Publication date: 28 March 2011
Revised ECRE-guidelines on the treatment of still one of the most important ethnic groups of refugees in Europe
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Chechen refugees, Chechnya, IDP
Publication date: 19 January 2011
This quarterly Eurostat publication gives an insight into recent developments in international protection including applicants for asylum and decisions on asylum applications. These data are supplied to Eurostat by the national Ministries of Interior and related official agencies.
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Main theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: asylum, asylum applications, asylum decisions, data in focus, Eurostat, first instance, gender, minors of age, outcomes
Publication date: 07 October 2010
Eurostat states that around 15 000 fewer asylum applicants were registered in the EU27 during the first half of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009
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Main theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: asylum applications, asylum decisions, asylum outcomes, citizenship, comparability, data in focus, Eurostat, first instance, gender, minors of age
Publication date: 30 June 2010
Ad-Hoc Query, requested by the Belgian NCP on 12 May 2010 concerning granting of protection to so called 'Réfugié Sur Place' in EU member states - 14 responses
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: refugié sur place
Publication date: 01 December 2009
This study examines the protection statuses granted in Belgium, including those harmonized at European level and those set at the national level in the framework of asylum and immigration policies. It addresses the legal basis, procedures and rights attached to these statuses.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: displaced person, protection need, qualification directive, refugee, residence permit, rights
Publication date:
Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is carrying out a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit takes place in the context of a marked increase in asylum applications from Congolese nationals in Belgium in recent years. The mission aims to discourage unfounded asylum applications, address the misuse of visa procedures, counter document fraud and misleading messages from smugglers, and strengthen cooperation on return and the fight against irregular migration.
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On 31 March 2026, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) announced that it would temporarily suspend the notification of certain decisions in cases concerning applicants from Lebanon, in view of the current situation in the country.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: application for international protection, Lebanon, suspension, refusal, refugee status, subsidiary protection status
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The Netherlands has decided to resume Dublin transfers of single, non-vulnerable male asylum seekers to Belgium, following a period in which such transfers were suspended after a Dutch court ruling. In April 2025, the District Court of The Hague, sitting in Groningen, found that single male asylum seekers risked being deprived of adequate reception conditions in Belgium, which could expose them to inhumane or degrading treatment. The ruling led to a halt in transfers under the EU Dublin system.
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Main theme: Reception, International Protection
Keywords: Dublin Regulation, Dublin transfer, Belgium, reception condition
Publication date:
The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) has announced that it will resume processing cases from applicants originating from the West Bank who are not registered with UNRWA. The decision follows a temporary suspension in March 2025 due to the unstable situation in the region. The CGRS now has sufficient up-to-date and objective information to assess the need for international protection.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: West Bank, application for international protection, processing
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According to the Latest Asylum Trends 2025 published by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), EU+ countries received approximately 822.000 applications for international protection in 2025, representing a 19 % decrease compared to 2024. Despite the overall decline, demand for protection remained significant in some groups and countries.
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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
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The European Parliament has approved new EU asylum rules to enable faster processing of asylum requests. The reform establishes a common list of safe countries of origin while allowing Member States to maintain or designate additional safe countries at national level. It also clarifies the conditions under which Member States can apply the safe third country concept. While the legislation has now passed Parliament, it still needs to be formally adopted by the Council before entering into force.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: list of safe countries of origin, safe third country, safe country of origin
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In 2025, Belgium received 34.439 applications for international protection, a decline compared with 2024. The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) took decisions on 31.457 people, with a protection rate falling to its lowest level in over a decade. Key factors behind this trend include the suspension of the processing of Syrian cases in the first ten months of 2025 and prioritisation of applications from individuals already protected in other EU Member States.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: application for international protection, asylum decisions, protection rate
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The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGVS) announced on 15 January 2026 that it is temporarily suspending the processing of applications for international protection from Iranian nationals. The CGVS stated that, given the current situation in Iran and the difficulty in obtaining sufficiently reliable and up-to-date information, it is currently unable to assess the need for protection accurately.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: application for international protection, Iran, suspension, asylum decisions
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On 8 January 2026, the Resettlement Coalition issued a joint statement expressing concern over the European Union’s newly adopted Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Plan (URP) for 2026–2027. While welcoming the plan’s adoption as a step towards embedding resettlement in EU migration policy, the coalition highlighted that the number of pledges is dramatically lower than previous commitments and that the eligibility criteria are narrow. The statement calls on EU Member States to increase their contributions and ensure that protection needs remain central to resettlement efforts.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Plan, EU resettlement framework, pledge, eligibility
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The Council of the European Union has agreed its position on two key proposals to strengthen the use of safe country concepts in EU asylum rules. One addresses the safe third country concept, and the other establishes the first EU‑wide list of safe countries of origin. They aim to accelerate asylum procedures and improve the management of applications from those unlikely to require protection. Negotiations with the European Parliament, which has also endorsed the list, will follow to agree on the final texts.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: safe third country, safe country of origin, list of safe countries of origin
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During a session of the Chamber of Representatives’ Interior Committee on 2 December 2025, Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt outlined the government’s decision regarding the list of safe countries of origin. She specified which countries are included in the 2025 list and explained that Morocco was added due to improvements in its human rights situation and the low recognition rate for asylum applications from Moroccan nationals.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: list of safe countries of origin
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The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) is resuming the processing of applications for international protection from Syrian nationals from 1 November 2025. The suspension, in place since 9 December 2024, was implemented to gather sufficient information on the security situation in Syria.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: application for international protection, Syria
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Asylum applications in EU+ countries fell by nearly a quarter in the first half of 2025, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). A sharp decline in requests from Syrians, following political change in the country, shifted the profile of applicants across Europe. Venezuelans became the largest group seeking protection, while Germany lost its position as the main destination country. Recognition rates reached a record low, reflecting procedural factors and changes in applicant composition.
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In August 2025, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) introduced a Self-Assessment Tool to help national authorities evaluate the quality of their asylum procedures. Based on EUAA operational standards and indicators, the tool provides a structured method for self-assessment. It aims to help administrations identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with EU standards. A descriptive version of the tool is currently available to guide implementation.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: asylum procedure, international protection procedure, quality, self-assessment
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From 4 August 2025, Belgium implements two changes affecting international protection procedures. The period to justify absence from personal interviews is reduced from 15 to 8 days. In addition, new applications submitted after a decision on a previous request in another EU Member State are now registered as subsequent applications.
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The Court of Justice rules that designating a country as ‘safe’ must allow effective judicial review
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The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that a Member State may designate a third country as a ‘safe country of origin’ by legislative act, provided that the designation can be subject to effective judicial review. The judgment clarifies that the sources used for such a designation must be accessible to both applicants and courts. The Court also stated that a country cannot be listed as ‘safe’ if it does not offer adequate protection to all its population.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: safe country of origin, right to an effective remedy
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The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) announced that the suspension of processing of applications for international protection from Syria, a measure in place since December 2024, would be extended until the end of October 2025.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Syria, CGRS, asylum applications, asylum decisions
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The Dutch Council of State has ruled that single male asylum seekers may no longer be transferred to Belgium under the Dublin Regulation. The judgment cites systemic failures in Belgium’s reception and legal protection for this group, exposing them to a real risk of inhuman treatment. These individuals must now remain in the Netherlands while their asylum claims are processed.
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Main theme: Reception, International Protection
Keywords: Dublin Regulation, Dublin transfer, shortage, reception place, inhuman treatment
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On 23 July, Belgium officially published two new laws aimed at reducing the burden on international protection procedures and limiting access to reception for certain applicants. In particular, these laws redefine which applications are considered subsequent by including those who have already received protection or a final decision in another EU country, and they limit access to reception facilities and material assistance for this group. The laws reflect the government’s intention to streamline asylum processing and manage reception capacity effectively.