If you would like to receive the quarterly list of EMN ad hoc queries, please send us an email at emn@ibz.be.
Publication date: 15 October 2025
This ad hoc query maps the specific provisions concerning separated migrant children in the legislation of the Member States, including the possibility for the accompanying adult to be recognised as responsible for, or as the representative of, the accompanied separated child. It also covers the arrangements in place to preserve the relationship between the separated child and the accompanying adult, as well as the monitoring of separated children.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: separated child, migrant child, care, representation, family member
Publication date: 11 October 2025
This ad hoc query examines where applicants for international protection (and beneficiaries of temporary protection) with special needs are accommodated. When accommodated in regular reception centres, the query explores the services provided in-house and the professionals employed in this regard. When applicants are accommodated in specialised facilities, the placement procedure is examined, including which stakeholders are involved and their respective roles and responsibilities. It also covers how these financial costs are borne.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Reception
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: applicant for international protection, beneficiary of temporary protection, special needs, physical health, mental health
Publication date: 27 September 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on national lists of safe countries of origin and safe third countries, including their adoption and use. It examined exceptions for specific regions or categories of applicants and the procedures applied to their claims. It also explored the application of the safe third country concept, including assessments, safeguards and practical challenges. Finally, it gathered information on sources used, case law, good practices and planned adaptations to the new Asylum Procedure Regulation.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: safe country of origin, safe third country, list, assessment, accelerated procedure, asylum procedure directive
Publication date: 27 September 2025
This ad hoc query maps the use of positive and negative incentives to encourage participation of beneficiaries of international protection in civic integration activities or civic integration programmes across EMN Member and Observer Countries.
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Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: integration programme, integration exam, participation, incentive
Publication date: 18 September 2025
This ad hoc query examines the systems and processes used by EMN Member and Observer Countries for scheduling and confirming interviews for applicants for international protection. It investigates the extent of automation used in coordinating the schedules of all participants (applicants, interviewers, interpreters, and legal representatives) and identifies recent developments in booking procedures.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: international protection procedure, personal interview
Publication date: 06 September 2025
This ad hoc query aims to map the processing times of work-based residence permits across EMN Member and Observer Countries, including the collection of statistics on such processing times and the existence of fast-track procedures for certain categories of employees.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, work-based residence permit, processing time, highly skilled workers
Publication date: 31 August 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer countries allow the revocation of temporary protection residence permits when beneficiaries are granted temporary protection in another Member State under Article 8(1) of Directive 2001/55/EC. It seeks to identify the legal provisions governing such revocation or, where applicable, alternative approaches.
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Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: temporary protection, residence permit, revocation, termination
Publication date: 24 August 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries offer or intend to offer individual legal advice to applicants for international protection during the asylum procedure. It considers how the extent of need and allocation of resources are determined, whether certain sub-groups of applicants are distinguished, and what challenges and benefits arise from implementing such services.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: procedure for international protection, legal advice, counselling
Publication date: 15 August 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member and Observer countries verify that third-country nationals applying for residence permits with the purpose of study have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. The query also explores trends in the issuance of residence permits for third-country national students and their family members in recent years.
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Main theme: Study § Training
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: student, sufficient financial resources, documentary proof, residence permit, application for family reunification
Publication date: 07 August 2025
This ad hoc query compares the existence, type, and scope of bilateral or multilateral agreements on labour mobility between EMN Member and Observer Countries and non-EU/EEA countries, including whether they target general or sector-specific mobility, contain protection provisions, and provide monitoring or evaluation mechanisms.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: labour mobility, labour mobility agreement, labour mobility partnership, labour shortage
Publication date: 01 August 2025
The Belgian authorities launched this ad hoc query to understand how other Member States provide information to third-country nationals in the context of return, in order to fulfil their obligation under the Return Directive, and to assess whether making this information available via a website or IT application would be considered sufficient to meet these requirements.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: return counselling, information provision, digitalisation
Publication date: 20 July 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member Countries use new technologies to address language barriers during return procedures for third-country nationals. It investigates the deployment of tools such as translation software, handheld devices, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence throughout the return process. The query also reviews relevant legal and data protection frameworks and the application of these tools in key return-related activities like identification, communication of decisions, and detention procedures.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: language barrier, digital tool
Publication date: 28 May 2025
This ad hoc query explores the types of support measures provided by EMN Member Countries to beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP), including accommodation, financial aid, administrative and logistical services, and medical care. It also examines the eligibility criteria for these measures, the differences from support offered to applicants for international protection (AIPs), and whether entitlements continue for BoTP who are employed.
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Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, support measures, accommodation, financial aid, medical care
Publication date: 15 May 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on how Member and Observer Countries currently implement asylum border procedures. It covers the main steps of the asylum border procedure, including procedural stages, responsible authorities, legal bases for decisions, measures for vulnerable applicants and security risks, as well as good practices and key challenges.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: asylum procedure, application for international protection, border, transit zone, security, detention, vulnerable persons
Publication date: 28 April 2025
This ad hoc query compares the existing legislation in EMN Member and Observer Countries regarding the granting of protection statuses to family members of beneficiaries of international protection, as well as recent changes in practices in light of the regime change in Syria.
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Main theme: International Protection, Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, Syria, protection status, suspension, decision-making
Publication date: 17 April 2025
This ad hoc query explores how EMN Member and Observer Countries support legally residing migrant children (third-country nationals) in adapting to the cultural environment of primary and secondary schools. It focuses on national measures, including language support, teacher training, targeted initiatives, and the use of specific educational tools. It also examines challenges, good practices, and whether countries monitor migrant children's academic performance.
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Main theme: Integration, Vulnerable groups
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: migrant child, school performance, adaptation, language learning
Publication date: 11 April 2025
This ad hoc query, launched by the Finnish National Contact Point of the EMN, explores whether and how EMN Member and Observer Countries measure the efficiency of their international protection procedures. It looks in particular at indicators such as the number of interviews conducted per full-time equivalent (FTE), the average length of these interviews, and the number of decisions issued per FTE. It also considers the tools used for these assessments and the actors responsible for carrying them out.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: international protection procedure, efficiency, interview, asylum decisions
Publication date: 10 April 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on how Member and Observer Countries organise vocational education and training (VET) for applicants and beneficiaries of international protection. It covers programme structures, admission conditions, support measures, incentives, obligations, and the recognition of prior skills, as well as good practices and key challenges in delivering VET.
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Main theme: Integration, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: labour market integration, vocational education, vocational training, applicant for international protection, beneficiary of international protection
Publication date: 03 April 2025
This ad hoc query, launched by EMN Belgium, explores whether authorities in EMN Member Countries are permitted to search the electronic devices of irregularly staying third-country nationals in the context of return. It examines the legal conditions under which such searches may take place, the categories of individuals concerned, the availability of related statistics, and the perceived impact on identification processes. The query also invites information on challenges encountered and any planned legislative developments in this area.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: irregularly staying third-country national, identification, search, electronic device
Publication date: 20 March 2025
This ad hoc query examines the initiatives in place across EMN Member and Observer Countries to encourage employers to participate in the integration of their employees.
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Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: foreign workers, language course, civic integration course
Publication date: 07 March 2025
This ad hoc query examines the voluntary return procedures for Ukrainian nationals granted temporary protection in EU Member States, focusing on the support provided for their return and reintegration. The aim is to understand the various national approaches to facilitating voluntary returns, including whether reintegration assistance is offered and how these programmes are funded.
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Main theme: Temporary protection, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, voluntary return, reintegration, Ukraine
Publication date: 06 March 2025
This ad hoc query investigates how healthcare services for applicants for international protection are organised in EMN Member and Observer Countries. It examines which authorities are responsible for providing such services, who covers the costs, and what types of services adult applicants are entitled to. It also explores how applicants access medical treatment, whether reception centres have healthcare personnel on staff, and how healthcare services are managed during a mass influx of migrants.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: applicant for international protection, access to healthcare
Publication date: 27 February 2025
This ad hoc query examines the obligation imposed on Member States to make an audio recording of the personal interview of applicants for international protection, as outlined in the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It explores the means currently used by some EMN Member Countries to record, store, and transmit recordings of personal interviews, as well as how others intend to implement this obligation in the future.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: asylum procedure, procedure for international protection, personal interview, recording
Publication date: 16 February 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries use mechanisms to verify that applicants are genuinely residing in the allocated accommodation. It explores how these mechanisms are implemented, whether vulnerability criteria are considered, and the rules for determining if accommodation has been abandoned and if residents can challenge such assessments. It also looks into whether these mechanisms have led to legal challenges, particularly regarding data protection.
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Main theme: Reception
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: reception centre, reception facility, presence monitoring
Publication date: 05 January 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member and Observer Countries use service providers for return and reintegration services. It covers whether countries manage operations directly or rely on service providers, details on contracts and procurement methods used, and how they assess European Procurement Regulations when choosing procurement approaches, including any exceptions justifying direct contracts.