The Commission co-ordinate the work of the EMN, ensuring that it appropriately reflects the political priorities of the Community in the area of migration and asylum.

Amongst other duties and responsibilities, the Commission also adopts the EMN's annual Work Programme which specifies the objectives and thematic priorities in a particular year. The Commission then monitors the execution of this Work Programme and regularly reports on its execution and the development of the EMN to the Steering Board. The Commission also undertakes the co-financing of EMN NCPs through the awarding of annual Operating Grants.

The EMN is guided by a Steering Board composed of one representative from each Member State and one representative of the Commission, plus a representative of the European Parliament participating as an observer. The particular responsibilities of the Steering Board are:

• contribute to the preparation of and approve the EMN's annual programme of activities, including an indicative amount of the minimum and maximum budget for each National Contact Point;
• review progress made by the EMN, making recommendations for necessary actions when required;•provide a succinct status report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions concerning the ongoing activities of the EMN and the key findings of its studies, at least once a year;
• identify the most appropriate strategic cooperative relationships with other entities competent in the area of migration and asylum and approve, when necessary, the administrative arrangements for such cooperation;
• advise the National Contact Points on how to improve their operations, and help them to take the necessary actions, when identified persistent shortcomings in the work of a National Contact Point may have negative consequences on the work of the EMN.