The Council adopted a series of conclusions on the future of the return policy and approved more money to tackle the refugee crisis. The EMN will be used to monitor whether disparities among Member States' programmes could lead to return shopping.

A first group of 19 asylum seekers was relocated from Italy to Sweden today under an EU relocation scheme.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: relocation

On the 7th October 2015, the EMN Annual Conference took place in Esch-Belval (Luxembourg). It was dedicated to the 30 years of the Schengen Agreement, as well as to the current challenges to the system regarding border management and irregular migration.

On 14 September 2015, an extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting was held in Brussels to discuss Europe's response to the current refugee crisis.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: refugee, relocation

Today, the European Commission put forward a package of proposals to help address the refugee crisis that EU Member States and neighbouring countries are facing, including by tackling the root causes making people seek refuge in Europe.

Today, the Federal Migration Centre presented its new name (Myria) and identity as well as its report "Migration in figures and rights", which provides an annual overview of the demographics and of the situation of foreigners in terms of fundamental rights.

On 3 September a Law amending the Immigration Act came into force. The amendment is intended to take into account threats to society and national security in applications for international protection.
Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: public order

The Council of Ministers has approved a series of measures to guarantee the humane reception of asylum seekers, ensure the rapid transfer of asylum files and reinforce the return of failed asylum seekers.
Main Theme: Migration, Asylum
Keywords: reception law

Each month, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) publishes a document providing the statistics on asylum applications and asylum decisions.

The CGRS’ new website, which provides information on the asylum procedure in Belgium, puts an emphasis on user-friendliness and transparency.
Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: CGRS

The European Agenda aims to give concrete answers following the recent tragedies in the Mediterranean and, more generally, to manage migration better in all aspects.

The Belgian EMN National Contact Point (NCP) organized an information session targeted at partners from the institutions being part of it, with a view to informing them about its activities and cooperation opportunities.

The EASO Newsletter for March 2015 has been issued.

On 25 March 2015 the European Commission has approved 22 new multiannual national programmes under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) for the period 2014-2020, worth together approximately €1.8 billion.

This News Release covers main trends on asylum applications and first instance decisions on asylum applications for the complete 2014 year in the EU28+EFTA region.

During the meeting of the Home Affairs Council, Ministers discussed migratory pressures, and in particular the situation in the central Mediterranean, as well as increasing trends in asylum applications from Western Balkans countries and in particular Kosovo.

The College of Commissioners held a first orientation debate setting out the four main areas where actions are envisaged in the European Agenda on Migration.

The European Migration Forum – the dialogue platform on migration, asylum and migrant integration – has met for the first time on 26 and 27 January 2015.

The European law and migration team (EDEM) of the Catholic University of Louvain has published its newsletter that analyses recent asylum case law.

On the occasion of the European Parliament plenary session of 13 January 2015, Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos spoke on human smuggling in the Mediterranean and the needed reaction of the EU

In a press release published on 6 January 2015, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons has announced that the number of people in need of protection and being recognized the refugee status has greatly increased in 2014

In the first half of 2015 Latvia will assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Presidency will focus on the implementation of the Strategic Guidelines in the area of freedom, security and justice (June 2014), as well as on the respective follow-up initiatives.

Today the European Commission adopted its Work Programme for 2015 – setting out the actions the Commission intends to take over the next 12 months to make a real difference for jobs, growth and investment and bring concrete benefits for citizens.

Syria neighbouring States are increasingly affected by the number of refugees seeking sanctuary within their country. The European Commission is stepping up its assistance to Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon to contribute to address Syrian refugees’ needs.

The Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting gathering all EU 28 Justice and Home Affairs national ministers took place on 4 and 5 December 2014. Managing migratory flows, the functioning of the Schengen area and acting on foreign fighters were the main migration related topics discussed.