Introduction

Introduction

The year 2024 was characterised by continued geopolitical instability in the EU neighbourhood and beyond, with multiple overlapping crises shaping migration dynamics.

Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine remained an important driver of displacement. In response, in June 2024, the Council of the EU decided to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2026.

In the Middle East and across various parts of Africa, several concurrent developments resulted in regional volatility and displacement. These included the escalating conflict in Gaza and rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the instability in north-east Syria involving Turkish and Kurdish forces, the fall of the Assad regime, Sudan’s escalating civil war, and military coups in West Africa. 

Migration trends

Total first-time asylum applications in the EU and Norway in 2024 decreased by 13% – falling from 1 054 645 in 2023 to 917 215 in 2024 – with the highest numbers of applications from nationals of Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.

Similarly, irregular border crossings into the EU dropped sharply by 38%, falling to just over 239,000 detections, the lowest since 2021.

This overall decline was primarily due to a 59% reduction in arrivals via the Central Mediterranean route and a 78% decrease in arrivals via the Western Balkan route, while the Eastern route saw a threefold increase in crossings, mostly along the borders with Ukraine and Belarus.

Overall, in line with the trend of the previous three years, the share of third country nationals in the total European population (EU and Norway) continued to increase, reaching over 29 million or 6.4% of the total population on 1 January 2024.

The interactive map below shows national data for the EU and Norway of the share of third-country nationals in the total population, in percentages.

Map: Share of third-country nationals in the total population, EU and Norway, 1 January 2024 (%)

Click on one or more percentage ranges to reveal countries listed in that range. 
Click on individual countries within the selected range to show national data.

Note: Estonia and Latvia, the number of third-country nationals includes recognised non-citizens.

EU policy developments

2024 was marked by major reforms of EU asylum and migration policy.

On 11 June 2024, the Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted, setting out comprehensive new rules to reform and strengthen the EU’s migration management and asylum system. Set to apply from June 2026, the Pact represents a commitment to balance responsibility and solidarity across EU Member States and reinforce the EU’s ability to manage migration flows more fairly and effectively, with a focus on asylum processes, forced and irregular migration, crisis management, as well as introducing a return border procedure.

As part of its agenda, the Commission committed to implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum and strengthening common borders while promoting a modern, balanced approach to migration management.

National developments and trends

Developments reported by EMN Member and Observer Countries in 2024 were mostly incremental, reflecting a continuation of older and more recent trends.

In the area of integration, for example, nearly all countries continued to implement existing policies focusing on improving migrant inclusion, focusing on employment, education, housing, and civic participation.

Several countries renewed their efforts to combat trafficking in human beings and protect vulnerable groups, for example by strengthening their legal frameworks.

In some areas, new policies reflected emerging trends since the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, similar to 2022 and 2023:

• Persistent labour shortages were identified as a key driver of migration policy reform at both EU and national level, spurring governments to undertake initiatives to facilitate recruitment, skills recognition and retention of third-country national workers.
• Digitalisation likewise continued to be a cross-cutting priority across all areas of migration and asylum, aiming to increase efficiency, reduce backlogs, and improve service delivery.

A few trends signalled a partial shift from previous years:

• Following the EU-wide extension of temporary protection to March 2026, countries accelerated the process of transitioning from emergency measures to longer-term support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, for example by providing pathways to alternative permits for employment or family reasons.
• Furthermore, with growing concerns about national security, misuse of migration channels, or pressure on asylum and reception systems (among others), some countries reported a shift towards more restrictive migration and asylum policies. Rules and requirements were tightened in legal migration channels, asylum, integration and citizenship.
• Several policy measures in integration and inclusion introduced a stronger element of conditionality, reflecting a shift towards greater expectations and responsibilities for migrants, particularly in areas such as language learning, civic knowledge, and meeting specific integration conditions.

National responses to EU policy and legislation

Several policy areas were shaped by high degree of EU policy and legislative activity:

• In preparing to implement the Pact, national reforms on asylum focused on faster asylum access, refined admissibility checks, and expanded procedural safeguards.
• Major advances were made in respect of border policy and Schengen enlargement, notably the revised Schengen Borders Code and the phased integration of Bulgaria and Romania.
• Efforts against irregular migration were reinforced in 2024, supported by EU-level legislative initiatives such as the anti-smuggling package, the new Screening Regulation and Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 (the Eurodac Regulation).
• The revised Anti-Trafficking Directive mandated formalised national referral mechanisms and stronger cooperation with asylum systems.
• Cooperation on return and reintegration policies was reinforced by the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/1349 (the Return Border Procedure Regulation), which will apply from 2026. Thirteen countries introduced reforms to improve identification, increase enforcement, and close legal gaps in the return process.

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