[PIO] National Contact Point of the European Migration Network: the European Migration Network has published its Annual Report on Migration and

The Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2023 of the European Migration Network (EMN) is published together with a statistical annex prepared by Eurostat. The Annual Report is a comprehensive document describing the most important legal and political developments and statistical trends that occurred in 2023 at the European Union (EU) level, in all EMN Member States (EU Member States except Denmark) and observer countries, including Norway, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia, as well as statistics provided by Armenia and Montenegro.

The purpose of the European Migration Network (EMN), through the Member States' National Contact Points (EU Member States except Denmark) and the observer countries, is to provide accurate, reliable and objective information and data to the European Commission and policy makers through its publications and deliverables. The European Commission's position, as stated at the launch of the Report on 11 July 2024, is that by observing past trends the EU can draw better conclusions for the future and be better prepared, without having only to constantly respond suddenly to migration crises. Through the work carried out by the EMN, evidence, good practices, statistics, etc. can be drawn for a sustainable and effective migration policy.

At EU level the most important development in 2023 was the political agreement reached in December 2023 by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was subsequently adopted in 2024. The Pact aims, among other things, to ensure that the EU has strong and secure external borders, that citizens' rights are guaranteed and that no EU Member State is left alone under pressure. Asylum applications for the first time increased overall across the EU in 2023, exceeding one million applications, a level not seen since 2016.

EMN member countries have responded by adopting measures to increase the efficiency of asylum procedures and ease the pressure on reception capacities. Other measures to support asylum seekers included increased support related to healthcare and developments to facilitate entry into the national labour market in some EMN member countries.

Some highlights:

1. 2023 was also marked by an increase in irregular migration heading to the EU, with around 380 000 detected irregular border crossings, an increase of 17 % since 2022, the highest annual rate since 2015-2016. These increases have prompted EMN Member States to strengthen border management, and to adopt new measures to combat illegal migration and prevent irregular migration.

1. In the midst of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the EU extended the temporary protection of displaced persons from Ukraine, initially until March 2025 and extended again in 2024, until March 2026. NRM member countries and Norway provided shelter to some 4.3 million beneficiaries of temporary protection. Further efforts were directed towards integration measures, including housing, education and access to the labour market, to support displaced persons from Ukraine.

1. In addition, in alignment with the pan-European Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Interoperability Framework, several countries promoted digitisation efforts, in particular with new visa application procedures and digitised issuance of residence permits. Enhanced IT capacities have facilitated the integration of national systems into EU migration databases.

1. Attracting and retaining talent to meet labour market needs remained a key priority for most EMN member and observer countries. Many governments introduced policies to simplify admission procedures for various workers, particularly those who are highly skilled or in shortage of occupations. Measures to facilitate the mobility and residence of students and researchers were also widely pursued. At EU level, the EU Talent Pool was presented as an initiative to match EU employers with jobseekers from third countries, simplify procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications and promote both student and labour market mobility.

1. EMN member countries continued to tackle racism and discrimination by protecting victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups, including the LGBTI community. Training, awareness raising, cross-border cooperation and legislative amendments were among the measures adopted, reflecting the commitment to inclusiveness and protection.

About EMN

The European Migration Network (EMN) is a European network consisting of the National Contact Points (NCPs) in the EMN Member States (EU Member States except Denmark) and Observer Countries (NO, GE, MD, UA, ME, AM, RS), the European Commission, and supported by the EMN Service Provider to provide information on migration and asylum issues. The EMN was established in 2008 by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Council, in order to meet the need for a regular exchange of reliable information on migration and asylum related issues at European level.

Contact: cy.emn.ncp@moi.gov.cy

Website: www.emncyprus.moi.gov.cy

X (Twitter): @EMNCyprus

YouTube: https:/www.youtube.com/@EMNCyprus

EMN Glossary on Asylum and Migration, here.

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