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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: border management, EMN Annual Conference, refugee crisis, Schengen
Following the increase in the number of asylum seekers, the Belgian government approved a series of measures to progressively increase the reception capacity .
Read more
Main Theme: Reception
Keywords: reception facilities
This News Release, covers main trends on first time asylum applicants and on pending asylum applicants for the second quarter of 2015 in the EU28+EFTA region.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum applications, asylum decisions
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: refugee crisis, relocation, safe country of origin
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Migration, Asylum
Keywords: Myria, federal migration centre
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: public order
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: Council of the European Union
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Migration, Asylum
Keywords: reception law
The European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, writes on the challenge of the migration issue.
Read more
Main Theme: Reception, International Protection, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: relocation, resettlement, solidarity
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: CGRS, asylum decisions, asylum applications
To face the important inflow of asylum seekers in Belgium, the government has taken measures to create additional reception places.
Read more
Main Theme: Reception
Keywords: reception place
Today, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the "Smart Borders Package", one of the priorities included in the European Agenda on Migration. All citizens (EU nationals and non-EU nationals) and organisations are invited to contribute.
Read more
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border management, European Commission
Interior ministers in Brussels on Monday (20 July) fell short of a European Commission-proposed target to relocate 40,000 asylum seekers arriving in Greece and Italy over the next two years. However according to EU Commissioner Avramopoulos significant progress was made on different topics.
Read more
Main Theme: Reception, International Protection
Keywords: hotspots, relocation, safe country of origin
Today Belgium lifted the restrictions on the free movement of workers from Croatia. Croatian citizens are now able to fully exercise their right to work in Belgium without a work permit.
Read more
Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: Croatia, free movement
Today, 28 May 2015, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the future of the Blue Card Directive. This consultation invites stakeholders (migrants, employers, trade unions, governmental organisations, etc.) to share their views on the EU Blue Card and how it can be improved.
Read more
Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: economic migration, European Commission
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: European Agenda on Migration, Mediterranean
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: CGRS, Fedasil, federal migration centre, Immigration Office
The European Commission asks Belgium to implement rules on a Single Permit and a clear set of rights for legal migrant workers.
Read more
Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: ingringement procedure, single permit directive
The European Council held a special meeting with a view to adopting different orientations to address the tragic situation in the Mediterranean.
Read more
Main Theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: human trafficking, Mediterranean
A 10 point action plan of the immediate actions has been presented by Commissioner Avramopoulos and received the full backing of Foreign and Interior Ministers.
Read more
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Keywords: Mediterranean region
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration
The EASO Newsletter for March 2015 has been issued.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: country of origin information (COI), EASO
A pan-european operation dismantled a migrant smuggling network, generating 77 arrests.