Today, the European Commission adopted two decisions in relation to the EU's Emergency Trust Fund for Africa announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union speech last September

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.

The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union has convened an extraordinary "Justice and Home Affairs" Council focused on Europe's response to the current migration crisis.

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

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.

Today, 1 April, the Belgian EMN NCP met the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration to outline EMN activities and to explore how the EMN can be of greater use to policy makers, especially in the framework of EU benchmarking.

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.

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 Royal Decree of 16 February 2015 determining amounts and practical arrangements for collecting fees for the handling of certain applications for a residence permit has been published today, 20 February 2015.

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.

As from today, foreigners have to pay a fee for introducing certain applications for a residence permit in Belgium with a view to covering administrative costs relating to the processing of such applications.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: processing fee, residence permit

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.

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.

On 28 November 2014, the new State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration, Theo Francken, delivered the general policy note defining the main orientations and actions in the field of asylum and migration.

On 1 October 2014, the European Commission has released its 31st Annual Report on monitoring the application of EU law in Member States. As far as home affairs and migration issues are concerned, four infringement procedures are open against Belgium.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: european law, infringement, monitoring

On the occasion of 25 November 2014 EP Plenary Debate on Migration, EU new Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, introduced the debate and presented the EU main orientations and policy fields for an integrated approach on migration and asylum

The Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting gathering all EU 28 Justice and Home Affairs national ministers took place on 9 and 10 October 2014. A strategic approach and operational priorities have been defined to take action to better manage migratory flows.