07 March 2017
In its judgement delivered today, the Court of Justice has ruled that Member States are not required – under EU law – to grant a humanitarian visa to persons who wish to enter their territory with a view to applying for asylum. However, they are free to do so on the basis of their national law.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: Court of Justice of the European Union, Syria
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.
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Main Theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: EU Action Plan on Return
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.
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Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: CGRS, asylum procedure
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.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: relocation, resettlement
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.
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Main Theme: External Dimension
Keywords: Malta Declaration, Libya, Central Mediterranean route
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.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: processing fee, residence permit
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.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: processing fee, application for a 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.
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Main Theme: Migration, Integration
Keywords: Integration, newcomers declaration
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.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: public order, Travellers
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.
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Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Mediterranean
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.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard, European Commission
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.
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Main Theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: Missing Migrants Project, migrant death, refugee death
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.
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Main Theme: Asylum
Keywords: CGRS, asylum applications, asylum decisions
01 January 2017
From 1 January to 30 June 2017, Malta will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU. The presidency will focus on 6 key areas: migration, single market, security, social inclusion, Europe's neighbourhood and maritime sector.
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Main Theme: Migration
Keywords: Maltese Presidency, Council of the European Union
21 December 2016
The Commission is today proposing to improve the Schengen Information System (SIS) to close information gaps and to contribute to a stronger control of external borders and sustainable EU Security Union.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: external border, Schengen Information System
08 December 2016
The Commission recommends today that transfers to Greece should be resumed gradually, only for asylum seekers for whom Greece is responsible from 15 March 2017, and subject to individual assurances from the Greek authorities.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: Dublin transfer, Greece
05 December 2016
Authorized officials of the Belgian Immigration Office have been granted direct access to certain parts of the central database of the Belgian police.
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Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Immigration Office, Police
24 November 2016
In october 2016, Fedasil has opened a new return desk in Charleroi, where migrants can receive information and assistance on voluntary return.
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Main Theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission
Keywords: return desk, voluntary return
14 November 2016
At 3pm today, the EMN presents the recently published study on resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
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Main Theme: International Protection
Keywords: humanitarian admission, resettlement
08 November 2016
The Belgian Contact Point of the EMN organised a conference on labour market participation of beneficiaries of international protection. The event took place on the 8th of November in Brussels (Résidence Palace).
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Main Theme: International Protection, Integration
Keywords: EMN conference, labour market integration
06 October 2016
Today, the new agency aimed at strengthening Europe's external borders is legally operational.
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Main Theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: European Border and Coast Guard
30 September 2016
Due to the decreasing inflow of asylum seekers in Belgium, the reception network will be gradually decreased and the implementation of the new reception model will be resumed.