News

On 24–26 February 2026, the Ministry of Interior of Hungary hosted a Prague Process study visit on border management in Budapest and Bácsalmás, bringing together 38 representatives from 15 participating states. Organised under Thematic Component 1 on preventing and fighting irregular migration and migrant smuggling, the visit offered a comprehensive platform for exchange on integrated border management, combining strategic discussions with hands-on operational insights.

As migration dynamics across the region continue to evolve, border management is increasingly required to respond to shifting routes, adaptive smuggling methods and emerging security risks. The exchanges throughout the visit underlined that effective border governance goes beyond control at external borders, requiring a comprehensive system that integrates prevention, risk analysis, inter-agency coordination, international cooperation and technological innovation.

This analytical report examines how migration will shape the region’s demographic and socio-economic future by 2035 under two trajectories: EU Integration, marked by institutional strengthening and circular mobility, and Strategic Isolation, characterised by governance stagnation and one-way outflows. Countries covered: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo*.

The analysis shows that governance-driven migration management - not fertility - is the decisive factor. In the EU Integration scenario, improved institutions, return migration and regulated labour inflows slow population loss. In the Isolation scenario, demographic decline accelerates, labour shortages intensify and dependence on poorly integrated foreign workers grows, alongside rising exposure to non-EU geopolitical actors. 

Jean-Louis De Brouwer and Malin Frankenhaeuser discussed the key migration policy developments of 2025 and shared their outlook for 2026. As the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into application in June, Member States face a decisive phase marked by operational, legal and political challenges. Amidst the continued geopolitical instability in the EU’s neighbourhood and displacement from Ukraine, migration remains high on the EU’s agenda. Strategic priorities include strengthened migration management and border control, addressing irregular migration, expanding talent attraction and returns, and reinforcing external partnerships. The panellists assessed progress and remaining gaps in these areas and shared their expectations for 2026.

We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in Liechtenstein, Romania, Serbia and Spain.

We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in North Macedonia, Portugal and Slovenia.

We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in Lithuania, Montenegro and Norway.

We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg and Slovakia.

We are pleased to present the October-December 2025 edition of the Quarterly Review, featuring the latest updates from the Prague Process.

We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands.

On 19-21 November 2025, the General Inspectorate for Immigration (GII) of Romania hosted a Study Visit, which brought together representatives from 11 Prague Process states for an in-depth exchange on labour migration management, legal migration, and digitalisation. The programme combined GII’s expert presentations with site visits to the Constanța County Immigration Service and the Bucharest Immigration Directorate, offering participants a comprehensive overview of Romania’s institutional framework and operational practices on legal and labour migration. Romania is also leading the ongoing Thematic Component 3 on legal and labour migration.