As of September 2014, the University of Liege and Universidad Pompeu Fabra will offer a new joint two-year master programme in migration studies. EU-EEA students should apply in Liège before 15 August 2014.

From 1 July 2014, Italy takes over the Presidency of ther Council of the European Union from Greece and will hold it until 31 December 2014.

One of the key objectives of the EU is to build an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers, and with full respect for fundamental rights. To this end, coherent policy measures need to be taken with respect to asylum, immigration and borders.

In the light of a recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU, the Commission is proposing to clarify which Member State is responsible for examining applications made by unaccompanied minors.

The Eurostat newsrelease provides information on the annual (final instance) asylum decisions data for 2013 (Eurostat).

On 12 and 13 June 2014, the European Migration Network Conference 2014 took place on "Irregular migration and return: challenges and practices". The Conference was organised in Athens, within the framework of the Hellenic Presidency of the EU Council.

The Immigration Office noticed the minimum monthly amount of livelihoods which is required from a student who wish to study in Belgium during the school or academic year 2014-2015.

A first assessment of the strategic guidelines of the EU Council for the planning in the area of freedom, security and justice. After the programmes of The Hague and Stockholm, the new guidelines are important for the development of the Immigration and Asylum policies of the EU.

The five-day Course focusses on the international legal framework governing migration, including the rights and responsibilities of States and migrants.

Screening of the documentary 'Into the Fire'. This investigative documentary looks at the situation of migrants and refugees in Greece in the face of severe austerity measures and rising racism. The screening will be followed by a Q and A session with the documentary’s producer, Kate Mara.

One day training session on the current developments in immigration law in Belgium.

The ICT Directive enters into force today 28 May 2014. Member States shall transpose the Directive by 29 November 2016.

ICMPD sharpens the focus on Mediterranean migration and mobility, and related challenges. The YoM newsletter is for policy-makers, practitioners, experts and researchers but more than that also for all those interested in migration in the Mediterranean.

The Commission reports to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of the EU Blue Card Directive. It assesses the attractiveness of the EU Blue Card and examines how measures were enacted in national legislation.

The French speaking Court of first instance of Brussels ruled on 19 May 2014 that an Afghan applicant rightly claimed that various organizations (UNHCR, ECRE, Amnesty International…) advocate the suspension of transfers to Bulgaria due to inadequate reception conditions and human rights violations.

On 14 to 16 May 2014, Sweden hosted the 7th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Meeting in Stockholm with the theme “Unlocking the potential of migration for inclusive development.”

The Royal Decree from 8 May 2014, which determines operating rules specifically applied to residents in detention centers who don’t adapt or pose a risk to the group scheme, has been published.