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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
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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
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On 18 April 2024, the Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network (EMN) will bring together Belgian experts in the field of asylum and migration to discuss key developments that marked the year 2023 and the projects and challenges for 2024. The event will offer general information sessions as well as interactive breakout sessions on specific topics of interest.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: asylum policy, migration policy
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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
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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
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This multistakeholder meeting, co-organised by EMN Luxembourg and the Council of Europe within the framework of the EMN Platform on Statelessness, will focus on child-friendly procedures around statelessness and nationality, the special case of children regarding the burden of proof and access to nationality for children.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: statelessness, access to nationality, children
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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
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The CNCD-11.11.11 and 11.11.11 are organising a two-day European Citizens' Summit, bringing together Belgian and European civil society, and fostering collaborations on cross-cutting issues. A workshop will specifically focus on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and the way forward towards migration justice.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: civil society, solidarity, 11.11.11, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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The Egmont Institute and the European Policy Centre organise a hybrid conference that aims to provide valuable insights into the complexities of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, focusing on the delicate balance between solidarity and responsibility within the evolving asylum framework of the EU.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, responsibility sharing, solidarity
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This conference of the European Migration Network (REM), organized within the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will bring together high-level representatives and a wider audience of experts to discuss the operationalization and the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, operationalisation
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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
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EMN Georgia and EMN Cyprus organise a joint conference on information campaigns which constitute a central element of current migration strategies, both at the national and European levels.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: information campaign, migration management
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Of the 14.779 Ukrainian refugees registered with the VDAB, 45 percent (6.599) have already worked and 27 percent (4.045) are still working. Some argue that more should be done to guide them into work, inter alia encouraging language learning in the workplace.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: Ukraine, employment rate, labour market access, language barrier
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Today, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved the inter-institutional agreement achieved in December with the Council on the Migration and Asylum Pact.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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Today, EU Member States’ representatives meeting in the Coreper approved key laws which will reform the EU’s asylum and migration system. The EU laws of the Pact touch upon all stages of asylum and migration management.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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Today Eurostat launches an interactive visualisation tool that offers a comprehensive overview of data related to demography, the labour market, education, social inclusion, housing, health and active citizenship of the migrant population in the EU.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: inclusion, Immigrant integration
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EU Home Affairs Ministers met today in Brussels during an informal meeting. Emphasis was placed on the need to finalize the legal texts of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and to start the implementation process. Ministers also discussed the future of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection in Europe.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union, Ukraine, temporary protection, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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During this policy talk, Jean-Louis De Brouwer (Director, European Affairs Program, Egmont Institute) and Ralph Genetzke (Director, ICMPD Brussels Mission) will assess the main lessons and migration policy developments of 2023 and offer their insights for the year ahead in a discussion moderated by Violeta Wagner (Regional Portfolio Manager, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, ICMPD).
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Prague Process, policy developments
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In 2023, the Immigration Office registered a total of 35.507 applications for international protection. This is slightly less than in 2022 when a total of 36.871 applications for international protection had been registered in Belgium.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum figures, application for international protection, asylum applications
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Today the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, in the presence of all relevant asylum and immigration services, presented the new migration code. This new code aims to clarify procedures, simplify the texts and better fight against abuse.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Migration Code, immigration law, reception law
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According to an announcement from the office of the Brussels Social Minister Alain Maron, 155 additional emergency places are opened today to accommodate homeless or poorly housed people in Brussels. The emergency shelter welcomes everyone, regardless of residence status.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: homeless shelter, extreme cold plan, homelessness
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) looks forward to cooperating with the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union and stands ready to offer its continued support and expertise. With a view to building this partnership, the IOM publishes some recommendations on migration and mobility for 2024.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Hungarian Presidency, Council of the European Union, recommendation
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For the next six months, Belgium will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a position it hasn't held since 2010. The Belgian Presidency will be particularly important as it will steer the debates on the European Council’s Strategic Agenda and lead up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union
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As the end of the year is approaching, the team of the Belgian Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN) wishes you a happy holiday season. We also wish you and your loved ones, all the best for the new year!
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
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After three years of negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached an agreement on the core political elements of five key regulations that will thoroughly overhaul the EU's legal framework on asylum and migration.