Under the Italian Presidency of the European Union a two days conference on European Migration Policy and Integration is organized in Rome on 17-18 December 2014.

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.

The European Commission published on 26 September 2014 a handbook to help EU Member States take action against marriages of convenience between EU citizens and non-EU nationals in the context of EU law on free movement. The Commission prepared the handbook in close cooperation with Member States.

The IOM Country Office for Belgium and Luxembourg organize an event to illustrate the positive contribution of migrants, in various domains and to highlight some concrete examples of their contributions to the host societies at the international, European, and Belgian levels.

This International Symposium aims to discuss the current challenges of migration and integration in Europe, and to reignite the debate about an EU-wide strategy to improve integration policies across Member States.

The Centre for the History of Migrants (CGM) organizes an international workshop to analyze how policies and practices travel, especially between the Netherlands and Belgium as neighbouring countries with more or less similar immigration histories.

TRICUD Final International Conference aims at presenting the main findings of the multidisciplinary research programme TRICUD (2010-2014) on post-migratory cities and transnational flows, the dynamics of identities and the process of cultural diversification.

The King Baudouin Foundation aims to reduce vulnerability amongst newcomers settling in Belgium through marriage. Associations working on marriage migration related challenges are invited to submit possible projects before 16 April 2014.

The summit took stock of progress made on Roma inclusion in the EU. It focused on three major themes: making policies inclusive for all Roma at the local level; making EU funding reach the local and regional authorities; making Roma integration a local reality.

The Commission is presenting guidance for the correct and meaningful application of the Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC) across Member States while avoiding possible abuses.

In a communication released today, the Commission provides guidance on how to apply Directive 2003/86/EC. Member States are invited to use their margin of appreciation in a manner that doesn't undermine the objective of the Directive.

New provisions making information exchange compulsory on suspected and attempts of relationships of convenience enter into force on 3 April 2013.

Foyer organises a half-day seminar on the recent law of 2 June 2013 on the fight against marriages and legal cohabitations of convenience.

Helga de Valk, Professor aan de Vrije Universiteit Brussel, is willing to show that applying the sociological life course approach to migration and integration research may advance our understanding of immigrant settlement patterns and further develop the life course perspective.