The Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting gathering all EU 28 Justice and Home Affairs national ministers took place on 9 and 10 October 2014. A strategic approach and operational priorities have been defined to take action to better manage migratory flows.

The new government Michel published its coalition agreement on 9 October 2014. Theo Francken (N-VA) was appointed as the new State Secretary for Asylum and Migration.

Dimitris Avramopoulos appeared at the European Parliament for a three-hour long interview. His competences and knowledge were tested today by the relevant parliamentary committee.

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.

Today the Council adopted the regulations establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund for the period 2014-2020. The total financial envelope for the implementation of these programmes 2014-2020 is set at € 6.901 million in current prices.

In his annual report 2013, the Federal Ombudsman reports on claims inter alia relating to the open return centre in Holsbeek, reception of EU families and regularization on medical grounds.

At a press conference today in Strasbourg, Cecilia Malmström underlined the important steps taken based on the Stockholm program but said that work was not over and that efforts should be stepped up in certain areas.

The Greek Presidency presented its priorities which, in the area of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, include the implementation of the Smart Borders package; addressing the situation of migrants and asylum seekers in the European Union; and the rise of far right movements across Europe.

Following the period of consultation from 29 October 2013 to 21 January 2014, the Commission has made collected opinions available with a view to contribute to the new agenda for Home Affairs.

Based on the EMN Work Programme 2014, approved by the Steering Board in November 2013 and in the process of being formally approved by the Commission, the EMN will work this year on new deliverables.

On 3 December, the policy note of the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Maggie De Block, for 2014 was approved in the Chamber Commission of Home Affairs. It reviews the 2013 achievements and presents policies on asylum, migration and reception for 2014.

On 2 December the European Border Surveillance System becomes operational. EUROSUR will make an important contribution to saving lives and will also equip the EU and its Member States with better tools to prevent cross-border crimes and to detect and provide assistance to migrant boats in distress.

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) has published its work programme for 2014, putting particular emphasis on the support to Member States' implementation of the recast asylum package and further development of the Early Warning and Preparedness System.

As of today, you can access the new official EMN EU website. This move, together with a thorough review of its contents, leads to more visibility and the dissemination to a wider public of the network and of its activities and outputs.

Today, two Laws which modify the asylum procedure (and the reception & public welfare centers laws) were published in the Belgian Official Gazette. The Royal Decree from 1981 and the Royal Decrees regulating the procedure before the IO and CGRS were also modified and published.

The President of the European Parliament, the President of the Council, with the support of the European Commission have just agreed on the Multiannual Financial Framework for the next seven years for the European Union.

Today, Wednesday 12 June, the European Parliament voted the final adoption of the asylum package. The new rules lay down common procedures for handling asylum applications and basic rights for asylum seekers.

The European Asylum Support Office’s newsletter for May was launched.

The Royal Decree from 7 May 2013 establishing the list of safe countries of origin was published today in the Belgian Official Gazette. The government lists the same countries as for the previous year.

The European Rights and Migration Team (EDEM) provides access to a directory including and summarizing asylum related case law from the Aliens Litigation Council, the Council of State, the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.

Coreper reached an agreement today on the final two legislative texts forming part of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).

The EMN Work Programme for 2013 builds on and consolidates the approach of last year, improving the network capacity for producing information in more flexible and timely ways to meet the needs of policymakers.

The policy papers on asylum, migration and reception were presented by secretary of state Maggie De Block in the House of Representatives last Tuesday. The main achievements regarding asylum, migration and reception for the year 2012 are listed, as well as the challenges for the coming year.

The programme of the Irish Presidency was officially launched in Dublin on Wednesday 9 January and establishes priorities in the fields of Asylum and Migration.