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According to recent figures published by Eurostat, Belgium sent 14.079 outgoing requests using the Dublin procedure, thus appearing in the top 5 countries that sent 86% of all outgoing requests in 2023. Belgium also reported 1.241 outgoing transfers in 2023.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: Dublin transfer
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If you want to learn more about key migration and asylum trends in 2023, join this EMN event! It will shed light on both EU and national perspectives, featuring insights from Eurostat on recent trends and statistics, and a national perspective from EMN Members and Observer Countries.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Annual Policy Report
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According to Eurostat, the number of people returned to another country increased by 11% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter of 2023. In comparison with the previous quarter (fourth quarter of 2023), the number of returns went up by 6%.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: order to leave the territory, return, law enforcement
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On 25 and 26 June 2024, EMN Belgium and its partners organised a high-level conference to present the Pact and outline subsequent steps for its implementation. The event, which convened 400 representatives from pivotal institutions and organisations, highlighted the opportunities and challenges associated with the Pact as well as the need and potential for partnerships in effectively implementing it.
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The Federal Judicial Police reveals that unaccompanied foreign minors in Belgium and throughout Europe are recruited by criminal organisations and forced to carry out theft or drug trafficking. The Federal Police draws attention to this invisible phenomenon and asks to make it a priority for action.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, forced criminality
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During the last Justice and Home Affairs Council under the Belgian Presidency, Ministers agreed to extend the temporary protection for Ukrainians for one year. This will run until March 2026.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine, visa policy, Schengen, border control, interoperability
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On 12 June 2024, the European Commission adopted the Common Implementation Plan which sets out the key milestones for all Member States to put in place the legal and operational capabilities required to successfully start applying the New Pact on Migration and Asylum by mid-2026. It provides a template for the National Implementation Plans to be adopted by Member States by the end of this year.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, common implementation plan
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 5.882 persons obtained Belgian nationality in March 2024. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in March are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Turkey.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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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
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According to the figures released by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, the share of Belgians with a Belgian background has decreased from 79,9% in 2004 to 64,8% in 2024. The share of Belgians with a foreign background increased by 5,1 percentage points between 2004 and 2014. The proportion of non-Belgians increased from 8.3% in 2004 to 13.7% in 2024.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: population structure, origin, Belgian, foreign background, non-Belgian
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The international migration balance, i.e. the difference between the number of immigrations and emigrations, was positive in Belgium in 2023. The positive international migration balance offset the negative natural balance and ensured a fairly strong population growth by 66.093 inhabitants, or by 0.57%.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: population movement, immigration, emigration
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Myria has published the first thematic section of its 2024 annual report. This section entitled "Population and movements" reveals that, largely due to the war in Ukraine, Belgium recorded a 48% increase in immigration of foreigners into the country in 2022, compared to 2021. It also highlights that the number of first residence permits increased by 52% in 2022, compared to 2021.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: migrant population, immigration, emigration, first residence permit, temporary protection, Ukraine
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This multistakeholder meeting, jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the EMN Luxembourg within the framework of the EMN Platform on Statelessness, will allow participants to share good practices and challenges on topics including the age assessment and best interest of the child; the burden of proof in the special case of children and the access to nationality for children.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: age assessment, best interests of the child, burden of proof, access to nationality
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On 23 May 2024, the Commission and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society discussed the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. NGOs asked the Commission to encourage EU countries to work with civil society. They also shared concerns on the border procedure and respect of fundamental rights, and underlined the need for resources.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, implementation, non-governmental organisation, civil society, fundamental rights
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During a joint webinar, experts from the European Migration Network and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development highlighted the positive trends characterizing the labour market integration of Ukrainians, including employment rates and their progress, main sectors of employment, and most common policies and measures for facilitating labour market integration. They also identified the difficulties and remaining challenges in this domain.
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Fifteen European countries plead with the European Commission to go beyond the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. They push for comprehensive, mutually beneficial and durable partnerships with third countries located along the migratory routes. They also want to inter alia explore solutions aimed at rescuing migrants on the high seas and bringing them to a predetermined place of safety in a partner country outside the EU.
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Main theme: External Dimension
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, externalisation, partnership, return hub, safe third country
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On 14 May 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted 10 legislative acts which reform the entire European framework for asylum and migration management. Member States will now have two years to put the laws that were adopted today into practice. The European Commission will soon present a common implementation plan to provide assistance to Member States in this process.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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This webinar will showcase key findings from the new joint EMN-OECD Inform on the "Labour market integration of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine". These findings will be contextualised by drawing insights from other international organisations and highlighting specific approaches and measures adopted by different host countries.
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Main theme: Integration, Temporary protection
Keywords: labour market integration, beneficiary of temporary protection, Ukraine
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Eurostat published 2023 figures regarding immigration law enforcement in the EU, with a particular focus on people refused entry in the EU, people found to be illegally present in the EU, people ordered to leave an EU country and people returned following an order to leave.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: immigration law, law enforcement
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This event will convene key stakeholders to facilitate discussions about current challenges and to provide insights on good practices in governing the accommodation of international protection applicants and supporting access to housing for international protection beneficiaries.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: applicant for international protection, beneficiary of international protection, accommodation, housing
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On 2 May 2024, President von der Leyen was with Cypriot President Christodoulides in Beirut to announce a financial package of EUR 1 billion for Lebanon to contribute to the country's socio-economic stability and to migration management. The deal has already received criticism from various quarters.
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Main theme: External Dimension
Keywords: partnership, irregular migration, financial package, migration management
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The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council organised a Ministerial Conference to work towards a common understanding of the main stages of the implementation of the Pact. Particular attention was paid to the development of common and national implementation plans, the role of EU agencies and key stakeholders, as well as good practices from EU countries.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, implementation, operationalisation
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Under the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EMN Belgium, together with its partners, organise a high-level conference on 25-26 June 2024 to discuss the operationalisation and implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. If you wish to join us in Brussels or online, make sure to register now!
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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During its annual policy event, the Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network (EMN) invited experts in the field of asylum and migration in Belgium to reflect on developments in 2023 and prospects for 2024. Subgroups examined in more detail measures in response to the reception crisis, the new right of residence for stateless persons, information campaigns in third countries, one-stop desk models for information provision, ongoing challenges and projects in the CGRS, Belgium’s talent mobility projects and emerging trends in the field of labour migration.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: annual EMN policy event
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During the first half of 2024, pivotal policy and political developments in the area of asylum and migration were put on the agenda, including the voting of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum by the European Parliament, and the European elections. At this critical juncture, there is a need for credible evidence, established expertise and open dialogue on the direction and shape of future policymaking. Within this context, MIGNEX is convening a high-level Policy Conference on EU migration and development policy.