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

• General developments: On 13 December, EU Member States reached an agreement on their position on an EU law to prevent and counter migrant smuggling, and standardise penalties and definitions across the EU.
   
• Legal migration: Italy introduced new measures concerning the right to family reunification of third-country nationals by establishing more stringent requirements on housing and extending the waiting period, under which the sponsor must have resided in Italy before being eligible for family reunification, to two years.
   
• International protection including asylum: In Finland, amendments to the Aliens' Act were approved, shortening the length of permits granted to refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection to the minimum allowed by EU law.
   
• Unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups: In Greece, a five-digit helpline (15107) was launched to support the tracing and protection of unaccompanied minors, offering accommodation, psychosocial and legal support, and facilitating their registration with the authorities.
   
• Integration and inclusion: Germany adopted new rules for integration courses so that they focus more on individual learning needs and individual progress. German authorities hope in this way to accelerate integration processes further. 
   
• Citizenship and statelessness: In Finland, the period of residence required for acquiring Finnish citizenship was extended to eight years as the standard. However, for applicants who meet specific language skills requirements, the required period of residence would be five years.
   
• Border management and irregular migration: On 10 December, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, in the presence of the European Commission and its agencies, Europol and Frontex, agreed on a five-point priority plan to tackle irregular migration and migrant smuggling in 2025.
   
• Trafficking in human beings: Croatia adopted a national plan to ensure coordinated action by state administration bodies in the field of combatting trafficking in human beings, to improve existing policies and raise the level of knowledge and awareness of trafficking in human beings.
   
• Return and readmission: The Austrian government will review all protection granted to Syrians and develop a return programme, offering up to € 1 000 for voluntary returnees. A list for forced removals is also being prepared, pending clarification of the situation in Syria.
   
• Migration and development: In Sweden, a new strategy for global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation was adopted. The strategy comprises three billion SEK (€ 260 914 500) between 2024- 2028 and aims to strengthen synergies between migration policy and development assistance policy.

For detailed news, please read the EMNews attached above.