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On 23 December 2025, the Belgian Council of Ministers approved a draft law linking social assistance to integration efforts. For recognised refugees, the draft law foresees that the Individual Social Integration Project (ISIP) should include, at a minimum, participation in an integration path. Other newcomers, including third-country students and economically inactive EU citizens, would now need to have legally resided in Belgium for five years before becoming eligible for social assistance.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: integration income, Integration path, integration programme, requirement, efforts to integrate
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The EMN Finland Conference 2025 will examine the changed operating environment of immigrant integration in Finland, as well as the challenges and opportunities it presents. The conference will have a special focus on early-stage integration services and their impact on immigrant integration and employment.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: Finland, integration policy, integration act, early-stage integration
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On 31 October 2025, the European Migration Network (EMN) released its latest Inform highlighting how 25 EMN Member and Observer Countries are addressing access to education for migrant children. The report shows that nearly all participating countries have adopted national measures to support linguistic, social, and emotional integration in schools. Despite persistent barriers, such as language difficulties and unequal learning outcomes, good practices are emerging across Europe, according to this Inform.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: migrant child, access to education, inclusion, language learning, psychosocial support, parental involvement
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The EMN Lithuania Conference will explore how labour migration and integration policies can be better aligned to address Europe’s evolving workforce needs. Bringing together policymakers, experts, and practitioners, the event will examine ways to build coherent and sustainable labour migration systems. Discussions will focus on fair treatment, inclusion, and long-term outcomes for migrants. The conference will highlight the importance of linking policy design with practical integration measures across the EU.
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Main theme: Integration, Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration policy, integration policy, labour market need, inclusion, policy coherence
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EMN Portugal’s 2025 Conference will focus on the specific challenges arising from international protection and the integration of beneficiaries. The event will bring together researchers, government agencies, social partners and private sector representatives to exchange knowledge and explore innovative policies and practices. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss national experiences and share successful approaches adaptable to various contexts.
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Main theme: Integration, Vulnerable groups
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, integration challenge, vulnerability
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The Flemish government has decided that third-country workers – from outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will follow a mandatory tailored integration trajectory from 2027. The initiative, proposed by Minister Hilde Crevits, will be delivered digitally and can be started in the country of origin or within six months of arrival in Flanders. The programme provides essential information on work, rights and responsibilities, and Flemish norms and values. Certain temporary or seasonal workers, students, and holiday-work participants are excluded.
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Main theme: Integration, Economic migration
Keywords: migrant worker, self-employed, integration programme, digital learning
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This conference will draw on international and Irish expertise on integration to support an understanding of Ireland in a European policy context and to share evidence about what works in integration policymaking. Included will be both national and local perspectives on Irish integration.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: two-way integration, migrant, host society
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In 2024, a total of 17.939 newcomers obtained an integration certificate in Flanders, according to the Jaarrapport Inburgering 2024. This is the highest number recorded since 2018 and marks a 16% increase compared to the previous year.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: civic integration programme, integration certificate, Flanders
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Nearly one in eight self-employed workers in Belgium do not hold Belgian nationality. This proportion rises to more than four in ten in the Brussels-Capital Region. An analysis of recent data from the National Institute for Social Security of the Self-Employed (INASTI) by the social insurance fund Acerta highlights these figures. The study also reveals differences in age, sector activity, and income between Belgian and non-Belgian self-employed individuals.
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Main theme: Integration, Data & Statistics, Economic migration
Keywords: self-employed, Belgian, non-Belgian
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Organised by the Czech National Contact Point of the European Migration Network, the conference will explore forthcoming changes and approaches to integration policies across the EU. It will also reflect on the development of integration policy in the Czech Republic and support the definition of a long-term national vision, including the roles of the various actors involved.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: integration policy, third country national, Social cohesion
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On 6 June 2025, the Flemish Government approved a communication advancing the development of pre-arrival integration trajectories for newcomers from their countries of origin. This step follows earlier pilot projects and aims to better prepare family reunification and labour migrants for life in Flanders through a digital societal orientation course.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: integration programme, pre-arrival integration, pre-arrival orientation, pilot project, digital learning, Foreign newcomers
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In 2024, 19.435 people participated in the Social Orientation (Maatschappelijke Oriëntatie, MO) course in Flanders. This marks a significant increase in participation. Alongside the rising numbers of participants in the Social Orientation course, the demand for Dutch as a Second Language (NT2) courses also remains high, as evidenced by recent reports from AMAL vzw, Atlas Antwerp, and the Agency for Integration and Civic Integration.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: civic integration course, Agency for Integration and Civic Integration, language learning, language course
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On the occasion of Labour Day, Fedasil published new figures on the professional activity of applicants for international protection residing in reception centres. In 2024, 41% of those allowed to work were active on the Belgian labour market. The data show differences in employment rates depending on gender, age, and nationality.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: applicant for international protection, access to employment, labour market access
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The EU Commission launched a call for proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to finance projects aiming to improve healthcare access for migrants, support migrant women through better labour market integration, enhance digital literacy, create accessible education, ensure the protection of migrant children. The available call budget is EUR 34 million.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: asylum and migration fund, access to healthcare, labour market integration, digital literacy, education, migrant child
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The Education Department of Caritas International Belgium, in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Sankaa, has launched "Building Bridges", an educational resource for secondary school teachers. This resource helps educators address key topics such as identity, prejudice, racism, and media representation. At its core, "Building Bridges" explores the central question: How can we create a more supportive and inclusive society where everyone has a place?
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: inclusion, secondary school, diversity, migratory background, discrimination
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The conference will explore the future of Ukrainian displaced persons beyond temporary protection and will bring together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for policy transitions, address employment related integration challenges, share best practices, and examine the role of the diaspora in supporting long-term solutions.
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Main theme: Integration, Temporary protection
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, Ukraine
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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
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About sixty Eritrean refugees gathered in front of the Town Hall in Ghent to draw the authorities' attention to the impact of the housing crisis on their situation and integration prospects. The authorities expressed their intention to find solutions but called on Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt to address this issue together. They also stated that they would consider a European response to this widespread problem.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: housing shortage, homelessness
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In a recent judgment, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) held that national legislation may oblige beneficiaries of international protection to pass a civic integration examination. However the fact of having failed such an examination cannot be systematically penalised by a fine.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: civic exam, civic integration course, fine
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The purpose of this conference is to address the situation of migrant women in Spain and in other Member states, highlighting the challenges and problems they face and what measures are being taken to ensure their integration and inclusion, especially with regard to access to the labour market and housing.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: inclusion, migrant woman, labour market access, housing
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During this Networking Day, participants will examine ways to increase housing opportunities for newcomers. Through three workshops and a panel discussion, participants will bring together their experiences and expertise in the field.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: housing shortage, suitable housing, Foreign newcomers
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EMN France's national conference will focus on the recent Inform published jointly by the EMN and OECD, which provides an overview of civic training schemes/programmes for third-country nationals in EMN Member and Observer Countries, and in non-EU OECD countries. It will also discuss educational approaches, systems and exams in place to convey and assess knowledge of civic principles and values.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: civic training, civic integration programme, civic exam, digital tool
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The 2024 national conference of EMN Finland shall examine the state of play as well as the future prospects of the situation of Ukrainians in Finland and in EU countries. The conference aims to address the challenges of integration in a situation where beneficiaries of temporary protection find themselves between two countries. The conference seeks to support these persons in the limbo between integration and return.
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Main theme: Integration, Temporary protection, Return & Readmission
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, Ukraine, legal status, voluntary return
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This conference aims to present the first results of a Fedasil-funded mentoring-to-work project for highly skilled asylum seekers. It will discuss the challenges and opportunities of using mentoring as a pre-integration tool for asylum seekers. It will also explore the added value of mentoring for those who receive a positive decision and the challenges that arise from working with status holders.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: mentoring, pré-intégration, highly skilled asylum seeker
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Due to the sharp rise in applications for the equivalence of foreign diplomas in Flanders and the time- and labour-intensive investigations involved, waiting times can reach seven months. This impacts the integration of migrants into the labour market.