This year, the European Migration Network’s annual report changes its name to Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO), in order to distinguish it from the forthcoming European Annual Asylum and Migration Report (EAAMR), which will be published by the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2024/1351. The Belgian contribution and the EU synthesis summarised below maintain the same structure as in previous editions.

Asylum and Migration Overview 2024 - Belgian report

The Belgian Asylum and Migration Overview 2024 identifies several key developments in asylum and migration policies, alongside political changes affecting migration and asylum governance, including:

• Belgium held federal and regional elections in June 2024. A new federal government took office in January 2025, appointing Anneleen Van Bossuyt as Minister of Asylum and Migration.
   
• In 2024, Belgium’s federated entities introduced new labour migration laws to simplify procedures, protect workers, and address labour shortages.
   
• Belgium received 39.615 applications for international protection in 2024, an increase of 11.6% compared to the previous year. Reception capacity increased to 36.205 places, but a waiting list of 2.809 persons remained at year-end.
   
• Temporary protection was granted to 92.257 persons fleeing Ukraine. Support measures for accommodation, education, and healthcare continued.
   
• The number of unaccompanied minors decreased, leading to adjustments in reception capacity. The backlog in appointing guardians was addressed.
   
• Regional governments revised integration policies, focusing on accessibility, equity, skills recognition, and providing information to newcomers.
   
• Belgium advanced legal and operational preparations for EU border management systems and continued the digitisation of visa procedures.
   
• Efforts against irregular migration included increased investigations into migrant smuggling and campaigns to raise awareness on the risks of dangerous migration.
   
• New laws strengthened the fight against human trafficking by allowing municipalities to conduct integrity checks in economic sectors linked to organised crime and by regulating sex work under employment contracts.
   
• Return procedures were reformed in 2024 with new rules expanding authorised escorts, requiring migrant cooperation, recognising ICAM as an alternative to detention, and banning detention of families with children. In total, 3,371 voluntary and 3,270 forced returns were carried out.

For further details, please read the Belgian report attached above.

Asylum and Migration Overview 2024 - European report

The European Asylum and Migration Overview 2024 highlights major legislative and operational shifts, geopolitical influences, and evolving responses across EMN Member and Observer Countries. The full interactive report is available here: EMN Asylum and Migration Overview 2024. Key developments in 2024 include:

• 2024 was marked by ongoing geopolitical instability in both the immediate EU neighbourhood and beyond, with multiple crises such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, and unrest in various parts of Africa), significantly influencing migration patterns.
   
• Irregular border crossings into the EU decreased by 38% compared to 2023, particularly on the Central Mediterranean and Western Balkan routes.
   
• Several Member States adopted more restrictive asylum and migration policies, citing reasons such as national security, misuse of migration channels, pressure on asylum and reception systems, housing shortages, and integration challenges.
   
• First-time asylum applications in the EU and Norway decreased by 13%, while many countries expanded or reorganised reception systems and implemented measures to improve the efficiency of asylum procedures.
   
• EU legislation on border management advanced with the adoption of the revised Schengen Borders Code and the Screening Regulation, and Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders.
   
• Temporary protection for people fleeing the war in Ukraine was extended until March 2026, with Member and Observer Countries focusing on transitioning from emergency measures to more sustainable, longer-term approaches.
   
• Labour migration policies evolved to address skills shortages, with EU and national reforms supporting streamlined admission, stronger worker protections, and improved access for third-country nationals. Measures included the recast Single Permit Directive, progress on Talent Partnerships, and simplified work permit procedures in key sectors.
   
• Integration policies focused on access to employment, education, language learning and anti-discrimination, with several countries updating strategies, launching civic orientation schemes and digital tools, and addressing early inclusion and mobility barriers for newcomers.
   
• In June 2024, the EU adopted a revised Anti-Trafficking Directive, adding new forms of exploitation such as surrogacy, forced marriage and illegal adoption; Member States must transpose the directive by mid-July 2026.
   
• Return and readmission efforts focused on enforcement and operational cooperation, including joint operations and new bilateral agreements. Voluntary return and reintegration were promoted, with increased emphasis on sustainable reintegration and preventing further migration.

For further details, please read the European report attached above.