On 9 July, the European Migration Network (EMN) published a comprehensive overview of asylum and migration trends in the EU. The 2024 EMN Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO), accompanied by a Statistical Annex developed by Eurostat, provides an in-depth analysis of key developments in EU migration and asylum policy during 2024.
The report highlights a significant turning point in EU migration policy, with the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, set to apply from June 2026. The Pact introduces a more coordinated framework for managing migration across the EU. Other notable developments include the revised Schengen Borders Code, the recast Single Permit Directive, and the revised Anti-Trafficking Directive.
Key findings
According to the report, first-time applications for asylum decreased by 13% across the EU and Norway in 2024, with the majority of applicants coming from Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan. The report also notes that international protection remains a key area of national and EU-level policy developments, with many countries implementing measures to improve the efficiency and fairness of international protection systems.
The EMN AMO 2024 also explores the use of digitalisation and technology in migration, asylum, and integration, including the processing of applications, issuing residence permits, and providing integration information through apps and portals.
Background
The European Migration Network (EMN) is a network of migration and asylum experts consisting of 35 National Contact Points in EMN Member and Observer Countries, the European Commission, and EU Agencies. Its aim is to provide up-to-date, objective, and reliable information on migration and asylum issues to support policymaking and public debate.
The EMN annual report is based on contributions from 30 National Contact Points, as well as statistical contributions from additional EMN Observer countries and EU-level sources, including Eurostat statistics. It offers a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and the general public, seeking to understand the complex issues surrounding migration and asylum in the EU.
The European Migration Network Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) is produced in accordance with Article 2(1)(d) and Article 9(1) of Council Decision 2008/381/EC establishing a European Migration Network. The AMO name is updated for the 2024 edition, to better distinguish it from the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report (EAAMR), to be issued by the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 (AMMR) by 15 October 2025. The EMN AMO does not include reporting related to the Pact on Migration and Asylum but retains the structure and content of previous annual reports from the European Migration Network.