The European Migration Network (EMN) Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2021 is now public! Based on the contributions of the EMN National Contact Points, the report provides a comprehensive overview of national developments in the area of migration and asylum during 2021 in the EU Member States, Norway and Georgia.
Several developments occurred in the areas of migration and asylum in 2021. EU Member States continued to experience the effects of COVID-19 and to tackle challenges of the health crisis on integration, labour market needs and living conditions of migrants. Member States typically extended the right to stay to certain third-country nationals and introduced travel restriction measures. In asylum, measures were taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in reception centres.
Additional key developments related to the Belarus border crisis and the fall of Afghanistan’s Government, resulting in sudden increases in migrants coming to the EU, including those seeking protection. Moreover, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness for better migration management was a common theme at EU and national level, including by focusing on innovation, simplification of processes and digitalisation of migration management.
Lastly, new forms of cooperation with third countries were established both at EU and national level, not only to prevent irregular migration, but also in the area of skilled migration. The EMN itself opened its doors to Georgia and Moldova, who joined network as observer countries in March 2021.
You can find more detailed information on the country-specific developments in the EMN 2021 National Policy Reports.
Please also find below the following related documents:
- EMN Inform
- EMN Flash (one-pager)
- Statistical Annex