Publication date:
The Return Expert Group (REG) within the EMN conducted a successful workshop dedicated to advancing multistakeholder governance towards case resolution of undocumented migrants. Facilitated by EMN Belgium and the Belgian Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), this event focused on fostering connections between national authorities, local administrations and civil society organisations (CSOs).
Read more
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: undocumented migrants, case resolution, multistakeholder governance
Publication date:
At a conference today, the European Commission proposed new legislation to prevent and fight migrant smuggling and also launched a call to action for a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling, criminal network, Europol
Publication date:
The European Migration Network (EMN) Glossary is an essential resource, which offers an EU-wide multidisciplinary vocabulary of approximately 500 terms and concepts related to asylum and migration. Let's focus today on the term "labour shortage" to make sure we have a common understanding and use of the term!
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour shortage, labour market access
Publication date:
In a press release published today, Doctors of the World declared that it opposes a new article of the draft law presented by Nicole de Moor, providing for the possibility of carrying out medical examinations under constraint to facilitate the forced return of third-country nationals. Doctors of the World says this measure risks further complicating access to health care for these particularly vulnerable people.
Read more
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: proactive return policy, medical examination, constraint
Publication date:
The European Migration Network (EMN) held a two-day conference titled ‘Shaping the future of EU legal migration: where are we and where do we want to go?’. The event was part of Spain’s current presidency of the Council of the EU, with a focus on legal migration strategies to attract the talent and skills needed from abroad.
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: talent partnership, talent mobility, skills recognition, EU Talent Pool, labour shortage
Publication date:
The Commission is today presenting a Skills and Talent Mobility package to make the EU more attractive to talent from outside the EU and to facilitate mobility within it. Today's measures include a new EU Talent Pool to match employers in the EU with jobseekers in third countries, as well as measures to promote the recognition of qualifications and learner's mobility.
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: EU Talent Pool, talent partnership, skills recognition, mobility
Publication date:
Nicole de Moor presented today a draft law which aims, in accordance with the federal government agreement, to enshrine in law a proactive return policy. The draft law inter alia provides for the obligation to cooperate in the return procedure and for the intensive individual follow up of third-country nationals who have received an order to leave the territory.
Read more
Publication date:
The Flemish Bar Association obtained in court that the Immigration Office provide lawyers with a detailed organisation chart allowing them to enter directly into contact with the employees handling the cases they are defending.
Read more
Main theme: Migration
Keywords: transparency, Immigration Office
Publication date:
The campaign aims to raise awareness among people in Guinea of the dangers of irregular migration, such as the risk of exploitation and dangerous crossings. People are also made aware of local employment opportunities and legal migration channels.
Read more
Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: prevention campaign, awareness campaign, Guinea
Publication date:
The 2023 Innovation Awards were awarded at the IOM Global Chiefs of Missions Meeting (GCOMM) in Istanbul on 25 October 2023. In the category "Regular Pathways", Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E), which facilitates skilled migration for displaced talent to respond to labour market shortages, was acknowledged as the changemaker.
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: regular pathway, skilled migrants, displaced person, labour market shortage
Publication date:
For the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, the European Commission is launching an awareness-raising campaign to inform citizens on the reality of this crime. The European Commission invites every citizen to help raise awareness by becoming part of the ‘End human trafficking. Break the invisible chain’ campaign.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: anti-trafficking day, awareness campaign
Publication date:
After the terrorist attack perpetrated by an illegally staying failed asylum seeker in the centre of Brussels on 16 October, various policymakers plead for better follow-up of failed asylum seekers and stricter enforcement of orders to leave the territory.
Read more
Publication date:
Fencing work has started today along the Westkerke and Mannekensvere highway car parks on the E40 to prevent transmigrants from crossing the highway to climb into lorries aiming to reach the UK.
Read more
Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: transmigration, transmigrant, transit migrant
Publication date:
The department "Alternatives To Detention" (ATD) from the Immigration Office organises walk-in counters for illegally staying persons who wish to receive ICAM coaching, every Wednesday from 9 until 12h in Brussels, Antwerp and Liège.
Read more
Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: individual case management, durable solution, illegally staying person
Publication date:
Organised under the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this conference will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and representatives of industries and worker unions, and allow for meaningful discussions on the current state of labour migration, trends, challenges, and possible solutions.
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration
Publication date:
As part of an investigation into acts of trafficking in human beings, 30 brothels in the northern district of Brussels have been placed under judicial seal. 25 people were subject to judicial arrest and 23 others were administratively deprived of their liberty.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: sexual exploitation, human trafficking
Publication date:
A Belgian expert participated in the conference of the Austrian Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN) focusing on opportunities and challenges in the management of EU's external borders. Participants inter alia identified the weaponization of migration as a major challenge concerning the protection of EU's external borders.
Read more
Publication date:
On the occasion of the European Anti Trafficking Day (on 18 October), PAG-ASA organizes the second Human trafficking awareness week in Brussels! A series of events from 16 to 20 October will give you the opportunity to learn about the issue, better understand its impact on victims and gain insight into the Belgian protection procedure.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, awareness week
Publication date:
In its judgment in Case C-143/22 | ADDE and Others, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled today that the Return Directive applies to any third-country national who has entered the territory of a Member State without fulfilling the conditions of entry, stay or residence. That also applies when the person concerned has entered that territory even before crossing a border crossing point where such checks are carried out.
Read more
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: return directive, internal border control
Publication date:
Frontex revealed today that the number of detections of irregular border crossings at EU’s external borders rose by one fifth (+18%) in the first eight months of 2023 to over 232 350 and that this increase was primarily driven by the number of arrivals through the Central Mediterranean, which remains the main migratory route into the EU.
Read more
Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: irregular border crossing, external border, migratory route
Publication date:
In its judgment in Case T-600/21 | WS and Others v Frontex, the General Court dismissed today the action of a number of Syrian refugees who had brought a claim for compensation before the General Court of the European Union. The applicants claimed that Frontex engaged in improper conduct with regard to them.
Read more
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: Frontex, return operation, fundamental right
Publication date:
The European Migration Network (EMN) Belgium was at the European Parliament today for a presentation on “The Power of Labour Mobility Pilot Projects to Support the EU Legal Migration Reform”, organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour mobility, pilot project, Migration Partnership Facility
Publication date:
Flanders has published a new list of medium-skilled shortage occupations open to migration which enters into force today. The new list has been adapted to the current economic reality and labor market situation - it now contains 29 positions.
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: shortage occupation, labour market
Publication date:
Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo has written to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to call for the regularisation of undocumented immigrants capable of working in jobs in short supply, reports L’Echo.