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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Main theme: Migration, Integration
Keywords: Integration, newcomers declaration
According to the Missing Migrants Project, an estimate of 7495 men, women and children migrants or refugees died or were reported missing across five continents in 2016. That is almost 20 victims per day and the number may not include them all.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: Missing Migrants Project, migrant death, refugee death
Authorized officials of the Belgian Immigration Office have been granted direct access to certain parts of the central database of the Belgian police.
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Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Immigration Office, Police
The Commission is today proposing to improve the Schengen Information System (SIS) to close information gaps and to contribute to a stronger control of external borders and sustainable EU Security Union.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: external border, Schengen Information System
The Commission recommends today that transfers to Greece should be resumed gradually, only for asylum seekers for whom Greece is responsible from 15 March 2017, and subject to individual assurances from the Greek authorities.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Dublin transfer, Greece
Civil society organizations that have experience in the issue of migrants' access to Europe, services and rights, and that wish to actively contribute to the European Migration Forum, must submit their application form no later than today!
When12 December 2016
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Main theme: Migration
Keywords: European Migration Forum, civil society
In october 2016, Fedasil has opened a new return desk in Charleroi, where migrants can receive information and assistance on voluntary return.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission
Keywords: return desk, voluntary return
At 3pm today, the EMN presents the recently published study on resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: humanitarian admission, resettlement
The Belgian Contact Point of the EMN organised a conference on labour market participation of beneficiaries of international protection. The event took place on the 8th of November in Brussels (Résidence Palace).
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Main theme: International Protection, Integration
Keywords: EMN conference, labour market integration
Today, the new agency aimed at strengthening Europe's external borders is legally operational.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard
Due to the decreasing inflow of asylum seekers in Belgium, the reception network will be gradually decreased and the implementation of the new reception model will be resumed.
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Main theme: Reception
Keywords: Fedasil, reception centre
Today, the European Commission is reporting on the progress made on the relocation and resettlement schemes and the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement.
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Main theme: Asylum, Migration, Cross-sectional
Keywords: Dublin transfer, EU-Turkey Statement, European Agenda on Migration, relocation, resettlement
A decree of the government of the French-speaking Community – which entered into force today – introduces changes regarding the procedure of recognition of the equivalence of higher education diplomas and certificates obtained abroad.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Study § Training
Keywords: Projet sur les migrants disparus, décès de migrant
On the occasion of President Juncker's 2016 State of the Union address, the European Commission today set out their view on how the European Union can enhance security in Europe by improving the exchange of information in the fight against terrorism and strengthening external borders.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard, English, border management
Today, 29 August 2016, the Royal Decree from 3 August 2016 establishing the list of safe countries of origin was published in the Belgian Official Gazette and came into force. Besides the same countries as for previous years, the new list now also includes Georgia.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: list of safe countries of origin, safe country of origin
The European Asylum Support Office launched its first mobile app for smartphones and tablets allowing asylum seekers to quickly find information in English and various non-EU languages (English, Arabic, Sorani, Kumjani and Tigrinya) about the EU Relocation Programme.