The Commission is proposing to establish a European Border and Coast Guard and also to introduce systematic checks against relevant databases for all people entering and exiting the Schengen area.

During the third quarter of 2015 (July to September 2015), 413 800 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the Member States of the EU, a number almost double that of the second quarter of 2015.

The conference of the Belgian National Contact Point to the EMN– which took place on 4 December in Brussels – focused on challenges and opportunities associated with the return of irregular and vulnerable migrants.

The package of programmes is the single biggest EU measure in response to the Syrian refugee crisis to date.

Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met in Brussels to discuss how to strengthen the following measures, inter alia: EU Passenger Name Record Directive, controls of external borders, information sharing and law enforcement cooperation.

The Commission is referring Belgium for failing to transpose the Single Permit Directive. The Commission proposes a daily penalty of 52,828.16 euros.

On 11-12 November, the Valletta summit on migration brought together European and African Heads of State and Government in an effort to strengthen cooperation and address the current challenges but also the opportunities of migration.

On the occasion of an informal meeting following the Valletta Summit, heads of state or government focus on the migration crisis, the future of Schengen and cooperation with Turkey.

Home Affairs Ministers focused in particular on speeding up the relocation process, strengthening the EU's external borders, fighting human trafficking and smuggling, and return and readmission.

As from 9 November 2015, an asylum seeker can obtain a C work permit four months after applying for asylum. The 6 month period was cut to 4 months by a Royal Decree which entered into force today.

Between 2014 and 2020, the EU will support Niger through the Emergency Trust Fund, inter alia to better manage migration flows, through improved border management and increased support to fight against trafficking and smuggling networks.

Today, a first group of 30 asylum seekers was relocated from Greece to Luxembourg, in the framework of the EU's relocation scheme.

On 3rd of November 2015, the General Policy Note on Asylum and Migration of the State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration was published. It defines the main orientations and actions to be taken in the field of asylum and migration in 2016.

EU statistics on first residence permits in 2014 have been issued today. Eurostat explains key statistical findings.

Today, the European Commission adopted two decisions in relation to the EU's Emergency Trust Fund for Africa announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union speech last September

The European Commission collects views and opinions, as well as ideas and knowledge, to elaborate a revised Smart Borders Package.

Myria's first edition of its newsletter "Myriatics" provides useful figures and facts on the current refugee crisis, to facilitate a better understanding of the global context and the situation in the EU and Belgium.

A first group of 19 asylum seekers was relocated from Italy to Sweden today under an EU relocation scheme.

On the 7th October 2015, the EMN Annual Conference took place in Esch-Belval (Luxembourg). It was dedicated to the 30 years of the Schengen Agreement, as well as to the current challenges to the system regarding border management and irregular migration.

On 14 September 2015, an extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting was held in Brussels to discuss Europe's response to the current refugee crisis.

Today, the European Commission put forward a package of proposals to help address the refugee crisis that EU Member States and neighbouring countries are facing, including by tackling the root causes making people seek refuge in Europe.

Today, the Federal Migration Centre presented its new name (Myria) and identity as well as its report "Migration in figures and rights", which provides an annual overview of the demographics and of the situation of foreigners in terms of fundamental rights.

The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union has convened an extraordinary "Justice and Home Affairs" Council focused on Europe's response to the current migration crisis.

The Council of Ministers has approved a series of measures to guarantee the humane reception of asylum seekers, ensure the rapid transfer of asylum files and reinforce the return of failed asylum seekers.

The European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, writes on the challenge of the migration issue.