News

On 8-9 February 2024, the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council organised a High-Level Policy Forum and Ministerial Conference on the Integration of Newcomers. The key takeaway was that a well-functioning asylum and migration management system relies heavily on successful integration policies.

On 14 February, the Commission adopted a report on the implementation of the Regulation to address the dissemination of terrorist content online.

On 8 February, the Commission opened a call for proposals under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) with a budget of EUR 30 million. Applications may be submitted as of 8 February 2024. The deadline to apply is 4 April 2024. 

On 6 February, the Commission welcomed the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on new rules for the Schengen Borders Code. This will strengthen EU coordination in managing cross-border health and security threats.

Over 4,000 asylum seekers in the EU have been relocated to other European countries under the current Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism. This cooperation allows asylum applicants to be relocated from their EU host country of first entry to another European country.

On 6 February, the Commission proposed a recast of the Directive 2011/93/EU to strengthen criminal law on child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.

In a context of increasing polarisation around migration, the BRIDGES project aims at further understanding the production, evolution, and impact of migration narratives. Focusing on six European countries, the H2020 project addresses these narratives on an academic, policy, and societal level.

Every year, the Commission adopts its annual work programme setting out the list of the most important actions it will take in the year ahead.

On 23 January, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on new rules to reinforce the fight against trafficking in human beings. The agreed rules provide stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation.