Op 21 en 22 mei 2025 organiseerde de Return Expert Group van het Europees Migratienetwerk (EMN REG), in samenwerking met de Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken en EMN België, een tweedaagse workshop die 50 experten van EU-lidstaten, EU-agentschappen (waaronder Frontex en de EUAA), maatschappelijke organisaties en internationale organisaties samenbracht. Het evenement richtte zich op de ontwikkeling en implementatie van effectieve alternatieven voor detentie (ATD’s) binnen het migratie- en terugkeerbeleid van de EU.

The European Commission has released new figures revealing a substantial rise in short-stay visa applications to the EU and Schengen-associated countries in 2024. With over 11.7 million applications submitted, the upward trend reflects a continued post-pandemic recovery, although numbers remain below pre-COVID levels. Notably, Bulgaria and Romania began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, further integrating into the Schengen visa system.

Op 17 mei, de Internationale Dag tegen Homofobie, Bifobie en Transfobie (IDAHOBIT), heeft de organisatie Prisme een reeks aanbevelingen bekendgemaakt die de uitdagingen benadrukken waarmee LGBTQIA+ personen die  om internationale bescherming verzoeken in België worden geconfronteerd. Deze bevindingen wijzen op verschillende tekortkomingen in het opvang- en asielsysteem en schetsen maatregelen om inclusievere procedures te waarborgen.

According to preliminary data published by Frontex, the number of irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 27% between January and April 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Nearly 47.000 crossings were detected during the first four months of 2025.

On 28 April 2025, Samusocial launched a new shelter dedicated to unaccompanied foreign minors living on the streets, often referred to as “wandering” minors. This centre aims to provide a safe and supportive space for young people with complex needs who do not have access to existing aid structures.

This data comes from Bruss’help’s eighth count, carried out through a large-scale collaboration across sectors and indicating a worsening trend of homelessness in Brussels. For the first time, data from reception centres for applicants for international protection were collected. Out of 5.135 individuals, 17 were required to leave their centre within 30 days without any housing solution, while 94 remained beyond their expected departure due to the lack of stable housing options.

De algemene dienst van Immigratie van het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken van Luxemburg, het Detentiecentrum van het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en EMN Luxemburg organiseren gezamenlijk een capaciteitsopbouw workshop voor nationale experts. Deze twee dagen durende workshop biedt een platform voor EU-lidstaten om ervaringen en inzichten te delen over de voortgang en uitdagingen bij de implementatie van de nieuwe Screeningverordening (EU 2024/1356), die deel uitmaakt van het Nieuwe Pact voor Migratie en Asiel.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case of F.B. v. Belgium, finding that Belgium failed to provide sufficient procedural safeguards in the decision-making process regarding the applicant’s age assessment. The Court concluded that this process violated her right to respect for private life under Article 8 of the European Convention. In particular, it highlighted the lack of informed consent and the failure to explore less intrusive methods before conducting medical tests.

EU Home Affairs Ministers approved a roadmap for the gradual implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) starting in October 2025, the revised Eurodac database set to become operational in June 2026 and ETIAS in late 2026. Ministers also reached broad agreement on facilitating go-and-see visits for Syrians in the EU to assess conditions in their home country without losing their protection status, as well as on measures to return Syrian nationals who pose a security threat or have been convicted of crimes.

Negen mensenrechtenorganisaties, waaronder 11.11.11 België, hebben het European Pushback Report 2024 gepubliceerd. Het rapport benadrukt dat illegale pushbacks een hardnekkige praktijk zijn aan de grenzen van Europa en roept op tot de oprichting van onafhankelijke controlemechanismen om naleving van mensenrechtennormen te waarborgen en verdere schendingen te voorkomen.

On 23 January 2023, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs participated in the European Parliament plenary session to discuss EU funding of physical border protection structures such as walls, fences or other barriers at the external border. According to him, the Commission will take border management needs into account “in a holistic manner”, whilst always ensuring proportionate measures and respect for fundamental rights.

Met iets meer dan 239 000 gedetecteerde irreguliere grensovergangen naar de EU die in 2024 werden geregistreerd, meldt Frontex het laagste aantal irreguliere grensovergangen sinds 2021, maar waarschuwt voor veranderende dynamieken en evoluerende uitdagingen.

As of 7 January 2025, 160 additional emergency shelter places are made available for homeless people sleeping on the streets in the Brussels Capital Region, supplementing the existing 2.600 places within the Brussels unhoused shelter network. The emergency shelter places are open to all homeless people, regardless of residence status.

The Council of the European Union adopted a decision to lift checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2025. Bulgaria and Romania will so become full Schengen members.

The situation at the Union’s borders with Russia and Belarus remains of concern with persistent threats related to the weaponisation of migrants. In a new Communication, the European Commission sets the framework for actions to guarantee the security of the Union and the territorial integrity of the Member States.

From 9 December 2024 until 8 June 2025, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee will conduct temporary checks at its borders with Belgium and Germany to, among other things, stem irregular immigration into the country and combat migrant smuggling. Travellers intending to cross the border are advised to carry their ID documents with them.

De EMN Malta Conferentie, georganiseerd door het Maltese Nationale Contactpunt voor het Europese Migratienetwerk (EMN), richt zich op het versterken van de banden tussen migrantenkinderen en gastgemeenschappen. Het doel is wederzijds begrip te bevorderen en te verkennen hoe migrantenkinderen beter geïntegreerd kunnen worden in lokale gemeenschappen, met behulp van onderwijs, sociaal werk en andere ondersteunende diensten.

On 4 December 2024, the European Commission released a proposal for a Regulation enabling a progressive start of operations for Europe’s new digital border system - the Entry/Exit System (EES). According to the proposal, the Member States will start registering at least ten per cent of border crossings, and by the end of the given six-month period, they will need to reach the full registration of all people.

The consultation for the ex post evaluation for 2014-2020 ISF Police aims to strengthen the evidence base of the evaluation by gathering the views of all relevant stakeholders. You can contribute to this consultation by filling in an online questionnaire before 21 November 2024.

The public consultation for the Internal Security Fund - Borders and Visa (ISF BV) ex-post evaluation for 2014-2020 aims to strengthen the evidence base of the evaluation by gathering the views of all relevant stakeholders for the ISF BV programme. You can contribute to this consultation by filling in an online questionnaire before 21 November 2024.

Op 21 november 2024 bezocht EMN België het team van DEI België - ECPAT om elkaar beter te leren kennen en de mogelijkheden voor samenwerking te verkennen. Het bezoek bood EMN België de kans om meer te begrijpen over het werk van DEI België, met name hun inspanningen ter bescherming van migrantenkinderen en hun ouders in opvangcentra.