Poland will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union until the end of June 2025. Its programme focuses on strengthening European security in its many dimensions. In the field of justice and home affairs, Poland aims inter alia to counter the instrumentalisation of migration by Russia and Belarus.

From 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2026, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) will support Belgium to increase the capacities of the national asylum and reception authorities. Asylum support teams will be deployed to support the registration and processing of cases as well as the design, update and implementation of specific systems and tools. 

Today, 20 December 2013, the Circular of 13 December 2013 implementing family reunification provisions, as interpreted by the Constitutional Court on 26 September 2013, was published in the Belgian Official Gazette.

In its ruling n° 166/2013 taken today 19 December 2013, the Constitutional Court rejected the appeal introduced with regard to the detention of families with children.

Is free movement making a unified social Europe difficult? Is solidarity under strain? Six panelists from various organizations will exchanges views on such questions on the occasion of this congress.

PES Group in the Committee of the Regions invites all to join the debate on the - lack of - development of a genuine Common European Asylum System and European Immigration policy.

The Dutch Migration Policy Department plans to organize a two-day seminar in The Hague with policy makers and academia to discuss and share research results and policy challenges relating to the Stockholm migration chapters.

The tragedy in Lampedusa prompted an unprecedented call for action by EU leaders and citizens. On 4 December, the Commission proposed ways to increase solidarity and mutual support in order to prevent migrants' death in the Mediterranean.

On 3 December, the policy note of the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Maggie De Block, for 2014 was approved in the Chamber Commission of Home Affairs. It reviews the 2013 achievements and presents policies on asylum, migration and reception for 2014.

Ending its 3279th meeting of 5 and 6 December, the JHA Council presents its conclusions. Topics discussed include the free movement of EU citizens, the Task Force Mediterranean, full application of the Schengen acquis by Bulgaria and Romania and the European citizenship report 2013.

During this seminar, migrant aspirations and experiences in Belgium and Turkey will be presented, in the light of the decreasing migration aspirations regarding Europe.

On 5 December, the Council of the EU adopted unanimously a regulation, introducing a suspension and reciprocity mechanism in the Council Regulation, listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas to enter the EU.

On 2 December the European Border Surveillance System becomes operational. EUROSUR will make an important contribution to saving lives and will also equip the EU and its Member States with better tools to prevent cross-border crimes and to detect and provide assistance to migrant boats in distress.

On 3 December 2013 deSOM organizes a lecture day on "Middle and Eastern Europe Migration: tendencies and perspectives".

Today 2 December 2013, the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) becomes operational. EUROSUR should allow Member States to react much faster to any incidents concerning irregular migration and cross-border crime or relating to a risk to the lives of migrants.

On 26 November 2013 the first edition of the Flemish Migration and Integration Monitor has been presented. The report joins and interprets administrative and statistical data on migratory and integration processes in Flanders.

The Court refined its case-law on the application of the Dublin Regulation, judging on the responsability of a Member State to examine an asylum application, in case of impossible transfer of the applicant.

This panel debate will bring together experts, policymakers, and social partners involved in the management of labour migration to discuss the various options available to policymakers when trying to design an 'optimally balanced' labour migration policy.