In this edition of EMNews, the following news are inter alia highlighted:

• General developments: On 14 April, the Spanish Government approved a Royal Decree introducing an extraordinary regularisation process for migrants already in the country. The measure targets individuals in an irregular situation or asylum applicants who can prove residence before 1 January 2026 and at least five months’ continuous stay prior to applying. Applicants must meet conditions including a clean criminal record and no risk to public order.
   
• Legal migration: In France, a 20 May decree raises tuition fees for most third-country national students to around EUR 3 000 per year in undergraduate studies, up from EUR 178. Part of the ˋChoose France for Higher Education’ plan, it tightens the application of differentiated fees and limits university exemptions to 20% by 2028.
   
• International protection including asylum: With effect from 12 June, amendments introduce stricter conditions for family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection in Ireland. Applicants must now wait two years before applying, demonstrate sufficient financial resources, and not rely on certain social or housing supports, with some exceptions for minors.
   
• Unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups: On 11 June, Austria adopted amendments to the General Civil Code and the Uncontested Matters Act, establishing guardianship for unaccompanied minors from the first day of their arrival, in line with the government programme, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Federal Constitutional Act on the Rights of Children and the Reception Conditions Directive.
   
• Integration and inclusion: From 1 May, Lithuania made the VERTIS system's free translation services publicly available to all foreigners and relevant institutions, facilitating communication, promoting migrants' autonomy and improving access to public services.
   
• Citizenship and statelessness: On 16 June, Finland adopted amendments to the Citizenship Act introducing a citizenship test from 2027. The test, part of a broader reform tightening access to Finnish citizenship, will assess applicants' knowledge of Finnish society and its values.
   
• Border management and irregular migration: On 22 April, France and the United Kingdom signed a new agreement to strengthen efforts to prevent irregular English Channel crossings. The agreement includes up to EUR 766 million in UK funding over three years, increased personnel along the French coastline and enhanced surveillance capabilities.
   
• Trafficking in human beings: On 11 June, Greece adopted Law 5307/2026 to strengthen the identification and referral of trafficking victims in the reception and international protection systems, including mandatory referral to the National Referral Mechanism and enhanced safeguards for applicants with special reception needs.
   
• Return and readmission: On 23 April, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted a bill introducing the possibility of imposing a lifetime entry ban on certain foreign nationals considered to pose a serious threat to public order or national security. The measure applies to persons registered in the national database on terrorism, extremism and radicalisation.
   
• Migration and development: On 10 June, Italy launched a new AMIF-funded project to support legal migration and labour market integration. It will provide vocational and civic-language training to 300 workers from Ecuador, Ethiopia and Uzbekistan, with applications open from 24 June to 8 July.

For detailed news, please read the EMNews attached above.