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According to the provisional monthly results of the statistics on changes of nationality, 3.885 persons obtained the Belgian nationality in December 2023. This raises the total figure for 2023 to 54.813 persons who obtained the Belgian nationality.
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Main theme: Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: acquisition of citizenship, Belgian nationality
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According to data collected by IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, 2023, with at least 8565 deaths and disappearances, is the deadliest year since the project's inception in 2014. IOM highlights the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: migration route, migrant death, Mediterranean
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Today, the Belgian Presidency of the Council and European Parliament negotiators have provisionally agreed on two regulations that govern the collection and use of air passenger data for border management and law enforcement.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: advanced passenger information, border management
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On 28 February 2024 the European Ombudsman published a press release regarding the completion of its inquiry about the Adriana shipwreck in June 2023, which also included recommendations regarding broader systemic issues. The Ombudsman called on EU legislators to address fundamental rights gaps and to establish an independent commission of inquiry to assess the reasons for the large numbers of deaths in the Mediterranean.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Mediterranean, shipwreck, fundamental rights, search and rescue
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A large-scale operation involving law enforcement and judicial authorities from Belgium, France and Germany, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of one of the most active networks involved in the smuggling of migrants across the English Channel in small boats.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling, English channel, Europol, Eurojust, joint action day
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The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration announced today that a new software was in the process of being developed with the digital product studio "In the pocket" to better manage information relating to the stay of third-country nationals in closed centres.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: closed centre, digitalisation
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In its pushback report 2023 published today, the human rights organisation 11.11.11. says there were 346.004 illegal pushbacks of people migrating to Europe in 2023 - that is 947 every day. The organisation used information provided by NGOs, human rights bodies and UN agencies to report this figure.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: external border, pushback, human rights
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.489 persons obtained Belgian nationality in November 2023. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in November are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Turkey.
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Main theme: Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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The Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional deal on amending the Schengen Borders Code. The update in particular clears up rules related to the reintroduction of border controls and offers solutions to situations where migrants are instrumentalised.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen, Schengen borders code, migration instrumentalization, border control
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The event will showcase tangible achievements, lessons, and insights from Inspire - Incubating Skills Partnerships beneficial to Migrants, Countries of Origin and Destination - including best practices and strategies from international partners, and encourage innovative initiatives in skills development and international mobility.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: skills partnership, skills development, mobility
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As the Year of Skills nears its end, this conference will take stock of its achievements and assess future priorities. Panellists will discuss labour migration and skills-based mobility initiatives, the EU’s attractiveness in the global competition for talent, and international partnerships for development and mobility.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: European Year of the Skills, European Skills Agenda
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The Department of Work and Social Economy is organizing an information session to explain the changes in regulations regarding the employment of foreign workers in Flanders. Such changes will enter into force on 1 March 2024.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: foreign workers, employment
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In a judgement released today, the Court of Justice of the European Union held that an unaccompanied minor refugee, who reached majority during the procedure relating to the application for family reunification with his or her parents, has a right to such reunification.
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Today, the Parliament of the Brussels Capital Region adopted in plenary session an ordinance relating to economic migration. The objective is to modernize, make coherent and simplify the current texts, to better respond to labour shortages identified in the job market.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour market shortage, shortage occupation, Brussels, foreign workers
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EU Home Affairs Ministers met today in Brussels during an informal meeting. Emphasis was placed on the need to finalize the legal texts of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and to start the implementation process. Ministers also discussed the future of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection in Europe.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union, Ukraine, temporary protection, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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Recent Eurostat figures show that in 2022, 10.093 victims of human trafficking were registered in the European Union. There were 8.064 suspected traffickers and 2.097 convicted traffickers. The statistics also shed light on gender distribution among traffickers and victims, as well as exploitation patterns.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, victims of human trafficking, gender, sexual exploitation, forced labour, Eurostat
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Today the Belgian presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive from 2011. The updated rules were called to better respond to developments in the forms and means of trafficking in human beings and to combat this crime more effectively.
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During a visit to the prison in Beveren, the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration said that more illegally staying detainees are being sent back directly from prisons, through the work of the return counsellors in the detention facilities.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: return counselling, prison, detention, illegally staying person
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.927 persons obtained Belgian nationality in October 2023. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in October are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Poland.
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Main theme: Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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Researcher and author Pascal Debruyne will present his book which contains stories of parents and minors who struggle through the family reunification procedure and stories of care providers who try their best to support these families. Panel discussions will also take place with experts in this field.
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Main theme: Family reunification
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As of today, 1 January 2024, the people of Kosovo with biometric passports no longer require visas when travelling for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to all 27 Schengen Area countries.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: visa liberalisation, Schengen area, Kosovo
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Each year, International Migrants Day is observed on 18 December. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 2000, in response to increasing migration around the world, the day aims to draw attention to migrants' human rights and highlight their contribution to our societies.
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Main theme: Migration
Keywords: international migrants day
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Today, the European Parliament adopted a resolution wrapping up the fact-finding investigation by the Working Group on Frontex Scrutiny with 366 votes in favour, 154 against, and 15 abstaining. The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) inter alia share concerns over the situation in Greece, Lithuania and Hungary.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Frontex, fundamental rights, EU border agency, search and rescue
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Social Citizenship and Migration (SCM), which is one of the multidisciplinary programmes launched by Leiden University, will hold a one-day event to feature research on migration and social citizenship from a variety of perspectives and methodologies, including history, political science, sociology, anthropology and economics.
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Main theme: Migration
Keywords: citizenship, governance, public policy
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.260 persons obtained Belgian nationality in September 2023. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in September are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Italy.