Publication date: 18 March 2026
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries have age assessment procedures in place, how these procedures are conducted, and which actors are responsible. It also explores the challenges encountered and how they are addressed. Finally, it examines whether the respondent countries plan to introduce a new procedure or amend an existing one in the near future.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, International Protection, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: minor, age assessment, medical examination, multidisciplinary approach
Publication date: 21 November 2025
This ad hoc query maps the legislation and current practices in EU Member States regarding the use of the European travel document for the return of irregularly staying third-country nationals (TCNs). It provides an overview of whether the document is used in practice, which third countries accept it, whether established operational procedures exist, and to what extent the document is recognised for transit purposes.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: European travel document, use, acceptance
Publication date: 01 August 2025
The Belgian authorities launched this ad hoc query to understand how other Member States provide information to third-country nationals in the context of return, in order to fulfil their obligation under the Return Directive, and to assess whether making this information available via a website or IT application would be considered sufficient to meet these requirements.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: return counselling, information provision, digitalisation
Publication date: 20 July 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member Countries use new technologies to address language barriers during return procedures for third-country nationals. It investigates the deployment of tools such as translation software, handheld devices, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence throughout the return process. The query also reviews relevant legal and data protection frameworks and the application of these tools in key return-related activities like identification, communication of decisions, and detention procedures.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: language barrier, digital tool
Publication date: 03 April 2025
This ad hoc query, launched by EMN Belgium, explores whether authorities in EMN Member Countries are permitted to search the electronic devices of irregularly staying third-country nationals in the context of return. It examines the legal conditions under which such searches may take place, the categories of individuals concerned, the availability of related statistics, and the perceived impact on identification processes. The query also invites information on challenges encountered and any planned legislative developments in this area.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: irregularly staying third-country national, identification, search, electronic device
Publication date: 07 March 2025
This ad hoc query examines the voluntary return procedures for Ukrainian nationals granted temporary protection in EU Member States, focusing on the support provided for their return and reintegration. The aim is to understand the various national approaches to facilitating voluntary returns, including whether reintegration assistance is offered and how these programmes are funded.
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Main theme: Temporary protection, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, voluntary return, reintegration, Ukraine
Publication date: 05 January 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member and Observer Countries use service providers for return and reintegration services. It covers whether countries manage operations directly or rely on service providers, details on contracts and procurement methods used, and how they assess European Procurement Regulations when choosing procurement approaches, including any exceptions justifying direct contracts.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: return, reintegration, outsourcing, procurement
Publication date: 03 January 2025
This ad hoc query looks into the time limit within which an administrative authority may detain, without judicial review, an applicant for international protection or an irregularly staying third-country national who is subject to return.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: detention, judicial review, applicant for international protection, irregularly staying third-country national
Publication date: 06 September 2024
This Inform explores good practices and challenges in the coordination between different stakeholders and between different stages of return and reintegration of third-country nationals in EMN Member and Observer Countries. It explains how improved coordination among stakeholders, enhanced institutional frameworks, and effective national strategies can facilitate a consistent and structured approach to return and reintegration across Europe.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: policy coherence, effective return, sustainable return
Publication date: 05 August 2024
This ad hoc query examines how various EU Member States have implemented Article 15 of the Return Directive (2008/115/EU), Article 8 of the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU), and Article 28 of the Dublin Regulation (EU 604/2013), all of which pertain to the detention of third-country nationals.
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Publication date: 03 July 2024
This ad hoc query examines which alternatives to detention are most commonly used, especially for families with children, and how the effectiveness of the alternatives to detention is assessed. It further analyses which elements (indicators, statements, etc.) are taken into account before imposing an alternative to detention and what challenges are faced in this matter.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: alternative to detention, family with children, risk of absconding
Publication date: 15 November 2023
Within the framework of the Return Expert Group (REG), this ad hoc query aims to identify innovative collaborations related to multistakeholder governance. The focus is on partnerships between national authorities, local authorities, and civil society organizations to facilitate information sharing, guidance, and case resolution for migrants with return decisions or those remaining undocumented and off the radar of national authorities.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: multistakeholder governance, partnership, undocumented migrants
Publication date: 05 September 2023
The Swedish government has established a committee to review aspects of Swedish legislation concerning the return procedures for third-country nationals. The committee's goal is to propose new measures and revisions to existing laws to enhance the effectiveness of the return process. Consequently, they initiated an ad hoc query to gather information about the regulations related to the limited validity period of return decisions and the duration of entry bans.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: return decision, entry ban
Publication date: 16 March 2023
At the beginning of 2023, a coordination meeting of the directors of the Belgian closed detention centers was held. At this meeting, they expressed their concern about the significant increase in the trafficking of drugs inside their centers. That’s why EMN Belgium was asked to launch an ad hoc query in order to gather information on how this issue is addressed in the other Member States.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: detention, drug, trafficking of drugs, closed centre
Publication date: 22 December 2022
This ad hoc query, launched by Luxembourg, examines what guidelines, procedures, and possible best practices are in place when LGBTIQ+ individuals are detained.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: detention, vulnerable persons
Publication date: 16 September 2022
What bilateral readmission agreements exist between EU Member States, Norway and third countries to facilitate the return of migrants staying irregularly on the EU territory? This EMN inform aims to map these agreements and understand how they work.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Informs
Publication date: 24 August 2022
In the context of migration, detention is permitted and regulated by a strict European legislative framework. Recognising the severity of the measure against the right to liberty and in order to enhance the safeguards for vulnerable persons, Member States rely increasingly on alternatives to detention. Alternatives to detention are often considered to be less resource-intensive, less intrusive for the individual, and more effective at reducing pressure on national detention systems, but their implementation comes with a series of challenges.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: alternatives to detention
Publication date: 08 July 2022
What incentives and motives exist that impact a third-country national’s decision to depart voluntarily? This EMN inform focuses on the issue of voluntary departures from EU Member States and Norway, in compliance with - or in anticipation of - a return decision.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Informs
Publication date: 01 February 2021
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on return procedures had been significant across EU countries as well as OECD countries in and outside Europe since March 2020. This Inform looks into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on voluntary and forced return procedures and on policy responses.
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Publication date: 24 September 2020
24 Member States provided information on national laws and practices regarding the detention of families with children in migration procedures, the possibility to detain one of the parents and detention in the context of the age assessment process.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: detention, families
Publication date: 30 March 2020
These three EMN Informs look into i.a. possible approaches for return counselling, support for return counsellors, and information provision for the return of migrants.
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Publication date: 05 December 2018
This report critically reviews the Belgian policy on return, detention and removal of foreign nationals and presents recent figures. Just like Myria's latest migration report, the report focuses on issues related to the right to family life of persons in detention. Myria formulates recommendations to improve the respect for the human rights of those persons.
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Publication date: 24 August 2018
This study provides insight into the decision-making process of migrant families in family locations in the Netherlands, whose legal remedies in most cases have been exhausted, but nevertheless decide not to return.
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Publication date: 08 August 2018
This EMN study aims at analysing the impact of EU rules on return policies and practices of Member States (including Belgium), and hence on the effectiveness of return decisions issued across the EU.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: return directive
Publication date: 23 February 2018
This EMN Inform summarizes the main findings of the EMN study “The effectiveness of return in EU Member States: challenges and good practices linked to EU rules and standards”.