The United Kingdom joins the European Migration Network as an Observer Country
The United Kingdom has officially joined the European Migration Network (EMN) as an Observer Country. An Administrative Arrangement was signed on 19 June between the European Commission and the UK Home Office, formalising cooperation within the EMN framework. The agreement reinforces the exchange of objective and comparable information on migration and asylum and marks an important step in strengthening cooperation between the United Kingdom and the EMN.
The European Migration Network (EMN), coordinated by the European Commission, supports policymaking by providing objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum. It brings together EU Member States (except Denmark) and currently includes Norway, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Montenegro, Armenia, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Albania and now the United Kingdom as Observer Countries. Observer status enables non-EU countries to participate actively in the Network’s activities, including contributing to EMN studies, reports, conferences and other information exchanges.
On 19 June 2026, Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Beate Gminder, and UK Director General for the Migration and Borders Group, Dan Hobbs, signed the Administrative Arrangement in Brussels. Through this agreement, EMN Member and Observer Countries, including the United Kingdom, will exchange up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on asylum and migration. As an Observer Country, the United Kingdom will also contribute to EMN publications, conferences and other activities, further strengthening cooperation and knowledge-sharing across the Network.
The entire EMN Belgium team warmly welcomes their new British colleagues and looks forward to working with them.
