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.

On the 7th of October 2015, the Luxembourg Contact Point of the European Migration Network organizes - in the framework of the Luxembourgish Presidency of the European Council - the EMN Conference on "30 Years of the Schengen Agreement".

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.

The 5 days training programme focuses on the issues of residence, international protection, employment and social assistance, private international law, citizenship, and integration processes.

EASO is organising a full day general conference on 23 September in Malta with the theme: 5 years of EASO and the CEAS; results and perspectives.

Following the increase in the number of asylum seekers, the Belgian government approved a series of measures to progressively increase the reception capacity .

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.

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.

This symposium will examine the current state of affairs around the recast directives and regulations for asylum at EU level, and assess the implementation challenges that Member States face.

The third edition of the Annual Report on the State of Asylum in Europe, which compiles information from the Asylum Information Database (AIDA), will be launched on 10 September 2015 in Brussels.

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.

The 2015 International Metropolis Conference will take place from 7 till 11 September 2015 in Mexico City, and will focus on the following theme: "Migrants: Key Players in the 21st Century".

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.

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.

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.

The European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, writes on the challenge of the migration issue.

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.

To face the important inflow of asylum seekers in Belgium, the government has taken measures to create additional reception places.