A European Commission evaluation of the European Migration Network (EMN) covering the period 2018-2021, published on 29 June 2026, concludes that the network has been generally effective in achieving its objectives but identifies several areas for improvement. The evaluation, a staff working document accompanying a formal Commission report, assesses the EMN's performance across five criteria: effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance, and EU-added value. It covers most EU Member States and observer countries including Georgia, Moldova, and Norway.
The evaluation notes that while the EMN has produced valuable outputs and met its core objectives, constraints such as a time lag between the assessed period and the evaluation itself, as well as limited data on costs incurred by National Contact Points, hampered a full assessment. The report recommends enhancing information flow between the network and EU institutions, and adjusting the EMN's structure and working methods to better align with its evolving objectives in a rapidly changing migration landscape. The findings are intended to inform future improvements to the network's responsiveness and efficiency.
The EMN, established in 2008, serves as a key EU platform for migration and asylum information exchange, providing evidence-based analysis to policymakers and stakeholders. The evaluation's recommendations are expected to feed into discussions on the network's future mandate and resource allocation.