People from across the EU met in Strasbourg to discuss trade, relations with the US and China and Europe’s approach to migration 15-17 October. Conference on the Future of Europe: EU in the world and migration This was the last of four European citizens’ panel that will provide input from ordinary Europeans to […]
New facts on asylum and migration in the EU
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on migration flows in the EU. Movement restrictions put in place in light of the coronavirus pandemic have led to a reduction in migration, both legal and illegal, as countries have closed borders, restricted routes for legal migration and scaled back programmes to take in refugees. However, […]
Why do people migrate?
Striving to gain better insight into migration around the world, researchers have completed the first-ever systematic literature review that aims to answer two questions: What makes people want to migrate? What causes them to actually migrate? In the course of history, human migration has transformed lands and the mix of races, ethnicities and languages of […]
Towards a renewed partnership between Africa and the EU
African and European societies face common issues and shared challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, creating the need for closer and more equitable collaboration. On 25 March, MEPs approved Parliament’s proposals for a new EU-Africa strategy laying the foundation for a partnership that reflects the interests of both sides and gives African countries the […]
Irregular migration into EU last year lowest since 2013 due to COVID-19
The number of detections of illegal border crossings along the EU’s external borders fell 13% last year to around 124 000, in large part due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions put in place by various countries, according to preliminary figures collected by Frontex. This was the lowest number of illegal border crossings since 2013. […]
Migration in the Mediterranean: EU external borders
The number of illegal border crossings at Europe’s external borders fell by 21% in the first 10 months of this year to 87 500*, largely because of a drop in arrivals in Eastern and Western Mediterranean, according to preliminary calculations. In October, the number of illegal border crossings was 19% lower than in the previous […]
Schengen, migration, asylum and security in times of COVID-19
MEPs will quiz Commissioner Johansson on the future of the border-free Schengen zone, common migration and asylum policy and security in the context of the pandemic. In a debate in the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday afternoon, MEPs will try to clarify how the Commission plans to ensure that temporary controls on the internal borders, reintroduced […]
Asylum applications in the EU increase by 13% in 2019
For the first time since 2015, applications increased from the previous year. The increase was not largely driven by irregular migration, but rather by applications from countries with visa-free access to Schengen. More than 714 000 applications were lodged in the EU+ in 2019, up by 13% from 2018, when fewer than 635 000 were registered. This […]
European Migration Forum: Call for expression of interest to participate – local and regional authorities
The CoR is launching a call for expression of interest addressed to officials of local and regional authorities (LRAs) to participate in the 6th meeting of the European Migration Forum. This event is co-organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee and will take place on 2-3 June 2020 in Brussels at the CoR/EESC premises. 6th Edition […]