With 401 votes in favour, 284 against, and 22 cast blank or invalid votes, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission on 18 July. She presented her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, referring inter alia to security, external borders, and migration management.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: European Commission, President, Europol, Frontex, European Border and Coast Guard, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
During a webinar followed by around 160 participants, the European Migration Network (EMN) and Eurostat launched the Annual Report on Migration and Asylum for 2023 and the accompanying Statistical Annex. Key highlights from the report were outlined as well as key figures to support policy-making and monitoring. National perspectives were also shared by Finland and Serbia.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: annual report
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.
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine, visa policy, Schengen, border control, interoperability
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, common implementation plan
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: forced displacement, conflict, internally displaced person, refugee, stateless persons, return, resettlement, citizenship
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, implementation, non-governmental organisation, civil society, fundamental rights
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, implementation, operationalisation
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!
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: annual EMN policy event
On 10 April 2024, the European Parliament narrowly approved ten legislative texts to reform the European migration and asylum policy. The so-called New Pact on Migration and Asylum now only needs the final green light from Member States, which is expected at the end of the month.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
The House of Representatives approved a draft law creating a prevention mechanism to safeguard the rights of people detained in prisons, closed centres and police stations. The mechanism will be overseen by the Federal Institute for Human Rights, in conjunction with the Central Prison Monitoring Council, the Federal Migration Centre Myria, and 'Committee P'.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: prison, closed centre, monitoring, torture
During the European Council on 21-22 March 2024, EU leaders reviewed the state of play on migration following the Communication from the Commission and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to continue pursuing a comprehensive approach to migration as agreed in its conclusions of December 2023.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, Council of the European Union
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson together with the Mauritanian Minister of Interior and Decentralisation, Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, have signed a Joint Declaration launching an EU-Mauritania migration partnership. Both parties will hold a dialogue on a regular basis to implement this Joint Declaration.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: migration dialogue, Migration Partnership
Today, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved the inter-institutional agreement achieved in December with the Council on the Migration and Asylum Pact.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Today, EU Member States’ representatives meeting in the Coreper approved key laws which will reform the EU’s asylum and migration system. The EU laws of the Pact touch upon all stages of asylum and migration management.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum
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.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union, Ukraine, temporary protection, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Today the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, in the presence of all relevant asylum and immigration services, presented the new migration code. This new code aims to clarify procedures, simplify the texts and better fight against abuse.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Migration Code, immigration law, reception law
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) looks forward to cooperating with the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union and stands ready to offer its continued support and expertise. With a view to building this partnership, the IOM publishes some recommendations on migration and mobility for 2024.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Hungarian Presidency, Council of the European Union, recommendation
For the next six months, Belgium will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a position it hasn't held since 2010. The Belgian Presidency will be particularly important as it will steer the debates on the European Council’s Strategic Agenda and lead up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Council of the European Union
As the end of the year is approaching, the team of the Belgian Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN) wishes you a happy holiday season. We also wish you and your loved ones, all the best for the new year!
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
After three years of negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached an agreement on the core political elements of five key regulations that will thoroughly overhaul the EU's legal framework on asylum and migration.
The European Migration Network (EMN), marks a significant milestone this year, celebrating 15 years of dedicated service providing objective, comparable, and policy-relevant information on emerging issues related to asylum and migration. For this occasion, the EMN publishes a document spotlighting its most influential achievements and contributions from 2018 to 2022 at both EU and national levels.
Main Theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: European Migration Network, impact analysis, 15th anniversary
This morning, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo officially presented the program and priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union. From 1 January 2024, Belgium will be at the head of all meetings and negotiations within the Council of the European Union for six months.