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.

This annual conference aims to tackle the current challenges for the EU in developing a coherent legal framework in the field of labour migration and to provide practitioners with an update on the legal rules applicable to labour migrants.

The European Commission asks Belgium to implement rules on a Single Permit and a clear set of rights for legal migrant workers.

As from 26 March 2015, unaccompanied foreign minors can also qualify for the special protection status when other protection, admission or residence procedures are ongoing.

The Annual Conference of the European Migration Network was held on March 19 and 20. It aimed to provide a global context for the ‘competition for talent’ as well as the practical responses that Member States have developed to ensure that their skills needs can be identified and met.

On 19-20 March 2015, the Latvian Contact Point of the EMN, under the auspices of the Latvian Presidency of the European Council, organizes the EMN Conference on "Attracting and Retaining Talent in Europe".

The European Commission's Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs has decided to set up a temporary informal expert group on economic migration, and is therefore calling for applications to select members of this group.

On 20 January, the Belgian Association for foreigners’ rights organizes a training on the topic “What protection for seriously ill persons following M’Bodj and Abdida case-law?”.

18 December is the International Migrants Day. On 18 December 2014, the Federal Migration Center organized pedagogical and interactive activities while several labour unions and civil society organizations called for more rights for labour migrants

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.

On 4 December 2014, 22 Syrian refugees landed in Belgium for resettlement. 53 more are expected to arrive by the end of the year. Further resettlements of Syrian refugees are planned in 2015.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a case-law in relation to international protection and protection of human rights in the case of alleged persecutions because of an applicant's sexual orientation.

The proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, aims at clarifying Member States’ responsibilities for examining the application for international protection of unaccompanied minors

This meeting will discuss the dynamics by which migrants get stuck in low-skilled work, and the role of training and employment services in helping them progress in their occupations.

Since 13 November 2014 and until May 2015, Belgium is chairing the Committee of Ministers, the political decision making organ of the Council of Europe. Under the Belgian Presidency, migration and asylum will be part of the issues tackled.

Eurostat published data on first residence permits issued to non-EU nationals. A residence permit represents an authorization issued by the competent authorities of a country allowing third-country national (non-EU citizens) to stay legally on its territory.