According to preliminary data collected by Frontex, the most significant declines in irregular border crossings were observed on the Western Balkan and Central Mediterranean routes, with a 79% and 64% decline, respectively. The Eastern Land Border and Western African routes saw the highest increases, at 192% and 100%, respectively.

EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson announced that the Entry-Exit System (EES) which aims to modernise EU border management and which was supposed to start on 10 November 2024, has been postponed with no new date set. Ms Johansson suggested that the EU may roll out the EES gradually.

During the plenary debate on the reintroduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area and its impact on EU free movement, Commissioner Ylva Johansson underlined that internal border controls must be temporary, proportionate and a measure of last resort. She underlined that alternative measures should always be prioritised.

Myria has published the fourth thematic section of its 2024 annual report. In this section, entitled « Economic migration, free movement and students » Myria notes that more third-country nationals were posted to Belgium in 2023 than in 2022. Posted workers from third countries are more vulnerable to exploitation than EU-based posted workers. Therefore, they urgently need increased legal protection, according to Myria.

Before 20 September 2024, Member States can apply for funding for projects focused on combating organised crime under the Internal Security Fund and for projects to reinforce border checks or border surveillance under the Border Management and Visa Instrument. EUR 17 million are intended for this purpose.

Op 19 september 2024 presenteerde EMN België de bevindingen voor van zijn nationale bijdrage aan de komende EMN Studie over de Illegale tewerkstelling van onderdanen van derde landen (2017-2022). Daarbij werd de vergelijking gemaakt met de nationale bijdragen van EMN Oostenrijk en EMN Italië.

Checks are being temporarily reintroduced at Germany's borders with Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Denmark. They will run from 16 September 2024 until 15 March 2025 to, among other things, reduce irregular migration and combat people smuggling. 

The Walloon administration announces that new regulations come into force on 1 September 2024 regarding salaried economic migration for foreign workers in Wallonia. The system remains largely unchanged in its principles, still falling within the broader framework of the Single Permit for work and residence authorization for foreign workers. However, a new decree of the Walloon Government organizes new features and modifications.

The latest report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) identifies systemic gaps and obstacles to investigating rights violations at EU borders. The report suggests concrete steps to ensure more effective investigations into incidents of loss of life and ill-treatment at the EU’s borders.

Het aantal irreguliere grensoverschrijdingen naar de Europese Unie daalde in de eerste zes maanden van 2024 tot ongeveer 94.000, volgens voorlopige gegevens verzameld door Frontex. De Westelijke Balkan en de Centrale Middellandse Zee noteerden de grootste dalingen in het aantal gedetecteerde irreguliere grensoverschrijdingen, terwijl West-Afrika en de Oostelijke landgrens de grootste stijgingen zagen.

This online annual conference, organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA), will debate the latest developments and challenges in the EU’s internal and external border management. It will inter alia analyse the latest proposals and reforms on the functioning and operation of EU border management systems, including Schengen, as well as Frontex’ role and responsibilities. 

On 13 June 2024, the Council of the European Union agreed its position on the proposal for an EU Talent Pool to facilitate the recruitment of talent from third countries who live outside the EU, to make the EU labour market more competitive and to tackle shortages on the European labour market.

On 24 May 2024, the Council of the European Union, with Spain and Slovenia abstaining, finally adopted the reform of the Schengen Borders Code. The reform inter alia aims to make the Schengen area more resilient to present and future crises at its external borders. 

On 2 May 2024, the Chamber of Representatives adopted in plenary session the draft law relating to the competencies of the members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on the national territory. The law inter alia defines how Frontex members will support the Federal Police in the field of border controls and forced return of foreigners.  

Nu de vraag naar arbeidsmigranten toeneemt door aanhoudende tekorten aan arbeidskrachten en geopolitieke verschuivingen in Centraal- en Oost-Europa, zal deze conferentie dieper ingaan op de manieren waarop landen migranten proberen aan te trekken, een ethisch verantwoorde aanwerving garanderen en een beleid voor integratie in de arbeidsmarkt voeren. 

On 16 April 2024, the Commission published its 2024 State of Schengen report. The report elaborates on major legislative and policy developments in the area of Schengen from the past year, including the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It also reflects on challenges and sheds light on future priorities for the EU in the field of Schengen.

Op vrijdag 12 april 2024 heeft de Raad van de Europese Unie de herziene Richtlijn betreffende de Gecombineerde Vergunning goedgekeurd, waarin de procedure wordt vastgesteld voor het verkrijgen van een gecombineerde vergunning om in de EU te werken en te verblijven met een gemeenschappelijk pakket rechten voor werknemers uit derde landen. De herziening voorziet in een verkorte aanvraagprocedure en beoogt de rechten van werknemers uit derde landen te versterken door verandering van werkgever en een beperkte periode van werkloosheid toe te staan.