgian nationality.
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Main Theme: Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: acquisition of citizenship, Belgian nationality
07 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.
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Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: migration dialogue, Migration Partnership
06 March 2024
According to data collected by IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, 2023, with at least 8565 deaths and disappearances, is the deadliest year since the project's inception in 2014. IOM highlights the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life.
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Main Theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: migration route, migrant death, Mediterranean
01 March 2024
Today, the Belgian Presidency of the Council and European Parliament negotiators have provisionally agreed on two regulations that govern the collection and use of air passenger data for border management and law enforcement.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: advanced passenger information, border management
29 February 2024
In a judgement released today in case C-222/22, the Court of Justice of the European Union held that the Qualification Directive does not permit a presumption that any subsequent application based on circumstances which the applicant has created by his or her own decision since leaving the country of origin stems from abusive intent and abuse of the procedure for the grant of international protection. Any subsequent application must be assessed on an individual basis.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: qualification directive, subsequent application, refugee, abusive intent, religious conversion
28 February 2024
On 28 February 2024 the European Ombudsman published a press release regarding the completion of its inquiry about the Adriana shipwreck in June 2023, which also included recommendations regarding broader systemic issues. The Ombudsman called on EU legislators to address fundamental rights gaps and to establish an independent commission of inquiry to assess the reasons for the large numbers of deaths in the Mediterranean.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Mediterranean, shipwreck, fundamental rights, search and rescue
28 February 2024
A strategic analysis by the European Agency for Asylum (EUAA), reveals that in 2023, 1.14 million applications for international protection were lodged in the EU+ countries (i.e. the 27 European Union Member States, plus Norway and Switzerland), marking the highest level in seven years. The analysis sheds light on the trends that were observed in 2023.
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Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: EUAA, application for international protection, temporary protection
21 February 2024
A large-scale operation involving law enforcement and judicial authorities from Belgium, France and Germany, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of one of the most active networks involved in the smuggling of migrants across the English Channel in small boats.