A Commission staff working document evaluating the European Migration Network (EMN) for the 2018-2021 period, published on 29 June 2026, assesses the network's effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, EU added value and relevance. The evaluation covers all EU Member States except Denmark, plus Georgia, Moldova and Norway as Observers.
The evaluation was supported by an independent study completed in 2024 and used systematic triangulation of data. Main limitations include a timing gap (evaluation conducted 2023-2024 for the 2018-2021 period) and lack of full cost data from National Contact Points. The EMN's objective is to meet the information needs of EU institutions and Member States on migration and asylum by providing up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information.
The EMN is composed of the Commission, 26 Member States (Denmark excluded), and three observers (Norway joined 2011, Moldova and Georgia joined 2021). The Steering Board met at least twice yearly; in 2021 two additional meetings were held due to COVID-19 and the Belarus-border crisis. The EMN budget is co-financed from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Outputs include written products, internal meetings, events, and national-level information sharing via websites, social media, newsletters. The EMN developed external coordination with EUAA, FRA, Frontex, and international organisations.
The evaluation concludes that the EMN remained relevant and effective during 2018-2021, adapting to crises like COVID-19 and the Belarus-border situation, but data limitations hindered full cost-benefit analysis.