EMN Informs

Inform looked into outreach and information activities, which are distinct from but closely interlinked to return counselling. Besides state actors, a broad range of non-state actors, such as civil society organisations, health and education services and international organisations, were involved in information dissemination. The research found that 19 countries and IOM implemented information campaigns between 2010 and 2019. Outreach activities were found to be more successful when the dissemination tools used were varied, targeting mainstream as well as highly specific communications channels, the timing was carefully considered and when made available in non-national languages.  The research found that Member States had made specific efforts to reach out to vulnerable groups, such as minors and suspected victims of trafficking in human beings.

The Inform offers the analysis of the policy and operational support available to return counsellors to assist them in their role to provide migrants with timely, unbiased and reliable information on return. It found that there were no national legal or policy frameworks in place to ensure a standardized approach for return counsellors’ minimum qualifications and training requirements; however, minimum standards were upheld by relying on well-established practices or, in some cases, guidance and expertise provided by IOM. Professional support typically included initial training, refresher courses, handbooks, guidelines and helplines. In some cases, counsellor monitoring practices were also in place. One of the main challenges identified was the limited personal support available to help councilors to deal with aspects of the work that could be difficult and emotionally draining.

The outcomes of the Inform shows that across both government and non-government providers, in the main, counselling fulfils two inter-linked purposes: to help the migrant to make an informed decision; and to ensure the effective implementation of migration policies by encouraging voluntary return and ensuring compliance with return procedures. While available to all third-country nationals, counselling occurs generally when an irregular situation is detected, and during the return procedure. Good practices included tailoring the counselling approach to the specific circumstances and needs of the individual, as well as the development of clear indicators and tools to measure the impact of the process of return counselling.

The inform outlines the key findings of the EMN Synthesis Report regarding the 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 inform EMN summarizes the key findings of the EMN Synthesis report on the response of the EU member states to the unprecedented migratory movements to EU Member States and Norway between 2014 and 2016. The Synthesis report provides an overview of the changes to national strategies, approaches and measures and 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.

This EMN Inform presents an overview of five social benefits and arrangements for rights granted by Member States and Norway to beneficiaries of international protection: (1) education, (2) healthcare, (3) financial allowances, (4) housing and (5) family reunification. It describes the social benefits standards and arrangements for rights in Member States and Norway and whether or not these countries differentiate between beneficiaries of international protection who are recognised as refugees and those who are granted subsidiary protection status.

This EMN inform summarizes the key findings of the  EMN Synthesis report on the approaches to unaccompanied minors in the EU plus Norway (2017). 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. 

This EMN inform contains information collected through an ad-hoc question on safe countries of origin. It presents an overview of (Member) States policies and practices concerning safe countries of origin. It describes which countries have introduced a list of safe countries of origin and whether nationals from these countries are treated differently than nationals from other countries in the asylum procedure. Moreover, differences relating to reception conditions and return provisions are examined.