07 February 2014
Every month, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) publishes a document providing the statistics on asylum applications and first instance decisions.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum decisions, asylum applications
23 January 2014
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Greek Council Presidency, priorities
21 January 2014
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: post Stockholm Programme, Stockholm Programme
07 January 2014
The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) published a document providing the statistics on asylum applications and first instance decisions for the year 2013.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum applications, asylum decisions
01 January 2014
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: work programme
01 January 2014
Today marks the lifting of the last restrictions on the free movement of workers from Bulgaria and Romania. From today, Bulgarian and Romanian citizens are able to fully exercise their right to work in all EU countries without a work permit.
Read more
Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: free movement, Bulgarian, Romanian
20 December 2013
Today, 20 December 2013, the Circular of 13 December 2013 implementing family reunification provisions, as interpreted by the Constitutional Court on 26 September 2013, was published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
Read more
Main Theme: Family reunification
Keywords: case law, Constitutional Court
19 December 2013
In its ruling n° 166/2013 taken today 19 December 2013, the Constitutional Court rejected the appeal introduced with regard to the detention of families with children.
Read more
Main Theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: alternatives to detention, child detention, detention
09 December 2013
The tragedy in Lampedusa prompted an unprecedented call for action by EU leaders and citizens. On 4 December, the Commission proposed ways to increase solidarity and mutual support in order to prevent migrants' death in the Mediterranean.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUROSUR, Frontex, Lampedusa, resettlement
09 December 2013
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: migration policy
06 December 2013
Ending its 3279th meeting of 5 and 6 December, the JHA Council presents its conclusions. Topics discussed include the free movement of EU citizens, the Task Force Mediterranean, full application of the Schengen acquis by Bulgaria and Romania and the European citizenship report 2013.
Read more
Main Theme: Migration, Citizenship & Nationality, Borders & Visa
Keywords: Bulgaria, freedom of movement, Lampedusa, Romania
05 December 2013
On 5 December, the Council of the EU adopted unanimously a regulation, introducing a suspension and reciprocity mechanism in the Council Regulation, listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas to enter the EU.
Read more
Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: EU Council, visa requirements
04 December 2013
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.
Read more
Main Theme: Asylum, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUROSUR, Frontex
02 December 2013
Today 2 December 2013, the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) becomes operational. EUROSUR should allow Member States to react much faster to any incidents concerning irregular migration and cross-border crime or relating to a risk to the lives of migrants.
Read more
Main Theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: EUROSUR, border surveillance
27 November 2013
On 26 November 2013 the first edition of the Flemish Migration and Integration Monitor has been presented. The report joins and interprets administrative and statistical data on migratory and integration processes in Flanders.
Read more
Main Theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: integration monitor
25 November 2013
The Court refined its case-law on the application of the Dublin Regulation, judging on the responsability of a Member State to examine an asylum application, in case of impossible transfer of the applicant.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: Dublin Regulation
19 November 2013
Today Deloitte announces the results of its 2013-2014 comparative immigration study. It shows that Belgium is one of the most attractive countries for highly skilled foreigners thanks to speed, cost and conditions.
Read more
Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: highly skilled, knowledge-based economy, knowledge immigration
18 November 2013
The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) expressed both positive and negative observations on Belgium, following the examination of the third periodic report on Belgium.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection, Return & Readmission
Keywords: detention
15 November 2013
On 14 November 2013, Maggie De Block, Annemie Turtelboom and Joëlle Milquet have approved a new measure in the fight against marriages of convenience, that should tackle 'shopping' between municipalities.
Read more
Main Theme: Family reunification
Keywords: marriage of convenience
15 November 2013
On 14 November, Maggie De Block, Annemie Turtelboom and Joëlle Milquet have launched a new campaign in the fight against relations of convenience. Victims are supported and stimulated to actively contribute to fight this phenomenon.
Read more
Main Theme: Family reunification
Keywords: marriage of convenience
14 November 2013
On 14 November, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Belgium in the case of M.D. v Belgium for infringing the right to an effective remedy on short delay, as captured in Article 5 §4 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: detention, effective remedy
07 November 2013
Every month, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) publishes a document providing the statistics on asylum applications and first instance decisions.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection, Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum applications, asylum decisions
07 November 2013
On 7 November, the European Court of Justice judged that homosexual applicants for asylum can constitute a particular social group who may be persecuted on account of their sexual orientation.
Read more
Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: Court of Justice of the European Union, sexual orientation
06 November 2013
On 5 and 6 November, the Lithuanian EU Presidency hosted the EMN Annual conference. This edition focussed on the achievements and challenges of EU labour migration and the role of migration in the EU Agenda for Growth.
Read more
Main Theme: Economic migration
Keywords: EMN Annual Conference, growth, labour migration, labour migration policy
04 November 2013
EASO launched the October edition of the EASO newsletter. The newsletter provides an overview of recent EASO activities and outputs.