EMNews summarises the final quarter of 2025

The final quarter of 2025 brought a series of decisions at EU level and legislative amendments in EMN Countries. The Council of Ministers has taken decisions on, for example, the 2026 Solidarity Pool and the first EU-wide list of safe countries of origin. These are key elements of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. In Sweden, the focus remains on increasing returns and strengthening measures to encourage voluntary return.

The new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began application on 12 October 2025, with the aim of full implementation by 10 April 2026 at the latest. The topic of validating migrants’ skills was discussed at the 10th European Migration Forum in Brussels, organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee. The event aimed to explore how migrants’ skills can generate a positive socio-economic impact on the European labour market.

The Council of Ministers adopted a number of decisions in December 2025.

• A two-year Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Plan for 2026–2027,
• An implementing decision establishing the Annual Solidarity Pool for 2026,
• Under the Danish EU Presidency, the Council and the European Parliament have agreed on the first EU-wide list of safe countries of origin.

Both the Solidarity Pool and the EU list are key elements of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, providing effective support in the processing of applications for international protection and for the Member States facing migratory pressure.

Selection of measures in EMN Countries

• Italy revised its standard procedures for the reception and care of unaccompanied minors.
• Belgium adopted a new list of safe countries of origin. Morocco was added to the list, whilst India and Moldova were removed.
• Finland is introducing stricter conditions on permanent residence permits and citizenship.
• Lithuania decided to accept half of the migrants allocated to the country under the EU Solidarity Mechanism, whilst the remaining group will be covered by a financial contribution.
• Latvia is introducing amendments to its Immigration Law concerning third-country nationals with a criminal records.
• The Netherlands is making changes to the remit of the authorities which will, in future, determine support for family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
• The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration has adopted a new communication strategy based on research into Serbian citizens’ attitudes towards migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa.
• The Spanish Ministry of the Interior and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) signed an agreement as part of the implementation of a projects in the thematic areas of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration, as well as Integrated Border Management.
• The governments of Spain, France and Morocco, with support from the EU, have launched WAFIRA II – a new programme for circular migration that supports around 3 000 Moroccan workers.
• In Sweden, the focus is on increasing returns and strengthening measures to encourage voluntary repatriation.