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In a press release from 26 July 2024, Myria, the Federal Migration Centre, calls on the authorities, given the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, to make greater efforts in terms of information provision and administrative and procedural flexibility, both in terms of access to evacuation and the submission and processing of visa applications.

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Op 22 juli 2024 lanceerde de Minister van Justitie officieel de Blue Heart-campagne op het stadhuis van Antwerpen. EMN België was er bij, net als de lokale overheden, de drie gespecialiseerde centra voor slachtoffers van mensenhandel, Myria, de Sociale Inlichtingen- en Opsporingsdienst en IOM. Omdat één op de drie slachtoffers van mensenhandel wereldwijd een kind is, focust de wereldwijde campagne dit jaar op versnelde actie om een einde te maken aan kinderhandel. 

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Volgens Statbel, het Belgische statistiekbureau, hebben 4.988 personen in april 2024 de Belgische nationaliteit verkregen. De belangrijkste herkomstlanden van mensen die in april de Belgische nationaliteit hebben verkregen, zijn Marokko, Syrië, Roemenië, Afghanistan en Turkije.

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Vanaf 1 juli 2024 zullen volwassen asielzoekers die in een opvangcentrum verblijven en een werkinkomen hebben, moeten bijdragen aan deze opvang. Wie geen bijdrage wil leveren, kan overwegen om buiten het opvangcentrum te verblijven.

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The Immigration Office disclosed a new website aimed at informing applicants for international protection about the purpose and course of the registration. Each step of the process is explained in 16 languages via texts, audio, and videos. The website was co-funded by the European Union.

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In order to structurally shorten the duration of reception in Belgium, an amendment was made to the Reception Act. Anyone who receives a final negative asylum decision must leave the reception place within a period of 30 days.
Hoofdthema: Reception
Trefwoorden: reception centre, material assistance

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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 5.882 persons obtained Belgian nationality in March 2024. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in March are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Turkey.

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Doctors Without Borders, Doctors of the World, CIRÉ, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, BelRefugees, Caritas International, and the Humanitarian Hub underline the permanent lack of reception, protection and access to medical services for applicants for international protection without a reception place. They want to challenge policy-makers and raise public awareness about people left left on the street.
Hoofdthema: Reception
Trefwoorden: reception crisis, reception capacity

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According to the figures released by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, the share of Belgians with a Belgian background has decreased from 79,9% in 2004 to 64,8% in 2024. The share of Belgians with a foreign background increased by 5,1 percentage points between 2004 and 2014. The proportion of non-Belgians increased from 8.3% in 2004 to 13.7% in 2024.

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The international migration balance, i.e. the difference between the number of immigrations and emigrations, was positive in Belgium in 2023. The positive international migration balance offset the negative natural balance and ensured a fairly strong population growth by 66.093 inhabitants, or by 0.57%.

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Myria has published the first thematic section of its 2024 annual report. This section entitled "Population and movements" reveals that, largely due to the war in Ukraine, Belgium recorded a 48% increase in immigration of foreigners into the country in 2022, compared to 2021. It also highlights that the number of first residence permits increased by 52% in 2022, compared to 2021. 

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The list of safe countries of origin, which is revised once a year, was updated on 12 May 2024 and is now published in Belgium’s Official Journal. At present, the following countries are considered as safe countries of origin: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, India and Moldova. 

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In its 2023 annual report, the Federal Institute for Human Rights draws attention, among other things, to the failure of the authorities to enforce the rulings of the Belgian and European courts and tribunals, in particular in the context of the reception crisis. The lack of resources for the judiciary, threats to human rights defenders and weaknesses in the right to information are also underlined.

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In Palestinian cases, several elements prevent the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) from taking a decision within the initial six-month period after receiving the application for international protection. The CGRS commits to ensuring that Palestinian cases are processed more quickly and that a decision can be taken within 21 months of the submission of the application for protection.

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The Expert Conference, that is jointly hosted by Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), in cooperation with the Migration Policy Institute Europe (MPI Europe), aims to explore multi-stakeholder strategies in three specific areas: reception, information provision, and pre-integration.

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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 5.297 persons obtained Belgian nationality in February 2024. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in February are Morocco, Romania, Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

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The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration announced that applications for international protection from people from safe countries of origin have been processed in 12 working days and those from people originating from countries for which a low rate of protection is granted in 39 days, since 1 February 2024. This aims to free up places in the reception network for those who actually need protection. 

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On Friday 3 May 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a draft royal decree appointing Pieter Spinnewijn as Director General of the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil). His mandate will begin on 1 July 2024 for a period of six years.
Hoofdthema: Reception
Trefwoorden: Fedasil, Director General

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On 2 May 2024, the Chamber of Representatives adopted in plenary session the draft law relating to the competencies of the members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on the national territory. The law inter alia defines how Frontex members will support the Federal Police in the field of border controls and forced return of foreigners.  

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On 2 May 2024, the Chamber of Representatives adopted in plenary session the draft law for a proactive return policy. This law inter alia introduces the obligation for the foreigner to cooperate in the return process and it expands the pool of return escorts. The law also enshrines the principle according to which minor children aren't retained in closed centres.

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Op 26 april 2024 keurde de ministerraad, op voorstel van Staatssecretaris voor Asiel en Migratie Nicole de Moor en Staatssecretaris belast met de Regie der Gebouwen Mathieu Michel, de openbare aanbesteding goed voor twee nieuwe gesloten centra in Jabbeke en Jumet.

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On the proposal of Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib and Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor, the Council of Ministers approved a draft royal decree establishing the list of safe countries of origin, now including Moldova.

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In het kader van het Belgisch Voorzitterschap van de Raad van de Europese Unie organiseert EMN België, samen met zijn partners, een high-level conferentie op 25 en 26 juni 2024 om de operationalisering en implementatie van het Nieuw Pact inzake Migratie en Asiel te bespreken. Als u erbij wilt zijn in Brussel of online, schrijf u dan nu in!

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Tijdens zijn jaarlijkse "policy event" nodigde het Europees Migratienetwerk (EMN) België experten op het gebied van asiel en migratie in België uit om na te denken over de ontwikkelingen in 2023 en de vooruitzichten voor 2024. Opgedeeld in subgroepen gingen de participanten dieper in op maatregelen als antwoord op de opvangcrisis, het nieuwe verblijfsrecht voor staatlozen, informatiecampagnes in derde landen, one-stop desk modellen voor informatieverstrekking, lopende uitdagingen en projecten in het CGVS, Belgische projecten rond mobiliteit van talent, en opkomende trends op het vlak van arbeidsmigratie.
Hoofdthema: Cross-sectionaal
Trefwoorden: jaarlijkse EMN conferentie

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A large delegation from the federal government, accompanied by senior police officers and senior administration officials, is leading a mission to Morocco. The fight against illegal immigration and the return policy are among the priority issues discussed with the Moroccan authorities.