Publication date: 16 April 2026
This Inform maps national approaches to the safe country of origin (SCO) and safe third country (STC) concepts, in the context of the forthcoming Asylum Procedure Regulation applicable from June 2026. It compares legislation, policies and practices governing the designation and application of SCOs and STCs, including the use of national lists, ad hoc assessments and accelerated asylum procedures. The analysis was prepared on the basis of contributions from 26 EMN Member and Observer Countries.
Read more
Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: safe country of origin, safe third country, list, assessment, accelerated procedure, asylum procedure directive
Publication date: 27 March 2026
The report provides an in‑depth overview of Belgium’s status for smuggling victims, highlighting its objectives, legal framework, and practical implementation. It examines how the status is applied, who benefits from it, and the operational challenges encountered. The publication also identifies gaps in data collection and coordination between agencies. Finally, it offers evidence‑based recommendations to strengthen victim protection and improve the overall effectiveness of the system.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: victim of smuggling, status, Belgium, victim protection
Publication date: 12 March 2026
This study examines skills matching for migrants in Belgium as part of a broader European-level analysis conducted within the framework of the EMN. It focuses on how policies and initiatives align migrants’ qualifications and skills with labour market needs. The analysis considers both vertical and horizontal mismatches, where skills or fields of study do not correspond to job requirements. It identifies key challenges, as well as lessons learned and good practices, in supporting sustainable labour market integration through improved skills matching.
Read more
Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: labour market integration, third country national, migrants' skills, matching, mismatch, qualification, language requirement, skills recognition, gender
Publication date: 04 March 2026
The report compiles available figures for the period 2015–2024 and examines how data are recorded, shared and used. It provides a clearer statistical basis for understanding the situation of minors at risk of trafficking and aggravated forms of smuggling, while identifying structural gaps in current data systems.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Data & Statistics, Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: victim of trafficking, victim of smuggling, minor, data collection, figures
Publication date: 03 March 2026
The Latest Asylum Trends 2025 provides an annual overview of asylum activity in EU+ countries, covering asylum applications (per capita), the main nationalities of applicants, the top receiving countries, recognition rates, pending cases and the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection following the war in Ukraine. It also reviews policy developments in the EU+ and provides a 2026 outlook, examining, inter alia, geopolitical uncertainty and latent displacement risks.
Read more
Main theme: International Protection, Temporary protection
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Latest Asylum Trends, EUAA, asylum applications, recognition rate, pending cases, displaced person, Ukraine, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Publication date: 10 February 2026
This EMNews, the quarterly newsletter of the European Migration Network (EMN), offers an overview of EU and national developments in asylum and migration policy, as well as key statistics and related EMN publications for the period of October-December 2025.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: EMNews
Keywords: EMNews, Newsletter, EMN
Publication date: 27 January 2026
This EMN Inform provides an overview of the border procedures currently applied by EMN Member Countries under the Asylum Procedures Directive. It mainly examines the types of procedures, authorities involved, processing times, types of decisions taken, and safeguards for applicants with special needs. The Inform highlights differences in national practices and presents them as they exist prior to the implementation of the mandatory Asylum Border Procedure under the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Read more
Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: asylum procedure, application for international protection, border, transit zone, security, detention, vulnerable persons
Publication date: 15 January 2026
The Country Factsheet provides a brief summary of the main developments in all areas related to migration and international protection in Belgium in 2024. A statistical annex complements this Factsheet, providing an overview of the latest available statistics for Belgium on these matters.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports
Keywords: country facthseet, statistical annex, EMN Belgium
Publication date: 08 December 2025
Myria, the Federal Migration Centre and independent national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, published its independent and public annual report “Victims: Seeing Them and Listening to Them” on 8 December 2025. The report draws attention to the psychological vulnerabilities of victims of human trafficking and calls, inter alia, for strengthened training and specialisation of professionals on the specific psychological vulnerabilities and needs of these victims.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: victim of trafficking, victim of smuggling, psychological vulnerability
Publication date: 02 December 2025
This joint EMN-OECD study provides a comprehensive overview of labour migration laws, policies, initiatives, and practices targeting third-country nationals in EMN Member Countries and Serbia between January 2021 and June 2024. It examines how labour migration is used to address current and future workforce shortages, covering key countries of origin and crucial labour sectors. The study highlights the challenges faced and the practices considered by countries with regard to labour migration.
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: labour migration, labour shortages, foreign workers, talent attraction, talent partnership
Publication date: 28 November 2025
This EMN Inform provides an overview of how EMN Member and Observer Countries ensure access to vocational education and training (VET) for beneficiaries of international protection and applicants for international protection. It examines existing procedures, the incentive mechanisms used to encourage enrolment, and the main challenges and good practices identified across countries.
Read more
Main theme: Integration, International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: labour market integration, vocational education, vocational training, applicant for international protection, beneficiary of international protection
Publication date: 26 November 2025
This EMNews, the quarterly newsletter of the European Migration Network (EMN), offers an overview of EU and national developments in asylum and migration policy, as well as key statistics and related EMN publications for the period of July-September 2025.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: EMNews
Keywords: EMN, Newsletter, EMNews
Publication date: 06 November 2025
This Inform provides an overview of national policy and legal changes from July 2023 to early 2025 concerning the responsibilities and access to rights of beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP) under Directive 2001/55/EC. It maps these changes, provides evidence for decisions on possible financial contributions from BoTP, and offers insights into national strategies after the expiration of temporary protection.
Read more
Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, access to rights, employment, housing, education, health care, social assistance, accommodation
Publication date: 04 November 2025
This Inform offers a comprehensive overview of language and literacy support measures for adult beneficiaries of international protection (BIP) across Europe. It analyses how these measures are designed, implemented and quality-assured, how they address diverse literacy and learning needs, and maps good practices that facilitate integration into education, employment and society.
Read more
Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, language learning, language course, literacy support
Publication date: 06 October 2025
This study provides an overview of legal and policy developments related to the implementation of the Family Reunification Directive since 2017. It examines the current state of national legislation, policies, and practices following two decades of the Directive’s application, incorporating relevant case law and highlighting both challenges and best practices. It also presents data on the scale and evolution of family reunification between 2017 and 2023 (and 2024 where available), drawing on both Eurostat and national sources.
Read more
Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive, application for family reunification, requirement, eligibility, sponsor, family member, digitalisation, access to rights
Publication date: 26 September 2025
This Inform examines how international protection applicants and accommodation centres are distributed across 23 EMN Member Countries and Serbia, and how such policies are governed and managed. It compares approaches, criteria and mechanisms used by different countries, highlighting both challenges and good practices. The study also looks at how local communities and stakeholders are informed and engaged in the process. Finally, it identifies opportunities for further collaboration to support effective reception and integration.
Read more
Main theme: Integration, Reception
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: distribution, applicant for international protection, reception centre, local community, communication, funding, municipality
Publication date: 04 September 2025
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, warns that externalised asylum and migration policies must be carefully designed to avoid serious human rights risks. His report highlights how transferring asylum, return, and border control functions to other countries can expose migrants to torture, arbitrary detention, and collective expulsions. Particular risks arise in the external processing of asylum claims, return procedures including “return hubs,” and outsourcing of border control. The Commissioner calls on states to adopt precautionary approaches, safeguard vulnerable people, and ensure transparency and accountability.
Read more
Main theme: External Dimension
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: externalisation, return hub, border management, fundamental right, human rights
Publication date: 01 September 2025
Each year, the Immigration Office publishes an activity report. This annual report presents the activities of the Immigration Office over 2024, providing figures inter alia on entry and stay, vulnerable groups, international protection, the fight against irregular migration, return, and misuse of procedures.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: annual report, Immigration Office
Publication date: 14 August 2025
This EMNews, the quarterly newsletter of the European Migration Network (EMN), offers an overview of EU and national developments in asylum and migration policy, as well as key statistics and related EMN publications for the period of April-June 2025.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: EMNews
Keywords: EMN, Newsletter, EMNews
Publication date: 23 July 2025
When countries outside the EU encourage or organise the movement of migrants to put pressure on the Union or its Member States, this is called the instrumentalisation of migration. This position paper from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) explains what this means, why it matters, and how the EU can respond. It highlights the need to balance measures against political manipulation with the obligation to respect people’s fundamental rights. The paper warns that some responses risk undermining the right to asylum and other protections at the EU’s external borders.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: instrumentalisation, migrant, refugee, fundamental right
Publication date: 16 July 2025
This EMN study examines how 25 countries address the international dimension of human trafficking, encompassing prevention, law enforcement, victim support, and international partnerships. It presents national approaches, good practices and persistent challenges, both within EMN countries and in cooperation with third countries. Readers will find examples of institutional cooperation, capacity-building efforts, and initiatives targeting specific regions or groups. The study also highlights how recent EU policy developments are shaping national anti-trafficking strategies.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: trafficking victim, non-EU national, anti-trafficking strategy, international dimension
Publication date: 09 July 2025
The European Migration Network's Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) 2024 provides an overview of legal and policy developments at both EU and national levels, covering various migration and asylum topics, complemented by Eurostat statistics and national data, for the period January to December 2024.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports
Keywords: annual report
Publication date: 10 June 2025
The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 provides an overview of the state of fundamental rights in the EU, highlighting key developments and trends observed in 2024. The report includes a dedicated section on ‘Migration and asylum at the EU’s external borders’, which addresses, among other issues, challenges related to search and rescue operations, incidents of ill-treatment and rights violations at borders, concerns about border procedures under the New Pact, and fundamental rights risks associated with proposed return policies.
Read more
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: fundamental rights, external border, rights violations, ill-treatment, New Pact on Migration and Asylum, border procedure, monitoring mechanism, return hub
Publication date: 01 June 2025
This research paper introduces the "IRMIGRIGHT", the first bespoke database of social and labour rights of irregularly staying migrants in twenty-eight European countries. A number of findings emerge from the data analysis, including the fact that, on average, irregularly staying migrants have significantly weaker social rights than labour rights.
Read more
Main theme: Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: irregularly staying third-country national, social right, labour right
Publication date: 20 May 2025
In its annual report, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) provides a comprehensive overview of asylum figures for 2024, along with key internal developments and initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and decision-making. The report also addresses upcoming procedural changes, international cooperation efforts, new competences related to statelessness and vulnerable applicants, staffing and organisational improvements, and clarifications on operational and budgetary resources.