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De EMN Portugal Conferentie 2025 richt zich op de specifieke uitdagingen die voortkomen uit internationale bescherming en de integratie van begunstigden. Het evenement brengt onderzoekers, overheidsinstanties, sociale partners en vertegenwoordigers van de private sector samen om kennis uit te wisselen en innovatieve beleidsmaatregelen en praktijken te verkennen. Deelnemers krijgen de kans om nationale ervaringen te bespreken en succesvolle benaderingen te delen die aan verschillende contexten kunnen worden aangepast.
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Hoofdthema: Integratie, Kwetsbare groepen
Trefwoorden: begunstigde van internationale bescherming, integratie-uitdaging, kwetsbaarheid
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In the case of Sahiti v. Belgium, a Kosovar national has waited over 15 years for a final decision on his medical residence permit application in Belgium. He claimed that his health condition and the procedural delays exposed him to serious risks. The European Court of Human Rights found a violation of Article 8 of the Convention due to the prolonged uncertainty and precarious situation. The Court instructed Belgium, under Article 46, to ensure that a final decision is issued promptly while respecting domestic law.
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Hoofdthema: Regularization
Trefwoorden: application for a residence permit, medical ground, excessive delay, article 8 ECHR
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Belgian Ministers of Justice and Asylum and Migration, Annelies Verlinden and Anneleen Van Bossuyt, visited Albania and Kosovo on 6–8 October 2025. Their discussions addressed migration management, prison overcrowding, and bilateral cooperation in justice and security. Meetings involved national authorities and highlighted ongoing collaboration between Belgium and the two countries.
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Hoofdthema: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Trefwoorden: Belgium, Albania, Kosovo, cooperation, identification, forced return, detainee
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The European Parliament has approved legislation making it easier to suspend visa-free travel to the EU in cases of security risks, hybrid threats or human rights breaches. The reform introduces new grounds for suspension, including the use of “golden passports” and violations of international law, and allows targeted suspensions for government officials deemed responsible for abuses. The agreement will take effect once formally adopted by the Council.
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Hoofdthema: Borders & Visa
Trefwoorden: visa suspension mechanism, new ground for suspension, targeted suspension, threshold for action
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Op 2 oktober 2025 bracht EMN Frankrijk tal van Franse en Europese stakeholders samen om de inspanningen tegen mensenhandel op nationaal en Europees niveau te evalueren. Het evenement bood de gelegenheid om opkomende vormen van mensenhandel te identificeren en internationale samenwerkingsinstrumenten te bespreken, zoals Common Operational Partnerships en EMPACT-gecoördineerde acties.
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Op 2 oktober 2025 organiseerde EMN België een informatiesessie voor nieuwe visumagenten van de Federale Overheidsdienst Buitenlandse Zaken. Tijdens deze informatiesessie werd het Belgische institutionele kader voor migratie- en asielbeleid voorgesteld.
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Hoofdthema: Grenscontrole & Visa
Trefwoorden: family reunification visa, visa code, student visa
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On 30 September 2025, seven organisations, including humanitarian groups, published the fifth edition of their Belgian report on the country’s non-reception policy and its effects on asylum seekers. The report provides data on reduced access to accommodation and essential services during the first half of 2025, following policy changes introduced by the coalition government formed in January. It documents impacts on housing, healthcare, mental health, and legal support for people seeking international protection.
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Hoofdthema: Reception
Trefwoorden: reception crisis, reception capacity
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The Flemish government has decided that third-country workers – from outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will follow a mandatory tailored integration trajectory from 2027. The initiative, proposed by Minister Hilde Crevits, will be delivered digitally and can be started in the country of origin or within six months of arrival in Flanders. The programme provides essential information on work, rights and responsibilities, and Flemish norms and values. Certain temporary or seasonal workers, students, and holiday-work participants are excluded.
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Hoofdthema: Integration, Economic migration
Trefwoorden: migrant worker, self-employed, integration programme, digital learning
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The Fedasil Info Point in Brussels has been supporting asylum seekers and other migrants for two years, providing accessible and centralised information in one location. Since reopening on 27 September 2023 at the former Bordet Hospital site, it has welcomed over 22.000 visitors, mostly single men with ongoing asylum procedures. Visitors most frequently ask about accommodation, medical care, legal support, and other practical matters. Partners such as Caritas International and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) assist in providing guidance and support.
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The Presidency of the Council and European Parliament negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to enhance Europol’s role in supporting Member States against migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The deal focuses on improving information sharing and operational coordination at EU level. A European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling will be established within Europol. The agreement must still be formally approved by both the Council and the European Parliament.
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Hoofdthema: Smuggling & Trafficking
Trefwoorden: Europol, mandate, information sharing, European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling
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Myria, the Federal Migration Centre, has published a thematic report on economic migration, free movement and students as part of its annual report "Migration in figures and rights 2025". The publication explains trends in labour migration and study-related mobility. It shows that labour migration from outside the EU has slightly decreased, the share of third-country nationals among temporary postings has continued to grow, and student numbers are increasing.
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Hoofdthema: Economic migration, Study § Training
Trefwoorden: Myria, annual report, labour migration, student migration, temporary posting
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 5.523 persons obtained Belgian nationality in June 2025. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in June are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Italy and Turkey.
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Hoofdthema: Data & Statistics, Citizenship & Nationality
Trefwoorden: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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The Belgian Minister for Equal Opportunities, Rob Beenders, has launched a campaign aimed at employers, HR professionals and relevant actors to promote gender equality in the workplace. It particularly highlights the challenges faced by women of foreign origin and draws on a recent report showing that they encounter structural difficulties, such as precarious work and under-employment. A podcast complements the campaign by giving a voice to migrant women and illustrating their resilience in the face of these obstacles.
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Hoofdthema: Vulnerable groups
Trefwoorden: migrant women, labour market, gender equality, inclusion
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The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe examined the execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Camara v. Belgium. The case highlighted a systemic failure to enforce judicial decisions ordering the State to provide accommodation and material support to asylum-seekers. While some progress has been made in freeing up reception places and improving operational support, concerns persist over reductions in capacity and the risk to the rule of law. The Committee urged the Belgian authorities to adopt sustainable measures and provide detailed information on enforcement.
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Hoofdthema: Reception
Trefwoorden: reception crisis, Camara, reception place, rule of law, reception network
Minister Van Bossuyt updates Parliament on internal checks against irregular and secondary migration
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Belgium introduced targeted internal checks in July 2025 to address irregular and secondary migration. The measures are applied at airports, international bus and rail stations, and motorway rest areas. Over 11.000 individuals have been checked, with some ordered to leave the territory or placed in closed centres. The government plans to continue the checks and to conduct a six‑month evaluation.
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Hoofdthema: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Trefwoorden: checks, Belgian territory, irregularly staying third-country national, secondary movement
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Het evenement brengt deskundigen uit Duitsland en heel Europa samen om de recente ontwikkelingen op het gebied van gezinshereniging te bespreken. De debatten zullen gaan over de spanning tussen het waarborgen van grondrechten en het voldoen aan de eisen van migratiebeheer. De deelnemers zullen onderzoeken hoe deze prioriteiten in de praktijk kunnen worden verzoend door middel van nationale en Europese benaderingen.
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Hoofdthema: Gezinshereniging en -vorming
Trefwoorden: gezinshereniging, recht op gezinshereniging, mensenrechten
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Deze conferentie zal drie belangrijke aspecten behandelen: nationaal beleid en slachtofferbescherming in de lidstaten, strategieën om nieuwe vormen van mensenhandel aan te pakken en criminele netwerken te ontmantelen, en internationale samenwerkingsinstrumenten op het gebied van veiligheid. Het evenement brengt beleidsmakers, deskundigen en het maatschappelijk middenveld samen om deze aspecten te bespreken. De deelnemers zullen ook informatie krijgen over de EU-strategie ter bestrijding van mensenhandel.
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Hoofdthema: Mensensmokkel & Mensenhandel
Trefwoorden: mensenhandel, Richtlijn tegen mensenhandel, economische uitbuiting, seksuele uitbuiting
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The Council of the European Union has adopted a recommendation outlining a common framework for the gradual transition of displaced Ukrainians out of temporary protection. The measures aim to support sustainable return and reintegration in Ukraine when conditions allow, while also facilitating access to other residence statuses for those eligible. The recommendation provides guidance on voluntary return, reintegration support and information systems for displaced persons.
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Hoofdthema: Temporary protection, Return & Readmission
Trefwoorden: displaced person, Ukraine, residence permit, voluntary return, reintegration
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Het Directoraat-Generaal Vreemdelingenzaken van het Franse ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken organiseert samen met EMN Frankrijk en EMN Luxemburg de vierde workshop over 'forecasting' of prognoses en nieuwe technologieën op het gebied van migratie- en asielbeleid. Deze workshop brengt vertegenwoordigers van EU-agentschappen, internationale organisaties, nationale autoriteiten en de academische wereld samen. De deelnemers zullen van gedachten wisselen over de huidige praktijken, nieuwe ontwikkelingen en toekomstige richtingen op dit gebied.
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Hoofdthema: Cross-sectionaal, Asiel, Migratie
Trefwoorden: artificiële intelligentie, digitalisering, prognose, forecasting
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The European Commission’s proposed Return Regulation introduces measures to increase return rates across the EU. These include extended detention periods, returns to non-EU countries with no prior personal ties, offshore “return hubs”, and obligations for individuals subject to return orders. Over 200 civil society organisations have raised concerns about fundamental rights, legal uncertainty, and disproportionate impacts. They call on EU institutions to withdraw the proposal and reject it in its current form.
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Hoofdthema: Return & Readmission
Trefwoorden: return directive, return regulation, return hub, return rate, fundamental right, detention
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Eurostat data show that in 2024, the EU issued 3.5 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens, marking an 8.3% decrease compared with 2023, which had recorded the highest number to date. Employment remained the main reason for granting residence permits, while student permits continued to increase slightly.
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Hoofdthema: Data & Statistics, Asylum, Migration
Trefwoorden: Eurostat, first residence permit
EMN Ierland Conferentie: Tweezijdige integratie – ondersteuning voor migranten en gastgemeenschappen
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Deze conferentie maakt gebruik van internationale en Ierse expertise op het gebied van integratie om inzicht te bieden in Ierland binnen een Europese beleidscontext en om bewijsmateriaal te delen over wat werkt in integratiebeleid. Zowel nationale als lokale perspectieven op integratie in Ierland komen aan bod.
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Hoofdthema: Integratie
Trefwoorden: tweezijdige integratie, migrant, gastgemeenschap
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Myria werft een beleidsmedewerker aan (voltijds – contract van 2 jaar) ter ondersteuning van het Belgisch Contactpunt van het Europees Migratienetwerk (EMN). De functie focust voornamelijk op arbeidsmigratie en gezinshereniging. U draagt in het Engels bij aan het opstellen van rapporten, studies en beleidsdocumenten in een Europese context. De standplaats van de functie is Brussel.
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Hoofdthema: Cross-sectionaal, Asiel, Migratie
Trefwoorden: EMN België, vacature
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Eight officers from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) have started work at Brussels Airport to assist in return operations. They will operate alongside Belgian police to increase the number of returns. Their deployment follows the adoption of national legislation and a Royal Decree defining their powers and operational zones.
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Hoofdthema: Return & Readmission
Trefwoorden: forced return, Frontex, European Border and Coast Guard, Brussels Airport
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Asylum applications in EU+ countries fell by nearly a quarter in the first half of 2025, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). A sharp decline in requests from Syrians, following political change in the country, shifted the profile of applicants across Europe. Venezuelans became the largest group seeking protection, while Germany lost its position as the main destination country. Recognition rates reached a record low, reflecting procedural factors and changes in applicant composition.