In this edition of EMNews, the following news are inter alia highlighted:

• General developments: Several EMN Member Countries confirmed the extension of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine, in line with the Council Decision to prolong temporary protection until 4 March 2026.
   
• Legal migration: In Ireland, the quota for employment permits for home carers was extended by 1.000, and the role of town planning officer was added to the Critical Skills Occupations list. The roles of care worker and home carer are eligible for a General Employment Permit with a minimum gross salary requirement of € 30.000 per year.
   
• International protection including asylum: On 27 March, the amendment to the Polish Law on Granting Protection to Foreigners came into force, including the possibility of temporary and territorial suspension of the right to submit an application for international protection. On the same day, the Council of Ministers issued a regulation suspending this right at the Polish-Belarusian border for 60 days, with the exclusion of vulnerable groups.
   
• Unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups: In Greece, a new Circular published on 13 March, provided guidelines on the examination of international protection applications, to be extended to all categories of vulnerable persons.
   
• Integration and inclusion: In Finland a new Integration Act entered into force on 1 January 2025. The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (the Integration Act) and its reform, aims to strengthen migrants’ employment, capacity to work, language skills, and increase their participation in society. 
   
• Citizenship and statelessness: In Italy, the Constitutional Court declared the requirement to prove knowledge of the Italian language for obtaining citizenship unconstitutional, without exceptions for applicants suffering from serious and certified limitations to their ability to learn the language based on age, illness or disabilities.
   
• Border management and irregular migration: The Belgian Immigration Office launched a new WhatsApp channel, ‘Belgian Migration Office,’ to prevent misunderstandings and false expectations among potential asylum seekers. This tool provides information about migration policy and sends targeted deterrent messages.
   
• Trafficking in human beings: Slovenia adopted a new Strategy Paper for the period of 2025-2029 to acknowledge the amended EU Anti-Trafficking Directive and the resulting obligation for EU Member States to update their national anti-trafficking legislation and to tackle the emerging trends in trafficking in human beings in the region.
   
• Return and readmission: The Swedish Government has adopted a bill to ensure that more individuals issued with removal orders return to their countries of origin. One significant change was that it will no longer be possible to apply for a residence permit for work from within the country following a failed asylum application. 
   
• Migration and development: On 12 March, the Government of the Czech Republic approved two projects: € 1 million will be provided to UNHCR to support the return of Syrian refugees to Syria, and another € 1 million will be granted to IOM to continue supporting safe spaces for unaccompanied migrant children in Greece.

For detailed news, please read the EMNews attached above.