EMN Studies and Policy Briefs

A new study published by the European Migration Network (EMN) offers an overview of the experiences and existing practices in the EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland regarding beneficiaries of international protection who travel back to their country of origin. The study also examines the motivations of the individuals in question, and how such cases would be assessed by the national authorities in the countries that granted them refugee status. The study found that most countries participating in the research did consider travel to the country of origin as an indication that protection may no longer be needed. This could lead them to examine the purpose of the travel and to reassess the international protection status. The main findings of the study Beneficiaries of international protection travelling to their country of origin are also briefly explained in the new video. 

Attracting students from third countries is important for the EU both as an alternative to irregular migration and as a contribution to a more competitive EU economy. But what concrete policies and practices have Member States put in place to attract international students? Are there any special incentives to retain them following graduation? What are the main challenges? What bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements with third countries have been adopted by Member States covering international students?

These and many other questions are answered in the Synthesis Report of the EMN Study Attracting and retaining international students in the EU. The study is providing concise overview of recent trends, challenges and good practices as well as of national policies and practices in place in Member States to attract international students from third countries.

As of 2018, five Western Balkan and three Eastern Partnership countries benefit from visa liberalisation to the EU Schengen area,  particularly Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Republic of North Macedonia, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. EMN Study “Impact of visa liberalisation on countries of destination”  explores the impact of visa liberalisation in specific areas (e.g. tourism, legal migration, bilateral cooperation) and looks at trends in irregular migration and other issues that have been observed in the EU Member States and Norway as countries of destination during the period 2007-2017. By focussing on the countries of destination, this report gives a new perspective into the impacts and challenges of visa liberalisation faced by EU Member States and Norway.

The study aims to provide an overview of existing labour market integration policies and measures in Member States targeting third-country nationals. It focusses on current policies and those either recently implemented or amended since 2014. It offers examples of promising labour market integration measures implemented by the public sector as well as tailored employment-related initiatives provided by the private sector.

This EMN study provides an overview of the changes to national strategies, approaches and measures in response to the unprecedented migratory movements to EU Member States and Norway between 2014 and 2016. In particular, the study examines the changes made in the processing of applications for international protection; reception services; registration procedures; asylum procedures (including rights afforded to applicants) and the content/legal consequences of the protection granted; border control and law enforcement; integration measures; plus other areas impacted by these policies. It draws out key challenges, good practices and lessons learnt during this period. Finally, the study shows the extent to which the (Member) States included in this study are operationally and organisationally prepared for potentially similar situations in the future.

The study aims to explore the situation of unaccompanied minors who have been granted a residence permit or issued a return decision, and in turn, the approaches established by (Member) States to their integration or (voluntary) return. The study also covers unaccompanied minors who cannot be returned immediately and may be granted a temporary status, such as tolerated stay, at least in some (Member) States. The main findings of the study are briefly explained in the new EMN video.

This study aims at analysing the impact of EU rules on return and related case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union – on Member States’ return policies and practices and hence on the effectiveness of return decisions issued across the EU. The study will also seek to provide an overview of the challenges encountered by Member States in effectively implementing returns, as well as identify any good practices developed to ensure the enforcement of return obligations.

The aim of this Study is to present an overview of the challenges faced by national authorities in their efforts to reliably establish and verify the identity of third-country nationals within the context of various migration procedures and of national practices of EU Member States to address those challenges. This study updates and supplements the 2013 EMN Study “Establishing Identity for International Protection: Challenges and Practices”.