On the occasion of the international migrants day, this conference will inter alia focus on how to integrate and support refugees and on which role Flemish authorities can play in the current crisis.

In the context of the unprecedented influx of refugees and migrants, the COMECE wishes to look behind the immediate horizon of the crisis and consider how best to integrate migrants into the host society.

As from 9 November 2015, an asylum seeker can obtain a C work permit four months after applying for asylum. The 6 month period was cut to 4 months by a Royal Decree which entered into force today.

‘Inburgering’ en ‘integratie’ worden zowel op kwantitatieve als kwalitatieve wijze in beeld gebracht en worden op diepgaande wijze bestudeerd in een aantal belangrijke sociale en transversale domeinen zoals onder meer onderwijs, woonsituatie, arbeidsmarkt, ondernemerschap en recht.

This News Release, covers main trends on first time asylum applicants and on pending asylum applicants for the second quarter of 2015 in the EU28+EFTA region.

The European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, writes on the challenge of the migration issue.

Interior ministers in Brussels on Monday (20 July) fell short of a European Commission-proposed target to relocate 40,000 asylum seekers arriving in Greece and Italy over the next two years. However according to EU Commissioner Avramopoulos significant progress was made on different topics.

The Centre for Ethnic and Migration Studies (CEDEM) of the University of Liège will hold a scientific thematic workshop on “Religion and the political participation and mobilization of immigrant groups: a transatlantic perspective”

The report entitled ‘Afghanistan security situation’provides a comprehensive overview of the security situation in Afghanistan, and information relevant for the protection status determination of Afghan asylum seekers.

On 20 January, the Belgian Association for foreigners’ rights organizes a training on the topic “What protection for seriously ill persons following M’Bodj and Abdida case-law?”.

The first meeting of the European Migration Forum will take place on 26-27 January 2015 in Brussels. Through a participatory approach and the involvement of civil society organizations, the European Migration Forum will provide a platform for exchanges on migration, asylum and integration issues.

Under the Italian Presidency of the European Union a two days conference on European Migration Policy and Integration is organized in Rome on 17-18 December 2014.

On 4 December 2014, 22 Syrian refugees landed in Belgium for resettlement. 53 more are expected to arrive by the end of the year. Further resettlements of Syrian refugees are planned in 2015.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a case-law in relation to international protection and protection of human rights in the case of alleged persecutions because of an applicant's sexual orientation.

The proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, aims at clarifying Member States’ responsibilities for examining the application for international protection of unaccompanied minors

This meeting will discuss the dynamics by which migrants get stuck in low-skilled work, and the role of training and employment services in helping them progress in their occupations.