March 2015
On 25 March 2015 the European Commission has approved 22 new multiannual national programmes under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) for the period 2014-2020, worth together approximately €1.8 billion.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: asylum migration and integration fund, EU-funding, internal security fund
March 2015
During the meeting of the Home Affairs Council, Ministers discussed migratory pressures, and in particular the situation in the central Mediterranean, as well as increasing trends in asylum applications from Western Balkans countries and in particular Kosovo.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: European Agenda on Migration, Mediterranean, migratory pressure, Western Balkans
March 2015
The College of Commissioners held a first orientation debate setting out the four main areas where actions are envisaged in the European Agenda on Migration.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: European Agenda on Migration
February 2015
The Royal Decree of 16 February 2015 determining amounts and practical arrangements for collecting fees for the handling of certain applications for a residence permit has been published today, 20 February 2015.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: handling fee, application for a residence permit
January 2015
The European Migration Forum – the dialogue platform on migration, asylum and migrant integration – has met for the first time on 26 and 27 January 2015.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration, Cross-sectional
Keywords: European Migration Forum, Mediterranean region
January 2015
As from today, foreigners have to pay a fee for introducing certain applications for a residence permit in Belgium with a view to covering administrative costs relating to the processing of such applications.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: processing fee, residence permit
January 2015
In the first half of 2015 Latvia will assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Presidency will focus on the implementation of the Strategic Guidelines in the area of freedom, security and justice (June 2014), as well as on the respective follow-up initiatives.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration, Cross-sectional
Keywords: Council of the European Union, Latvian presidency
December 2014
Today the European Commission adopted its Work Programme for 2015 – setting out the actions the Commission intends to take over the next 12 months to make a real difference for jobs, growth and investment and bring concrete benefits for citizens.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration, Cross-sectional
Keywords: European Agenda on Migration, work programme
December 2014
The Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting gathering all EU 28 Justice and Home Affairs national ministers took place on 4 and 5 December 2014. Managing migratory flows, the functioning of the Schengen area and acting on foreign fighters were the main migration related topics discussed.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Council of the European Union, Home Affairs
November 2014
On 28 November 2014, the new State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration, Theo Francken, delivered the general policy note defining the main orientations and actions in the field of asylum and migration.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration, Cross-sectional
Keywords: policy note, State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration
November 2014
On 1 October 2014, the European Commission has released its 31st Annual Report on monitoring the application of EU law in Member States. As far as home affairs and migration issues are concerned, four infringement procedures are open against Belgium.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: european law, infringement, monitoring
November 2014
On the occasion of 25 November 2014 EP Plenary Debate on Migration, EU new Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, introduced the debate and presented the EU main orientations and policy fields for an integrated approach on migration and asylum
Main Theme: External Dimension, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Commissioner on Migration and Home Affairs, European Agenda
October 2014
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.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Council of the European Union, Home Affairs
October 2014
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.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: coalition agreement, State Secretary for Migration and Asylum Policy
September 2014
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.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Commissioner on Migration and Home Affairs
September 2014
Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President-elect, has designed a new Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner: Dimitris Avramopoulos, Greece's current Minister of National Defence.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: Commissioner on Migration and Home Affairs
July 2014
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.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Council of the European Union, Italian Presidency
June 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.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: area of freedom, security and justice, strategic guidelines
May 2014
ICMPD sharpens the focus on Mediterranean migration and mobility, and related challenges. The YoM newsletter is for policy-makers, practitioners, experts and researchers but more than that also for all those interested in migration in the Mediterranean.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: Mediterranean region
May 2014
On 14 to 16 May 2014, Sweden hosted the 7th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Meeting in Stockholm with the theme “Unlocking the potential of migration for inclusive development.”
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: Global Forum for Migration and Development
May 2014
The Royal Decree from 8 May 2014, which determines operating rules specifically applied to residents in detention centers who don’t adapt or pose a risk to the group scheme, has been published.
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: detention center, operating rule
May 2014
The school results of students in Belgium are still very much determined by their socio-economic and migration background. This is the key conclusion of the new analysis of the PISA figures on the educational performance of young people in Belgium.
Main Theme: Migration, Study § Training
Keywords: education, foreign, student, migratory background
April 2014
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.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration, Cross-sectional
Keywords: asylum and migration fund, EU-funding, internal security fund
April 2014
The Commission is presenting guidance for the correct and meaningful application of the Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC) across Member States while avoiding possible abuses.
Main Theme: Migration, Family reunification
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive
March 2014
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.