Migration and Home Affairs

On 28 May, the “EU versus Crime” conference, organised by the European Commission and Europol, took place in Brussels. The Commission presented the internal security achievements of the current Commission, addressed future challenges and celebrated Europol’s 25th anniversary.

On 27 May, the Council adopted new rules to reinforce the fight against trafficking in human beings. These rules provide stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, and ensure more assistance and support to victims.

With its nine legislative files and well over 1,000 pages, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum may be difficult to decipher. Two new webpages, the Pact "legislative files in a nutshell" and "questions and answers", provide an overview by legislation and delve into more detail by topic.

On 23 May, few days after the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Commission and representatives of civil society discussed the implementation of the new rules, focusing on the NGOs' involvement in the areas of information provision, reception and integration.

On 15 May, the European Commission adopted the Seventh Progress Report on the EU Security Union Strategy for 2020-2025. The report provides an overview of the implementation of the strategy since its adoption in 2020, and evaluates the progress made in several key areas.

On Europol's 25th anniversary, Commissioner Johansson delivered a speech at the EU versus Crime Conference on Security, taking stock of the progress made on internal security in the last five years and looking ahead to the challenges the EU will face in the coming years.

Two Horizon Europe projects are supporting law enforcement agencies in their fight against disinformation and those who target free and fair elections, developing platforms that enable law enforcement to assess the impact of disinformation on citizens and propose counter measures.

Figures published by the Commission show that the consulates of EU countries and Schengen associated countries received more than 10.3 million applications for short-stay visas in 2023, representing a 37% increase compared to 2022, but still lower than the applications lodged in 2019.

On 30 May 2024, the Commission launched a call for proposals under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) with a budget of EUR 3 million. The call aims to support EU actions against corruption, addressing the current and evolving security threats that corruption poses to citizens and the economy.

On 21 May, the Commission launched a call for proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) with a budget of EUR 6 million. Its aim is to strengthen the identification, assistance, support and integration of victims of trafficking in human beings from non-EU countries.

The European Commission has launched two calls for expression of interest, under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI). EU countries will receive additional funding for projects aimed at enhancing security in the EU.

This call is part of the activities foreseen in the Thematic Facility Work Programme 2023 – 2025, under the Internal Security Fund. You can submit your proposal online as of 30 April 2024. You will need to apply by 5 September 2024.

This call will result in a single Framework Contract for Services of DG HOME on migration, security and borders. It will cover activities such as the organisation of meetings, working groups, conferences, exhibitions and other types of events.