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The European Migration Network (EMN) has published the Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) 2024, together with a Statistical Annex developed by Eurostat. The Overview presents key legal, policy, and operational developments across a range of asylum and migration areas in 2024, alongside statistical trends and comparisons with previous years. It draws on contributions from 30 National Contact Points (NCPs), EMN Observer countries, and EU-level sources, including Eurostat data.

To distinguish this report from the upcoming European Annual Asylum and Migration Report (EAAMR)—to be published by the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 by 15 October 2025—the EMN has updated the name of its annual publication to Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO). The 2024 edition does not include reporting on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, but retains the established structure and content of previous EMN annual reports.

The year 2024 marked a turning point for EU migration and asylum policy, notably with the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which will apply from June 2026 and introduce a more harmonised framework for migration governance across the EU.

Other key legislative developments at EU level included:

  • The revised Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2024/1717);
  • The recast Single Permit Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1233), aimed at streamlining procedures and strengthening labour rights;
  • The revised Anti-Trafficking Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1712), adopted in June 2024 to enhance the EU’s response to trafficking in human beings.

A significant milestone was the phased enlargement of the Schengen Area to include Bulgaria and Romania, with internal air and sea border checks lifted from 31 March 2024, and land border checks set to be removed by 1 January 2025.

Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine continued to cause displacement, leading the Council of the EU in June 2024 to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian nationals until 4 March 2026.

In 2024, first-time asylum applications in the EU and Norway declined by 13% compared to 2023, with Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan remaining the top countries of origin. Despite the drop, international protection remained a priority at both national and EU levels. Several EMN Member and Observer countries took steps to improve the efficiency and fairness of their asylum systems, expanded or reorganised reception capacities, and implemented new management models for reception facilities.

As in previous years, labour migration policies focused on meeting labour market demands and addressing skills shortages. Across migration, asylum, and integration policy areas, digitalisation and technology adoption remained central—particularly in application processing, residence permit issuance, and the development of online platforms and mobile apps to support integration.

Together, the AMO 2024 and its Statistical Annex provide a comprehensive, data-driven resource for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and the public interested in the evolving landscape of migration and asylum in Europe.

Link to European Migration Network Asylum and Migration Overview 2024
 

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