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Today, the Belgian government approved the plan for the distribution of asylum seekers over the different municipalities of the Kingdom. It will enter into force on 1 May 2016.
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: distribution plan

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The Justice and Home Affairs Council of 25/02/2016 discussed the current migratory situation, including the monitoring of implementation of the measures already agreed at recent meetings of the European Council and Justice and Home Affairs Council.

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As of January 2016, the monthly statistics published by the CGRS refer to the number of persons and no longer to the number of asylum cases. In this way, the Belgian statistics conform to the definitions used by European agencies such as Eurostat and EASO.

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In the framework of the PONT project TEPSA (Trans European Policy Studies Association) is organising a ‘Working Europe’ Seminar on EU Asylum and Migration policies, which will take place in Brussels on 4-8 April 2016.
Main theme: Migration, Asylum

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On 15th February, a new vaccination campaign has been launched for newly arrived asylum seekers.
Main theme: Reception
Keywords: public health, reception, vaccination

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The Labour Market Observatory (LMO) of the European Economic and Social Committee is holding a public seminar on “Integrating refugees into the labour market: turning the crisis into an opportunity”.

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Belgium pledged 75 million EUR to be spent on humanitarian aid in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The aid will mostly be dedicated to initiatives encouraging refugees to stay in their region of origin and providing dignified living conditions.
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: humanitarian aid, Syria, Syrian refugees

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The Royal Academy of Belgium organizes several short conferences on the topic of Europe and the current migration challenges it faces (in February and March 2016).
Main theme: Asylum, Migration

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This CEIPA roundtable offers an opportunity to examine solutions to the continuing influx of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants which challenges European institutions to manage the crisis on the short and the longer run.

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This EASO newsletter provides information on the election of new executive director José Carreira (PT) and chairman Wolfgang Taucher (AT) of the EASO managment board.

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Foyer organizes a series of training modules on Migration Law. The sessions will focus on various topics, such as the different residence statuses in Belgium, asylum and reception, family reunification, employment of foreign nationals, etc.
Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Foyer, migration law, Training

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Looking at the migration/refugee crisis, the College of Commissioners looked back at measures taken in 2015 and the initiatives to be presented in 2016 to further develop collective European action and deliver clear and tangible results.

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This webinar aims at discussing a recent MPI report and at analyzing how private sponsorship programmes for refugees could alleviate some of the pressure from the European refugee crisis.
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: private sponsorship, resettlement

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In 2015, the number of asylum applications filed in Belgium doubled compared to 2014, and the protection rate reached an all-time high.

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During the first six months of 2016, the Dutch Presidency will work on the priorities agreed with Slovakia and Malta in an 18 month trio programme setting long-term goals for the period January 2016-June 2017.

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The Immigration Office, the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons, Fedasil and Klein Kasteeltje will explain the impact of the increased influx of asylum seekers on the asylum procedure and reception system.
Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: refugee crisis

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The European Council on 17-18 December 2015 agreed to speed up actions on the operation of hotspots, the implementation of relocation decisions and returns, the control of external borders and cooperation with third countries.

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The Conference offers the opportunity to explore the most important policy developments from 2015 related to (financial, physical and operational) solidarity in EU Asylum and Borders Policies.

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The European Commission has today presented a recommendation for a voluntary humanitarian admission scheme to create a system of solidarity and responsibility sharing with Turkey for refugees from Syria.

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During the third quarter of 2015 (July to September 2015), 413 800 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the Member States of the EU, a number almost double that of the second quarter of 2015.
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: asylum statistics

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The package of programmes is the single biggest EU measure in response to the Syrian refugee crisis to date.
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: aid, EU Trust Fund, Syrian refugees

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Home Affairs Ministers focused in particular on speeding up the relocation process, strengthening the EU's external borders, fighting human trafficking and smuggling, and return and readmission.

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As from 9 November 2015, an asylum seeker can obtain a C work permit four months after applying for asylum. The 6 month period was cut to 4 months by a Royal Decree which entered into force today.
Main theme: Asylum, Integration
Keywords: employment, waiting period

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Today, a first group of 30 asylum seekers was relocated from Greece to Luxembourg, in the framework of the EU's relocation scheme.
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: relocation

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On 3rd of November 2015, the General Policy Note on Asylum and Migration of the State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration was published. It defines the main orientations and actions to be taken in the field of asylum and migration in 2016.