News | EMN

Renewed EU Action Plan on Return and recommendations to make return procedures more effective

02 March 2017

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.

Main Theme: Return & Readmission

Keywords: EU Action Plan on Return

CGRS publishes new guide for unaccompanied minors applying for asylum in Belgium

28 February 2017

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.

Main Theme: Asylum

Keywords: CGRS, asylum procedure

European Commission publishes 9th report on relocation and resettlement

08 February 2017

Today, the Commission adopted its ninth progress report on the EU's emergency relocation and resettlement schemes, assessing actions taken since 8 December 2016.

Main Theme: International Protection

Keywords: relocation, resettlement

Malta Declaration focuses on measures to stem the flow of irregular migrants from Libya

03 February 2017

On 3 February 2017, the 28 Heads of States discussed the external dimension of migration at the informal summit in Malta. They adopted the Malta Declaration.

Main Theme: External Dimension

Keywords: Malta Declaration, Libya, Central Mediterranean route

Fee to renew, extend or replace a temporary residence permit at the level of the municipalities

02 February 2017

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.

Main Theme: Migration

Keywords: processing fee, residence permit

Belgium signs memorandum of understanding with Cameroon on migration and return

01 February 2017

On 1 February 2017, Belgium and Cameroon signed a Memorandum of Understanding which focuses on migration and return.

Main Theme: Migration

Keywords: MoU, Cameroon

Increase of the fee for a residence permit application

27 January 2017

Today the Council of Ministers decided that the mandatory fee migrants have to pay when applying for certain residence permits will increase.

Main Theme: Migration

Keywords: processing fee, application for a residence permit

Integration efforts new condition to maintain residence permit

26 January 2017

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.

Main Theme: Migration, Integration

Keywords: Integration, newcomers declaration

Passenger Name Record law has been published in the Belgian Official Gazette

25 January 2017

The Passenger Name Record (PNR) law has been adopted in Parliament in December 2016. It was published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 25 January 2017. On the basis of this law, carriers will be obliged to send data on their passengers travelling from, to, or across Belgium to a central database.

Main Theme: Borders & Visa

Keywords: public order, Travellers

European Commission press release on managing migration along the Central Mediterranean Route

25 January 2017

Ahead of the meeting of Heads of State or Government in Malta on 3 February 2017, the Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President have set out their contribution to the discussion on how to better manage migration and save lives along the Central Mediterranean route.

Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Smuggling & Trafficking

Keywords: Mediterranean

European Commission reports on progress made regarding the new European Border and Coast Guard

25 January 2017

Today, the Commission is taking stock of the progress achieved and the work still needed in making the new European Border and Coast Guard Agency fully operational.

Main Theme: Migration

Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard, European Commission

7495 dead or missing migrants or refugees worldwide in 2016

06 January 2017

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.

Main Theme: Irregular Migration

Keywords: Missing Migrants Project, migrant death, refugee death

Number of asylum applications dropped over 50% in Belgium in 2016 (CGRS asylum statistics)

06 January 2017

In 2016, there was a sharp drop in the number of asylum applications in Belgium, and the number of decisions taken by the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons reached an all-time high.