13 July 2017
Today, the European Commission decided to refer Belgium to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to fully implement the Single Permit Directive (Directive 2011/98/EU). Designed to facilitate legal migration, the Directive introduces simplified procedures and a common set of rights for non-EU workers.
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Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: single permit directive, Court of Justice of the European Union
06 July 2017
The return of irregular migrants is one of the main pillars of the EU’s policy on migration and asylum. In this light the EMN will conduct in 2017 a study on ‘The effectiveness of return in EU Member States: challenges and good practices linked to EU rules and standards‘. The synthesis report of this study is expected to be published at the end of 2017. The Belgian national report will probably be published at the beginning of 2018.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: return
05 July 2017
Today, EASO presented its yearly reference report summarizing key developments that took place in the asylum field in the EU+ in 2016 as well as some more recent data of 2017. The launching of the annual report 2016 brought together a large audience, including journalists.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: EASO annual report
30 June 2017
Today, the restricted Council of Ministers has approved the proposal of the State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration to create a single registration centre for asylum seekers in Neder-Over-Heembeek.
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Main Theme: Reception
Keywords: registration centre
23 June 2017
A tribunal in Brussels sentenced eight persons to suspended 15-month prison sentences and a €165,000 fine for trafficking in human beings and degrading treatment
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Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
20 June 2017
On the occasion of the United Nations' World Refugee Day, the European Commission is today releasing the 'EU Skills Profile Tool for Third-Country Nationals'. The tool is meant to support early identification of the skills of refugees, migrants and other third country nationals
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Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: EU Skills Profile Tool, migrants' skills
12 June 2017
Today, the Belgian Louise-Marie frigate departed from the port of Zeebrugge, starting its deployment in the Mediterranean sea in the framework of the EUNAVFOR MED – Sophia operation. The deployment will last until 28 July.
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Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUNAVFOR MED, Sophia, frégate
11 June 2017
As from today Ukrainian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to the Schengen Zone without a visa for a period of 90 days within any 180-day period for purposes other than working.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: visa-free travel
09 June 2017
Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met on 8 and 9 June 2017. Home Affairs issues included the reform of the CEAS, European travel information and authorisation systems, Schengen information system, Information systems interoperability and return policy. The protection of children in migration was also put forward.
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Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Justice and Home Affairs Council
31 May 2017
Today, the Belgian State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration and the German Minister of Foreign Affairs signed a letter of intent to increase the cooperation of the two countries regarding monitoring beneficiaries of international protection who travel to their countries of origin.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: Letter of intent, Germany, cooperation
30 May 2017
An ordinance of the Joint Community Commission of Brussels - which was published in the Belgian Gazette today - establishes a mandatory integration programme for newcomers in Brussels.
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Main Theme: Integration
Keywords: Brussels, integration programme
25 May 2017
On the 24th and 25th of May, the Maltese EU Presidency hosted the EMN Annual Conference. This edition focused on the interesting topic of the reform of the Common European Asylum System.
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Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: Common European Asylum System; relocation: resettlement
20 May 2017
As from today, potential victims of trafficking are issued an annex 15 valid for 45 days during the reflection period, following modification of article 61/2 §2 of the Immigration Act.
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Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: residence document
19 May 2017
Today, the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe agreed on concrete action on protecting refugee and migrant children.
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Main Theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: migrant child
14 May 2017
Today, the thematic Council of Ministers on security, justice and defence approved a series of measures, including the proposal of the State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration to increase the capacity of the closed detention centres for irregularly staying migrants.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: detention center, irregular migrant
02 May 2017
The European Commission is today recommending that Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway phase out the temporary controls currently in place at some of their internal Schengen borders over the next six months.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen, border control
29 April 2017
Today, two new laws have entered into force. They focus on the procedure to end the residence rights and organized the removal of foreign nationals legally residing in Belgium for reasons of public order or national security.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: public order, foreign terrorist fighter
26 April 2017
Eurostat releases today data on asylum decisions taken by EU Member States in 2016.
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Main Theme: Data & Statistics, International Protection
Keywords: asylum decisions, resettlement
26 April 2017
Today, the European Migration Network (EMN) launched its Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2016 during a half day event in Brussels.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: annual report
17 April 2017
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published today a press release with 2015 data on the acquisition of citizenship in the EU. The main conclusions are that EU Member States granted citizenship to fewer persons in 2015, and Moroccans, Albanians and Turks remain the main recipients.
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Main Theme: Citizenship & Nationality
12 April 2017
Following up on the Joint Communication on the Central Mediterranean Route and the Malta Declaration, the EU Trust Fund for Africa upon proposal from the European Commission, adopted today a €90 million programme to step up the protection of migrants and reinforce migration management in Libya.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: EU Trust Fund, Libya
12 April 2017
The Commission is today setting out actions to reinforce the protection of all migration children at all stages of the process and to ensure a closer link between the asylum and child protection services.
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Main Theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: migrant child, Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors
12 April 2017
Today, the Commission adopted its eleventh progress report on the EU's emergency relocation and resettlement schemes, assessing actions taken since 2 March 2017.
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Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: resettlement, relocation
20 March 2017
Today, a Royal Decree was published in the Official Gazette which details the type of residence permit the fee can apply to, and what the maximum amount of said fee is.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: residence permit, processing fee
18 March 2017
On 18 March 2017, a regulation amending the Schengen borders code was published in the EU Official Journal. The amendment aims to reinforce checks against relevant databases at the external borders.