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.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: instrumentalisation, migrant, refugee, fundamental right
Publication date: 26 February 2019
25 (Member) States provided information on inter alia the existence of civic integration policies, whether or not participation in a civic integration programme is compulsory for recognised refugees, and possible sanctions for refusing to follow such a programme.
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Publication date: 08 April 2015
This Report makes the case of the complexity of the drivers favoring displacements as refugees, making protection based on a strict definition of persecution increasingly problematic and challenging to implement.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: displacement, forced migrant, protection gap, humanitarian crisis
Publication date: 08 August 2012
This chapter recently published in "Arab Society in Revolt" reviews demographic trends and asks to what extent immigration can help in addressing demographic challenges. It focus on the Arab Mediterranean region, interpreting emigration and revolt as two possible responses of the young.
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Main theme: Migration
Keywords: demography, irregular migrant, Mediterranean region, refugee
Publication date: 07 March 2012
UNHCR answers questions raised by the European Commission on the Right to Family Reunification of Third Country Nationals. It provides practical recommendations on different issues of concern related to family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive, refugee
Publication date: 11 May 2011
The Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (Centre) published a statistical report, carried out by the UCL
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Statistics, demography, asylum-seeker, refugee, stateless persons
Publication date:
Refugee Walk 2026 is an annual fundraising walking event organised by Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen. Thousands of participants will walk either 20 km or 40 km on 4 October, choosing to join the central event in Brussels or to follow a self-selected route elsewhere. Walkers participate individually or with friends, colleagues, or organisations, combining physical activity with a visible show of solidarity for refugees.
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Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: Refugee Walk, solidarity, refugee
Publication date:
The Klarafestival 2026 in Brussels brings together audiences, musicians, and participants from diverse backgrounds around the theme “Where is Home?”. The festival combines classical music concerts with additional activities such as conferences and discussions. It also engages in social initiatives, giving young talents a platform and reaching communities that do not usually experience live classical music. In 2026, particular attention is given to refugees, highlighting the importance of having a safe home and a sense of belonging.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Klarafestival, UNHCR, refugee, home, safety
Publication date:
From 1 January 2026, the Onder1Dak project, which promotes co-housing between private homeowners and recognised refugees in Flanders, has restarted following renewed support from the Flemish Minister for Civic Integration and Integration. The initiative aims to facilitate access to housing while supporting the social and professional integration of recognised refugees.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: refugee, access to housing
Publication date:
On Monday, Belgium repatriated 75 people from the Gaza Strip. They arrived at Ostend airport in the afternoon. Belgian authorities report that around 850 eligible individuals have already been evacuated from Gaza. About 150 people remain on the list awaiting evacuation.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Keywords: Gaza, evacuation, family member, Belgian, refugee, stateless persons
Publication date:
The Fedasil Info Point in Brussels has been supporting asylum seekers and other migrants for two years, providing accessible and centralised information in one location. Since reopening on 27 September 2023 at the former Bordet Hospital site, it has welcomed over 22.000 visitors, mostly single men with ongoing asylum procedures. Visitors most frequently ask about accommodation, medical care, legal support, and other practical matters. Partners such as Caritas International and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) assist in providing guidance and support.
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Publication date:
The term “instrumentalisation of migrants” describes a strategy where countries outside the EU use the movement of people to put political pressure on the Union or one of its Member States. This has happened at several borders in recent years and has had real human consequences. A new paper from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) explains what the phenomenon is, the dilemmas it creates, and why responses must strike a careful balance.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: instrumentalisation, migrant, refugee, fundamental right
Publication date:
World Refugee Day is celebrated every year on 20 June to recognise the situation of refugees worldwide. The day aims to raise public awareness and foster understanding of the challenges faced by displaced people. Various testimonies, events, and initiatives take place internationally and in Belgium. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: World Refugee Day, solidarity, refugee
Publication date:
This conference, organised by the scientific staff of The Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR), will center on the integration processes of refugees and socially disadvantaged migrants, access to citizenship, and the impact of naturalisation on integration. It will also analyse the way different administrations organise and manage the integration and naturalisation processes, particularly for refugees.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: refugee, socially disadvantaged migrant, access to citizenship
Publication date:
The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration has announced that she would use all possible means to reduce the number of applications from persons who already have protection in another EU Member State. She intends to oppose the Council for Aliens Law Litigation's rulings leading to the admissibility of these applications and the recognition of a protected status.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: applicant for international protection, refugee, protection status
Publication date:
Students, who were originally from Syria and Congo before becoming refugees in Egypt and Uganda, have the opportunity to start this new academic year in Belgian universities thanks to the legal and sustainable migration pathway offered by the university corridors.
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Main theme: Study § Training
Keywords: university corridor, legal pathway, refugee
Publication date:
According to the 2024 Global Trends Report from UNHCR, one in every 69 people, or 1.5 % of the entire world’s population, is now forcibly displaced. The rise in overall forced displacement was the 12th consecutive annual increase and reflects both new and mutating conflicts and a failure to resolve long-standing crises.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: forced displacement, conflict, internally displaced person, refugee, stateless persons, return, resettlement, citizenship
Publication date:
In a judgement released today in case C-222/22, the Court of Justice of the European Union held that the Qualification Directive does not permit a presumption that any subsequent application based on circumstances which the applicant has created by his or her own decision since leaving the country of origin stems from abusive intent and abuse of the procedure for the grant of international protection. Any subsequent application must be assessed on an individual basis.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: qualification directive, subsequent application, refugee, abusive intent, religious conversion
Publication date:
During the first six months of 2023, the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders already helped 152 people – mostly refugees – in their search for lost relatives. That is the highest number since 2017. The organisation is looking for volunteers who want to commit at least 6 hours a week to help find the missing relatives.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Keywords: refugee, missing relative
Publication date:
According to the Court of Justice of the EU, European Union law precludes national legislation which requires, without exception, that an application for family reunification be submitted in person at a competent diplomatic post.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Keywords: application for family reunification, Family Reunification Directive, refugee
Publication date:
On 14 September 2015, an extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting was held in Brussels to discuss Europe's response to the current refugee crisis.