News

In 2020 COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted also the area of migration. It was felt especially in terms of border closures, travel restrictions and introducing sanitary measures. Since July 2020, the EMN together with the OECD has been publishing a series of Informs mapping the impact of pandemic on different areas of migration. The Umbrella Inform published at the end of April 2021 finalized this series.

The EMN report “Children in Migration” maps the progress made by the EU Member States and Norway in 2019 with regards to the implementation of the recommendations laid down in the Commission Communication on the protection of children in migration.

On March 2021, Georgia and Moldova joined the European Migration Network (EMN) with an observer status. This is an important step towards reinforced cooperation in the areas of migration and asylum. It is for the first time that European Migration Network welcomes countries outside the European Economic Area.

The European Commission published the 33rd edition of the EMN Bulletin which informs on the current developments, outputs and statistics in different areas of migration, integration and international protection at the level of the European Union and its Member States from October to December 2020. You can download a selection of key events here.

Measures taken when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the implementation of return procedures of migrants. Health and safety conditions in detention had to be adjusted and migrants could return to their countries of origin only in case the travel was possible, and the flight connections were available.