New EMNews

In this year’s second edition of EMNews, you can learn about a new EU Hub aimed at combatting human trafficking and initiatives to encourage voluntary return of migrants in certain EMN Countries. Talent attraction and development cooperation remain priority areas. In Sweden, legislative amendments will enter into force aimed at improving order and security at Swedish Migration Agency detention centres, and new financial support for the UN Migration Agency (IOM) has been approved.

In June, Europe celebrated the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement. That same month, the European Commission established a new EU Anti-Trafficking Hub as part of the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021–2025 and published its interim report on the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021–2027.

On the theme of inclusion, Lithuania introduced two new national integration programmes based on best practices from the Nordic countries, and the Slovak Republic adopted a new national strategy for asylum and migration management (2025–2030). The Austrian equivalent of Sida adopted a new, three-year programme (2025–2027) that highlights challenges relating to humanitarian and climate crises, irregular migration and displacement.

These updates and much more can be found in the latest EMNews. Below there is a summary of the latest developments in some EMN Countries.

• Greece is establishing independent asylum units for vulnerable groups, and Portugal is strengthening protection of unaccompanied children, for example in cases of child marriage.
• Bulgaria has implemented amendments to their Aliens Act regarding regulations for seasonal workers, highly skilled workers, student visas and residence permits for digital nomads.
• France has published an updated list of of shortage occupations, whilst Italy is signing a three-year programme for refugees with national stakeholders for labour market and training initiatives in the tourism sector. In addition, Italy and Uzbekistan are signing an agreement on migration and mobility.
• Cyprus has adopted a new programme for assisted voluntary return for Syrian nationals who have been granted, or have applied for, international protection before 31 December 2024. This programme also includes special work permits valid for up to two years and financial family incentives to facilitate smooth reintegration. Austria offers reintegration support for return to Syria via the EU Reintegration Programme (EU RP).
• Norway is revising its rules and has taken a decision to grant exemptions from the requirement for an asylum interview for applications for temporary work permits.

In Sweden

• Migration Agency detention centres. In June, the Riksdag adopted new rules to improve order and security at Migration Agency detention centres. These legislative amendments came into force on 1 August 2025.
• Support for the UN Migration Agency (IOM). The Government is providing SEK 100 million for the IOM with the aim of increasing returns from Sweden and the EU to, among other places, Syria, and to counter irregular migration from Iraq, Somalia, Uzbekistan and Tunisia. The grant is also to be used to combat human trafficking in Ukraine.
• Partnership agreement between Serbia and the Swedish Migration Agency. The agreement was signed within the framework of the MIRCO project with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation on migration management between the Western Balkans and neighbouring EU Member States.