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.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
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
Read more
Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: EU Skills Profile Tool, migrants' skills
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to collect evidence, experiences, data and opinions to support the evaluation of the existing EU legal framework for the legal entry and stay of nationals of non-EU countries to the EU Member States. The deadline is 18 September 2017.
When18 September 2017
Read more
Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training
Keywords: public consultation
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.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUNAVFOR MED, Sophia, frégate
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.
Read more
Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: visa-free travel
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.
Read more
Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Letter of intent, Germany, cooperation
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.
Read more
Main theme: Integration
Keywords: Brussels, integration programme
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.
Read more
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: Common European Asylum System; relocation: resettlement
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.
Read more
Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: residence document
Today, the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe agreed on concrete action on protecting refugee and migrant children.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: migrant child
Eurostat releases today data on asylum decisions taken by EU Member States in 2016.
Read more
Main theme: Data & Statistics, International Protection
Keywords: asylum decisions, resettlement
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.
Read more
Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen, border control
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.
Read more
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: public order, foreign terrorist fighter
Today, the European Migration Network (EMN) launched its Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2016 during a half day event in Brussels.
Read more
Main theme: Migration
Keywords: annual report
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.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: migrant child, Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors
Today, the Commission adopted its eleventh progress report on the EU's emergency relocation and resettlement schemes, assessing actions taken since 2 March 2017.
Read more
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: resettlement, relocation
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.
Read more
Main theme: Migration
Keywords: residence permit, processing fee
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.
Read more
Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: Schengen borders code, database
Eurostat published a news release on the number of asylum applications in 2016 and published an article on asylum applications and decisions for 2016 on its website.
Read more
Main theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum decisions, asylum applications
In its judgement delivered today, the Court of Justice has ruled that Member States are not required – under EU law – to grant a humanitarian visa to persons who wish to enter their territory with a view to applying for asylum. However, they are free to do so on the basis of their national law.
Read more
Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Court of Justice of the European Union, Syria
Today the European Commission presented new measures in the context of the review of the EU return policy which was announced in the Malta Declaration from 3 February 2017.
Read more
Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: EU Action Plan on Return
The Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons has published a new guide that provides information to unaccompanied minors applying for asylum in Belgium, as well as their guardians.
Read more
Main theme: Asylum
Keywords: CGRS, asylum procedure
Foreign nationals might have to pay a fee of maximum 50 euro in certain municipalities when they renew, extend or replace a temporary residence permit at the level of the municipalities. Modifications by the Law of 18 December 2016, published today in the Belgian Official Gazette, made it possible for municipalities to collect this fee.
Read more
Main theme: Migration
Keywords: processing fee, residence permit
Today a new law enters (partly) into force inserting a general residence condition into the Immigration Act. The Immigration Office can now put an end to a residence permit if the person cannot put forward provable integration efforts.