The publication of the Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2023, alongside a Statistical Annex developed by Eurostat, was an opportunity to share key developments and relevant figures for 2023 inter alia:

• Eurostat presented official European statistics: 27,6 million third-country nationals were residing in an EU country and Norway in 2023, which represents an increase of 3,6 million compared to the previous year. About 3,5 million first residence permits were issued in the EU and Norway to third-country nationals, a 0,5 million increase compared with 2021. Also, on 31 March 2024, 4,3 million third-country nationals benefited from temporary protection in the EU and Norway. In 2023, 119.000 third-country nationals were refused entry into the EU and Norway; 1,3 million were found to be illegally present; 488.000 were ordered to leave an EU country or Norway and 93.000 were returned outside the EU and Norway.
   
• Policy and legal changes that occurred in the migration and asylum field in 2023 at EU level were outlined: Emphasis was put on the political agreement on final legislative instruments under the Pact on Migration and Asylum in December 2023, the 61.000 pledges for resettlement and humanitarian admission under the Union Resettlement Framework for 2024-2025, the political agreement in December 2023 between Council and Parliament on the revised Single Permit Directive, and the position agreed by the Council in June 2023 on the update of the Directive 2011/36/EU on combatting human trafficking.
   
• Policy and legal developments in EMN Member and Observer Countries in 2023 were also reviewed: Inter alia, countries continued to offer support to beneficiaries of temporary protection while emphasising greater self-reliance. In the context of increased migratory pressures, several countries increased border management capabilities and reinforced border controls. Initiatives were taken to enhance the effectiveness of return proceedings and readmission cooperation with third countries along major migration routes. Some countries took measures to improve the effectiveness of asylum procedures and several states improved accommodation facilities and other emergency measures. Attention was paid to vulnerable groups, exploitation, and discrimination. In order to address labour shortages, many countries reported changes to ease requirements, extend eligible occupation lists and simplified various criteria and procedures for labour migrants. Important cross-cutting themes were also examined, including technology and digitalisation as well as international partnerships.
   
• National perspectives were shared by Serbia and Finland: The latter inter alia stressed that, since the new government took office, a general tightening of the migration policy was underway. For example, the conditions for family reunification, permanent residence, and obtaining Finnish citizenship were tightened. Despite this general trend, Finland ensured continued commitment to streamlining labour migration, for example through the Talent Boost Programme to improve Finland’s ability to attract foreign workforce to meet its labour needs. Finally, Finland elaborated on the instrumentalisation of migration at its Eastern Border. In 2023, Finland responded to this by closing border crossing points. 

Speakers underlined the key role that EMN is playing in the current context in providing objective information and data on migration and asylum. In the future, and according to the Regulation on asylum and migration management, EMN will be an important source of information contributing to "adequate and timely exchange of information and data", more specifically to the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report which will serve as an early warning and awareness tool for the Union in the area of migration and asylum, and provide a strategic situational picture and projections for the coming year.

For further information on the EMN Annual Report on Migration and Asylum for 2023 and the Statistical Annex, please visit this page.