News

Belgium increased the fee for acquiring nationality, as part of broader government measures to strengthen conditions for accessing citizenship. The country also introduced stricter rules for family reunification, affecting recognised refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Health has reviewed the country’s refugee and migrant health system, as the Reception and Integration Agency launched an InfoDesk App and trained the country’s first sociocultural introduction instructors, ahead of the launch of expanded language exams for foreigners.

Several new programmes were launched in Budapest to support migrant integration, particularly for those displaced from Ukraine. New initiatives were also launched to support third country nationals in Hungary to prepare for the cultural knowledge exams, and to learn Hungarian through art education.

The Czech government adopted the Housing Support Act, introducing systemic tools to assist people at risk of housing exclusion. Moreover, the seventh amendment to the Lex Ukraine Act, effective from 11 February 2025, revised support for people with disabilities that have been displaced from Ukraine.

The European Critical Communication System is a major initiative to make Europe safer and better connected during emergency. It will integrate communication systems used by first responders across the EU and Schengen area, including law enforcement, firefighters and medical emergency responders.

The 2025 Atlas of Migration illustrates the latest migration-related data by country, continent and region, with a particular focus on the EU. With data from official sources, such as Eurostat, the UN, and the World Bank, it deepens its exploration of the links between conflicts and displacement.

Europe is confronted by multifaceted hazards and threats that challenge traditional responses to disasters and emergencies. A recent Commission publication showcases 10 EU-funded projects that are building societal resilience to better anticipate, manage and recover from such crises.

January has framed the year ahead, bringing together practitioners, policymakers, and partners to exchange practices, test new approaches, and reflect on shared challenges in prevention.

On 29 January, the Commission presented the first European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, setting out the EU’s political objectives on asylum and migration, with concrete priorities for the next five years. Strategic use of EU funding will support the implementation of the Strategy.