Publication date: 20 October 2022

In 2022, Belgium was subject to the third evaluation round of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. This report analyses in detail how the Belgian authorities ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims of trafficking in human beings.

Publication date: 19 October 2022

How do other EU Member States, and Georgia, recognise diplomas obtained in third countries? This ad hoc query, that Belgium launched in July 2022, focused on the (i) institutional landscape for diploma recognition throughout Europe, (ii) the role of Public Employment Services in this recognition and (iii) best practices that the responding States wanted to share regarding their diploma recognition practices, specifically in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. 20 countries answered the query.
Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: diploma, recognition

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.
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.
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: alternatives to detention

Publication date: 19 August 2022

The Country Factsheet provides a brief summary of the main developments in migration and international protection in Belgium in 2021, including the latest statistics.  
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports

Publication date: 14 August 2022

Do Member States grant access to the labour market to family members of international students and, if so, to which family members and under which conditions? This ad hoc query launched by Belgium shows that policies and practices in this matter still vary among Member States.

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.
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Informs

Publication date: 15 June 2022

The EMN annual report on asylum and migration provides an overview of the major developments in the field of migration and asylum in Belgium and in the EU in 2021.
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports
Keywords: annual report

Publication date: 06 May 2022

Trafficking in human beings is a crime against the victim’s fundamental rights. It can take several forms, such as sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery and servitude-related practices, as well as the removal of organs. This practice is prohibited under numerous EU and international instruments. Yet, persistent demand for sexual services and for low-wage workers employed in manual jobs continues to provide opportunities for traffickers to exploit human beings.

Publication date: 08 March 2022

This EMN inform outlines approaches, experiences and best practices in monitoring, detecting and addressing the misuse of authorisations to reside in the EU for the purpose of study.
Main theme: Study § Training
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: student migration

Publication date: 03 March 2022

EMN in cooperation with the OECD published a new inform ‘Skills Mobility Partnerships: Exploring Innovative Approaches to Labour Migration’. This inform highlights experiences by EU Member States, non-EU countries and international organisations with regards to the introduction of Skills Mobility Partnerships (SMPs), a new concept that promotes a sustainable approach to skilled migration and mobility, with the aim to build skills for the benefit of both countries of origin and destination.

Publication date: 22 July 2021

On 20 July 2021, the European Migration Network (EMN) published an overview of Member States’ experiences with new legal pathways in the areas of Talent Partnerships and complementary work-related pathways for those in need of international protection.
Main theme: Migration
Publication Type: Informs

Publication date: 16 July 2021

The Country Factsheet provides a brief summary of the main developments in migration and international protection in Belgium in 2020, including the latest statistics.
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports
Keywords: 2020

Publication date: 01 July 2021

This paper provides an overview of EU initiatives on developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve border control and border security.
Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: artificial intelligence, border control, security

Publication date: 16 June 2021

The current Belgian government, in office since October 2020, announced that it would replace the Immigration Act by a new Migration Code. In this context, EMN Belgium sought information about the structure of national migration laws of other Member States and the terminology used for migration policies, subjects and institutions, the result of which was compiled and summarized. 
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Migration Code

Publication date: 11 June 2021

The EMN annual report on asylum and migration provides an overview of the major developments in the field of migration and asylum in Belgium and in the EU in 2020.
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports

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. 
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: return

Publication date: 20 January 2021

For many EU countries, seasonal workers from third countries are crucial to fill temporary, cyclical labour market needs. Since the adoption of the Seasonal Workers Directive in 2016, this specific category of workers can benefit from EU-harmonised admission policies and rights concerning their entry and stay. This study provides a comparative overview of recent trends in seasonal workers coming to the EU and Belgium, and the strategies and practices related to seasonal workers from third countries.

Publication date: 15 December 2020

Myria, the Federal Migration Centre and independent national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, published its independent and public annual report "Behind Closed Doors" on 15 December 2020.
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report

Publication date: 04 November 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the flow of migrants who planned to enter the EU and OECD countries as workers in essential sectors (e.g. health- and care- workers, hospital auxiliary staff, agricultural workers) as well as those who were residing on a temporary or renewable basis for the purpose of work in these sectors. How did EU & OECD countries respond to the need to prevent labour market shortages during the COVID-19 crisis? An answer to this and other questions can be found in the Inform.
Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: labour migration

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.
Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: detention, families

Publication date: 17 September 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the ability of international students to enrol in a HEI abroad and to travel to that country to take up studies. How did EU & OECD countries respond? Did they adapt their admission processes? An answer to these and other questions can be found in the Inform.
Main theme: Study § Training
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: student migration

Publication date: 06 August 2020

The Country Factsheet provides a brief summary of the main developments in migration and international protection in Belgium in 2019, including the latest statistics.
Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Annual Policy Reports
Keywords: annual report

Publication date: 05 August 2020

The first EMN and OECD inform on the impact of COVID-19 in the migration area is out. The inform focuses on EU and OECD Member States responses to managing residence permits and migrant unemployment.
Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: unemployment