Glossary
The EMN Glossary – as one of the key products of the EMN - improves comparability by enabling a common understanding and use of terms and definitions relating to asylum and migration. The Glossary draws on a variety of sources, but primarily on the legislation of the EU asylum and immigration acquis, and makes terms available in the majority of EU Member State languages.
The online version is regularly updated and available in various languages.
- BG: Глобален подход към миграцията и мобилността
- CZ: Globální přístup k migraci a mobilitě
- DE: Gesamtansatz für Migration und Mobilität
- EE: globaalne lähenemine rändele ja rahvastiku liikuvusele
- EN: Global Approach to Migration and Mobility
- ES: Enfoque Global de la Migración
- FI: maahanmuuttoa koskeva kokonaisvaltainen lähestymistapa
- FR: approche globale de la question des migrations et de la mobilité
- GA: Cur Chuige Domhanda i leith Imirce agus Soghluaisteachta
- GR: Σφαιρική Προσέγγιση της Μετανάστευσης και της Κινητικότητας
- HU: a migráció és mobilitás átfogó globális megközelítése
- IT: Approccio globale in materia di migrazione e mobilità
- LT: ES visuotinis požiūris į migraciją ir judumą
- LV: vispārēja pieeja migrācijai un mobilitātei
- MT: Approċċ Globali għall-Migrazzjoni u l-Mobilità
- NL: totaalaanpak van migratie en mobiliteit
- NO: global tilnærming til migrasjon og mobilitet
- PL: Globalne Podejście do Migracji i Mobilności
- PT: Abordagem Global da Migração e Mobilidade
- SE: Övergripande strategi för migration och rörlighet / GAMM
- SK: Globálny prístup k migrácii a mobilite / GPMM
- SL: Globalni pristop k migraciji in mobilnosti
The overarching framework of the European Union’s external migration policy based on genuine partnership with non-EU countries and addressing all aspects of migration and mobility issues in an integrated, comprehensive and balanced manner.
2. The approach comprises the whole migration agenda, including legal and irregular migration, combating trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants, strengthening protection for refugees, enhancing migrant rights and harnessing the positive links that exist between migration and development.
3. In 2011, the global approach was evaluated. As a result of this, the Commission highlighted the need for further strengthening the external migration policy and published in November 2011 the Communication on the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility, COM(2011) 743 final on a new impetus to the EU’s external migration policy. The renewed GAMM focuses on four main priorities: improving the organisation of legal migration and facilitated mobility, preventing and reducing irregular migration in an efficient, yet humane way, strengthening the synergies between migration and development, and strengthening international protection systems and the external dimension of asylum.
- BG: Работна група на високо равнище „Убежище и миграция“
- CZ: pracovní skupina na vysoké úrovni pro azyl a migraci
- DE: Hochrangige Arbeitsgruppe Asyl und Einwanderung
- EE: kõrgetasemine varjupaiga ja rände töörühm
- EN: High-Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration
- ES: grupo de trabajo de alto nivel sobre migración y asilo
- FI: turvapaikka- ja maahanmuuttoasioiden korkean tason työryhmä
- FR: Groupe de haut niveau «Asile et Migration»
- GA: Grúpa Oibre Ardleibhéil maidir le Tearmann agus Imirce
- GR: Ομάδα Εργασίας Υψηλού Επιπέδου για το ‘Ασυλο και την Μετανάστευση
- HU: Magas Szintű Menekültügyi és Migrációs Munkacsoport
- IT: Gruppo di lavoro ad alto livello in materia di asilo e migrazione
- LT: Prieglobsčio ir migracijos aukšto lygio darbo grupė
- LV: Augsta līmeņa darba grupa migrācijas un patvēruma jautājumos
- MT: Grupp ta’ Ħidma ta’ Livell Għoli dwar l-Ażil u l-Migrazzjoni
- NL: Werkgroep op hoog niveau voor asiel en migratie
- NO: høynivågruppen for asyl og migrasjon (b) / høgnivågruppa for asyl og migrasjon (n)
- PL: Grupa Robocza Wysokiego Szczebla ds. Azylu i Migracji
- PT: grupo alto nível asilo e migração
- RO: Grupul de lucru la nivel înalt în domeniul migraţiei şi azilului
- SE: Högnivågruppen för asyl och migration
- SK: Pracovná skupina na vysokej úrovni pre azyl a migráciu
- SL: Delovna skupina visokih predstavnikov za azil in migracije
2. The HLWG's focus is on external relations with third countries, particularly within the context of the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility. Its objective is to strengthen the external dimension of the EU’s asylum and migration policies based on dialogue, cooperation and partnership with countries of origin and transit in the areas of legal migration, irregular migration, migration and development. The Group also prepares conclusions and recommendations on asylum and migration to be adopted by the Council. They carry out an assessment of the political, economic and human rights situation in countries of origin and provide a joint analysis of the causes and consequences of migration.
- BG: Пражки процес
- CZ: Pražský proces
- DE: Prager Prozess
- EE: Praha protsess
- EN: Prague Process
- ES: Proceso de Praga
- FI: Prahan prosessi
- FR: Processus de Prague
- GA: Próiseas Phrág
- HU: Prágai Folyamat
- IT: Processo di Praga
- LT: Prahos procesas
- LV: Prāgas process
- MT: Proċess (Il-) ta’ Praga
- NL: Praag-proces
- NO: Praha-prosessen
- PL: Proces Praski
- PT: Processo de Praga
- RO: Procesul Praga
- SE: Pragprocessen
- SK: Pražský proces
- SL: Praški proces
A process to strengthen cooperation in migration management between the European Union (EU) and 19 partner countries to the East (the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and Southern Caucasus).
2. Its activities extend across five areas:
(1) combating irregular migration;
(2) readmission, voluntary return and reintegration;
(3) legal migration;
(4) integration; and
(5) migration and development.
The process takes a comprehensive, balanced, pragmatic and operational approach, respecting the rights and human dignity of migrants and their family members, as well as of refugees.
3. For more information, see the website of the Prague Process.
- BG: незаконен мигрант
- CZ: nelegální migrant
- DE: irregulärer Migrant
- EE: ebaseaduslik sisserändaja
- EN: irregular migrant
- ES: inmigrante en situación irregular
- FI: laittomasti maassa oleskeleva henkilö
- FR: migrant en séjour irrégulier
- GA: imirceach neamhrialta
- GR: παράνομος μετανάστης
- HU: irreguláris migráns
- IT: migrante irregolare
- LT: neteisėtas migrantas
- LV: nelikumīgs migrants
- MT: Migrant(a) irregolari
- NL: illegaal verblijvende migrant
- NO: irregulær migrant
- PL: migrant nieregularny
- PT: imigrante irregular
- RO: migrant ilegal
- SE: irreguljär migrant
- SK: nelegálny migrant / migrant bez platného povolenia na pobyt
- SL: ilegaln migrant / nezakonit priseljenec
In the EU context, a third-country national present on the territory of a Schengen State who does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of entry as set out in the Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code) or other conditions for entry, stay or residence in that EU Member State.
2. The term 'irregular' is preferable to 'illegal' migrant because the latter carries a criminal connotation, entering a country in an irregular manner, or staying with an irregular status, is not a criminal offence but an infraction of administrative regulations. Apart from this, juridically and ethically, an act can be legal or illegal but a person cannot. Thus more and more the term 'migrant in an irregular situation' or 'migrant with irregular status' is preferred.
3. The European Commission has used the term 'third-country national found to be illegally present' or 'illegally resident/staying third-country national' in legislation.
4. The Council of Europe differentiates between illegal migration and irregular migrant. Referring to Resolution 1509 (2006) of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, ‘illegal’ is preferred when referring to a status or process, whereas 'irregular' is preferred.
- BG: незаконна миграция
- CZ: nelegální migrace
- DE: irreguläre Migration
- EE: ebaseaduslik ränne
- EN: irregular migration
- ES: inmigración irregular
- FI: sääntöjen vastainen maahanmuutto
- FR: migration irrégulière
- GA: imirce aimhrialta
- HU: irreguláris migráció
- IT: migrazione irregolare
- LT: nelegali (neteisėta) migracija
- LV: nelikumīga migrācija
- MT: Migrazzjoni irregolari
- NL: irreguliere migratie (not currently used; more common is „illegale migratie”)
- NO: irregulær migrasjon
- PL: migracja nieregularna
- PT: migração irregula
- RO: migraţie ilegală
- SE: irreguljär migration
- SK: nelegálna migrácia
- SL: ilegana migracija / neregulirana migracija / nedovoljena migracija
Movement of persons to a new place of residence or transit that takes place outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries.
2. Defining irregular migration has been the subject of considerable debate. Terms such as illegal, undocumented, non-documented, and unauthorised migration can have different connotations in national policy debates. Due to this and the assocation with criminality the term 'illegal migration" should be avoided, as most irregular migrants are not criminals. Being in a country without the required papers is, in most countries, not a criminal offence but an administrative infringement.
3. While the UN use the term 'irregular' or 'undocumented' migration, the European Commission favoured for a long time the term 'illegal immigration', but more recently refers to 'irregular migration' as well.
4. The Council of Europe differentiates between illegal migration and irregular migrant. Referring to Resolution 1509 (2006) of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, ‘illegal’ is preferred when referring to a status or process, whereas ‘irregular’ is preferred when referring to a person.
- BG: законна миграция
- CZ: legální migrace
- DE: legale Migration
- EE: seaduslik ränne
- EN: legal migration
- ES: inmigración legal
- FI: laillinen maahanmuutto
- FR: migration légale
- GA: imirce dhleathach
- HU: legális migráció
- IT: migrazione autorizzata
- LT: legali (teisėta) migracija
- LV: legāla migrācija
- MT: Migrazzjoni legali
- NL: legale migratie
- NO: lovlig migrasjon) (b) / lovleg migrasjon (n)
- PL: legalna migracja
- PT: migração legal
- RO: migraţie legală
- SE: laglig migration
- SK: legálna migrácia
- SL: zakonita migracija
Migration in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
- BG: Център за информация, дискусии и обмен оносно преминаването на границите и имиграцията
- CZ: Centrum pro informace, diskusi a výměnu názorů k překačování hranic a imigraci
- DE: Informations-, Diskussions- und Austauschzentrum für Fragen in Zusammenhang mit dem Überschreiten der Außengrenzen und der Einwanderung
- EE: piiriületuse- ja sisserändealase teabe, analüüsi ja infovahetuse keskus
- EN: Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration
- ES: Centro de información, reflexión e intercambio en materia de cruce de fronteras e inmigración
- FI: Rajanylitys- ja maahanmuuttoasioiden tiedotus-, tarkastelu- ja tietojenvaihtokeskus
- FR: Centre d’information, de réflexion et d’échanges en matière de franchissement des frontières et d’immigration
- GA: an Lárionad um Fhaisnéis, Plé agus Malartú i dtaca le Trasnú Imeallchríche agus Inimirce
- GR: Κέντρο Ενημέρωσης, Συζήτησης και Ανταλλαγής για τη Μετανάστευση και την Συνοριακή Διέλευση
- HU: Külső Határok Átlépésével és Bevándorlással foglalkozó Információ-,Vita-, és Véleménycsere Központ
- IT: Centro di Informazione, di Riflessione e di Scambi in materia di Attraversamento delle Frontiere e di Immigrazione
- LT: Informacijos, diskusijų ir keitimosi duomenimis sienų kirtimo ir imigracijos klausimais centras
- LV: Centrs informācijai, apspriedēm un apmaiņām par robežšķērsošanu un imigrāciju
- MT: Ċentru (Iċ-) ta’ Informazzjoni, Diskussjoni u Skambji dwar il-Qsim ta’ Fruntieri u l-Immigrazzjoni
- NL: Centrum voor informatie, beraad en gegevensuitwisseling inzake grensoverschrijding en immigratie
- NO: Senter for informasjon, diskusjon og utveksling om grensepassering og innvandring
- PL: Centrum Wymiany Informacji nt. Przekraczania Granic i Imigracji
- PT: Centro de Informação, Reflexão e Intercâmbio em matéria de Passagem das Fronteiras e Imigração
- RO: Centrul de informare, reflecţie şi schimb de informaţii cu privire la trecerea frontierei şi imigraţie
- SE: Centrum för information, diskussion och utbyte i frågor som rör passage av gränser och invandring
- SK: Centrum pre informácie, diskusiu a výmenu v oblasti prekračovania hraníc a prisťahovalectva
- SL: Center za podatke, razprave in izmenjave glede prečkanja meje in priseljevanja
A body assisting the EU Member States in effectively studying legal migration so as to prevent irregular migration and unlawful residence, in effectively combating immigration crime, in better detecting forged documents and in improving expulsion practice.
2. In December 2009, as a consequence of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, COREPER decided to abolish CIREFI and to transfer its functions to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX).
- BG: циркулярна миграция
- CZ: cirkulační / cirkulární migrace
- DE: zirkuläre Migration
- EE: korduvränne
- EN: circular migration
- ES: migración circular
- FI: kiertomuutto
- FR: migration circulaire
- GA: imirce chiorclach
- GR: κυκλική μετανάστευση
- HU: körkörös migráció
- IT: migrazione circolare
- LT: apykaitinė migracija
- LV: cirkulārā migrācija
- MT: Migrazzjoni ċirkolari
- NL: circulaire migratie
- NO: sirkulær migrasjon
- PL: migracja cyrkulacyjna
- PT: migração circular
- RO: migraţie circulară
- SE: cirkulär migration
- SK: okružná migrácia / cirkulárna migrácia
- SL: krožna migracija
A repetition of legal migration by the same person between two or more countries.
(a) Circular migration of third-country nationals settled in the EU
This category of circular migration gives people the opportunity to engage in an activity (business, professional, voluntary or other) in their country of origin while retaining their main residence in one of the EU Member States. This covers various groups, e.g.:
- business persons working in the EU and wishing to start an activity in their country of origin (or in another third country); and
- doctors, professors or other professionals willing to support their country of origin by conducting part of their professional activity there.
(b) Circular migration of persons residing in a third country
Circular migration could create an opportunity for persons residing in a third country to come to the EU temporarily for work, study, training or a combination of these, on the condition that, at the end of the period for which they were granted entry, they must re-establish their main residence and their main activity in their country of origin. Circularity can be enhanced by giving migrants the possibility, once they have returned, to retain some form of privileged mobility to and from the EU Member States where they were formerly residing, for example in the form of simplified admission / re-entry procedures. This category covers a wide array of situations, spanning the whole spectrum of migrants, including:
- third-country nationals wishing to work temporarily in the EU, e.g. in seasonal employment;
- third-country nationals wishing to study or train in Europe before returning to their country;
- third-country nationals who, after having completed their studies, wish to be employed in the EU (e.g. as trainees) to acquire professional experience which is difficult to obtain at home, before returning;
- third-country researchers wishing to carry out a research project in the EU;
- third-country nationals who wish to take part in intercultural people-to-people exchanges and other activities in the field of culture, active citizenship, education and youth (such as, for example, training courses, seminars, events, study visits);
- third-country nationals who wish to carry out an unremunerated voluntary service pursuing objectives of general interest in the EU.
- BG: офицер за връзка по имиграция
- CZ: imigrační styčný důstojník
- DE: Verbindungsbeamter für Einwanderungsfragen
- EE: Euroopa sisserände sideametnik
- EN: Immigration Liaison Officer
- ES: oficiales de enlace de inmigración
- FI: maahanmuuttoalan yhdyshenkilö
- FR: officier de liaison «Immigration»
- GA: Oifigeach Idirchaidrimh Inimirce (ILO)
- GR: Σύνδεσμος Μετανάστευσης (αξιωματούχος)
- HU: bevándorlási összekötő tiszt(viselő)
- IT: funzionario di collegamento incaricato dell’immigrazione
- LT: imigracijos ryšių palaikymo pareigūnas
- LV: imigrācijas sadarbības koordinators
- MT: Uffiċjal tal-Kollegament Responsabbli għall‑Immigrazzjoni (UKRI)
- NL: immigratieverbindingsfunctionaris, (syn.: immigratieverbindingsambtenaar; in daily practice: ILO)
- NO: kontaktperson med ansvar for immigrasjon
- PL: oficer łącznikowy ds. imigracji
- PT: Oficial de ligação de imigração
- RO: ofiţer de legătură pe probleme de imigraţie (in daily practice ILO)
- SE: sambandsman för invandring
- SK: imigračný styčný dôstojník
- SL: Uradnik za zvezo za priseljevanje
A representative of one of the EU Member States, posted abroad by the immigration service or other competent authorities in order to establish and maintain contacts with the authorities of the host country with a view to contributing to the prevention and combating of irregular migration, the return of irregular migrants and the management of legal migration.
2. The immigration liaison officers could be posted to the national consular authorities of EU Member States in third countries or to the relevant authorities of other EU Member States, but also to the competent authorities of the third countries, as well as to international organisations for a reasonable time period to be determined by the posting EU Member State.
3. An amendment to Regulation (EC) 377/2004 modifying its Articles 3, 4 and 6 was adopted as Regulation (EU) No 493/2011 (Immigration Liaison Officer Regulation) on 5 April 2011.
- BG: Будапещенски процес
- CZ: Budapešťský proces
- DE: Budapest-Prozess
- EE: Budapesti protsess
- EN: Budapest Process
- ES: Proceso de Budapest
- FI: Budapestin prosessi
- FR: Processus de Budapest
- GA: Próiseas Bhúdaipeist
- GR: Διαδικασία της Βουδαπέστης
- HU: Budapest Folyamat
- IT: Processo di Budapest
- LT: Budapešto procesas
- LV: Budapeštas process
- MT: Proċess (Il-) ta’ Budapest
- NL: Boedapest proces
- NO: Budapest-prosessen
- PL: Proces Budapeszteński
- PT: Processo de Budapeste
- RO: Procesul Budapesta
- SE: Budapestprocessen
- SK: Budapeštiansky proces
- SL: Budimpeštanski proces
A consultative forum of more than 50 governments from the wider European region and ten international organisations, which aims to promote good governance in the field of migration, to develop comprehensive and sustainable systems for orderly migration and to exchange information and best practices on a wide range of migration issues (legal migration, irregular migration, asylum, visa, border management, trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants, readmission and return).
1. The Budapest Process was initiated by DE in 1991.
2. Through this dialogue, the Process promotes a harmonised approach in dealing with irregular migration challenges and support for the transfer and common understanding of migration concepts and policies.
3. For more information see the website of the Budapest Process.