The Commission presented a staff working document on the 2012 European Migration Network (EMN) Status Report.

This fourth Status Report focuses on progress made by the EMN during 2012. To recall, the core activity of the EMN continued to be the collection and analysis of information to support policymaking on migration and asylum in EU Member States.

The Status Report’s conclusions mirror, to a certain extent, the requirements for the EMN which were set out in the Report on the Development of the European Migration Network .

More precisely, the report concluded that momentum has increased throughout the year in relation to improving the relevance and format of EMN outputs and products for policymaking, through creating new formats and by involving relevant policymakers at the earliest opportunity. A significant development during 2012 was the participation of Croatia as an observer in the EMN.

Future identified development needs should aim to:

provide comparative, factual information : the report stressed that the development of a common EU migration policy continues to require comparative, factual information to inform policy approaches based on reliable evidence and analysis covering a wide range of perspectives, in a format that is accessible and can meet policymakers’ immediate needs. EMN Ad-Hoc Queries continued to be a highly responsive mechanism for collecting comparative information within a short time-frame; extend the scope of information sources in two respects: (i) through its national networks and, (ii) through its links with other relevant EU/international bodies. Each EMN NCP should be able to act as the national hub for information gathering and analysis, and for the EMN as a whole to extend its cooperation with international entities; strengthen cooperation and collaboration with other relevant EU/international bodies : a significant development in 2012 was the increase in the number of invited representatives notably from the Commission's Eurostat, the European Parliament, the Fundamental Rights Agency, the EASO, the EU Anti-trafficking Coordinator and Frontex. Collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe is also being negotiated in relation to their Task Force on Circular Migration; enhance the EMN’s visibility : further change is needed in the way the EMN outputs are presented to the wider public , in recognition of the fact that migration remains a widely debated and sometimes contentious issue in the EU , often based on misleading or incorrect information. The Report called for the EMN to target the media (including social media) and other information multipliers.

These development needs will continue to be addressed through the activities of the EMN during 2013.

SWD(2014)0011

COM(2012)0427

The Commission presents a report taking stock of the progress made by the European Migration Network (EMN), which was established by Council Decision 2008/381/EC. The EMN’s purpose is to provide up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum, with a view to supporting policymaking in the European Union in these areas. The report considers progress, as well as how the EMN should evolve in the context of the next multiannual financial framework beyond 2013.

An external evaluation was undertaken in the latter half of 2011.

Findings of the external evaluation : overall, the EMN was considered to be performing well, providing useful information to support policymaking at the EU and Member State level. Less positive were the limited readability of the information it produced (e.g. too long) for policymakers and the lack of visibility or awareness of the EMN amongst other practitioners as well as policymakers, particularly within the EU institutions.

Some 30 recommendations to improve further the functioning of the EMN were identified.

Indeed, even whilst the evaluation was underway, the EMN took on board several recommendations in the development of its annual work programme for 2012, in particular in relation to ensuring that information provided was more relevant, up-to-date and with concise summaries of findings for policymakers in particular.

Future development of the EMN: noting that the EMN is now firmly established in the landscape of asylum and migration and is highly regarded, the Commission outlines how it sees the further development of the EMN within the context of the Asylum and Migration Fund , although some of the changes proposed can be implemented before the latter Regulation enters into force.

The EMN has already demonstrated its flexibility to evolve and adapt to better meet the expectations of policymakers in particular. A key factor in this respect is the pro-active involvement of and strong partnership between the Commission and the EMN National Contact Points, which constitute the essential building blocks upon which the EMN is built.

The continuation of the EMN, along with its objectives and tasks, is set out in Article 23 of the proposed Asylum and Migration Fund Regulation. Council Decision 2008/381/EC will be repealed. The objectives would be:

· to serve as an Union advisory council for migration and asylum through coordination and cooperation at both national and Union level with representatives of Member States, academia, civil society, think-tanks and other Union/international entities;

· to meet the migration and asylum information needs of Union institutions and of Member States by providing up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum, in order to support policymaking in the European Union in these areas and to provide information to the general public.

Role of the EMN: the development of a common EU migration policy increasingly requires comparative, factual information. Clearly, it would be advantageous for there to be a common European source where policymakers, both nationally and from the EU institutions, could access or request reliable information, including statistics, in a factual, user-friendly, objective manner in order to inform their deliberations. The EMN is ideally placed to meet this need and to fully meet the expectations of policymakers. The strength of the networking between EMN NCPs also serves to demonstrate that a common culture of knowledge has developed whereby the situation in one Member State can be understood in others and within the Commission.

Changes required of the EMN:

· the EMN should extend its scope of information sources in two respects: (i) through its national networks and (ii) through its links to other relevant EU/international bodies. This would require the role of the EMN NCPs to be enhanced further so that they are each able to act as the national hub for information gathering and analysis;

· the EMN should further improve the relevance and manner in which it provides information. Specifically, the synthesis reports should be less descriptive and more analytical with key messages and policy implications highlighted more clearly for the target group;

· the EMN must improve the manner in which it presents its outputs to inform the wider public. There are good examples at Member State level of presenting information in a user-friendly, objective, impartial manner. This is currently missing at EU level and the EMN should thus take on this role by using modern communication means (e.g. via social media, interactive website) to give concisely the factual situation on a particular theme targeted at the media and other information multipliers;

· relations with other EU agencies , particularly EASO and Frontex should be further developed. Collaboration should be strengthened to avoid duplications, ensure coherence and complementarity;

· sufficient resources must be made available in Member States for any EMN NCP who currently is not able to fully participate in and contribute to all EMN activities;

· certain aspects of the EMN Steering Board should be adapted, with the latter focussing more on providing strategic guidance to further ensure that the EMN's activities are of direct relevance to policymakers.

The report states that with the perspective of the next multiannual financial framework, the further enhancements identified in this report would enable the EMN to perform its important role even better. Building on the solid base established so far, the Commission has every confidence that the EMN will once again adapt to meet these new challenges.

COM(2012)0427
EUR-Lex

EUR-Lex
SWD(2012)0240

The Commission presents a Staff Working Document on the European Migration Network Status Report 2009 This is the first Status Report produced by the European Migration Network (EMN), in line with Council Decision 2008/381/EC, requiring the EMN's Steering Board to provide a succinct status report on the ongoing activities of the EMN and the key findings of its studies, at least once a year. The Status Report primarily covers the period from the adoption of the Council Decision (14th April 2008) up to the end of 2009, with more recent developments also referred to, where this was particularly relevant. This concerns in particular references to recent Synthesis Reports of EMN studies produced since the Council Decision.

The report notes that since the establishment of the EMN, a number of developments, both political and legislative, have occurred in the European Union, which contributed to the expansion of the EU’s asylum and migration policy. A brief overview of these developments is given in order to provide the context for the EMN's progress. The report then describes the main activities carried out by the EMN up to the end of 2009 in terms of networking, ad-hoc queries, reports and studies, the collection, provision and comparability of information and enhancing the visibility of the EMN. The 2008 EMN Work Programme focused primarily on fully developing the EMN from a preparatory action to a formalised structure, based on a legislative instrument. The 2009 Work Programme placed major emphasis on making the EMN fully operational. The current Work Programme 2010 further consolidates and completes the activities launched in 2009, as well as delivers new outputs in line with the EMN’s mandate and consistent with the political agenda of the EU.

EUR-Lex
SEC(2010)1006

SP(2008)3169

PURPOSE: to establish a European Migration Network ("EMN")

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2008/381/EC establishing a European Migration Network.

CONTENT: the Council adopted this Decision establishing a European migration network. The Decision formally establishes the network - already launched in 2003 as a pilot project – and gives it a legal basis.

Objective : the objective of the EMN is to meet the information needs of Community institutions and of Member States’ authorities and institutions on migration and asylum, by providing up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum, with a view to supporting policymaking in the EU in these areas. The EMN will also serve to provide the general public with information on these subjects.

Tasks: these are the following:

a) collect and exchange up-to-date and reliable data and information from a wide range of sources;

b) undertake analysis of the data and information referred to in point (a) and provide it in a readily accessible format;

c) in collaboration with other relevant EU bodies, contribute to the development of indicators and criteria that will improve the consistency of information and help in the development of Community activities related to migratory statistics;

d) produce and publish periodic reports on the migration and asylum situation in the Community and the Member States;

e) create and maintain an Internet-based information exchange system which provides access to relevant documents and publications in the area of migration and asylum;

f) raise awareness of the EMN, by providing access to the information it gathers and disseminating the output of the EMN, unless this information is of a confidential nature;

g) coordinate information and cooperate with other relevant European and international bodies.

The EMN shall ensure that its activities are consistent and coordinated with the relevant Community instruments and structures in the area of migration and asylum.

Composition: the EMN is composed of National Contact Points designated by the Member States, and the Commission.

It will be guided by a Steering Board composed of one representative from each Member State and one representative of the Commission, assisted by two scientific experts. The representative of the Commission shall act as Chair of the Steering Board. A representative of the European Parliament may participate as an observer at the meetings of the Steering Board.

The Steering Board shall in particular:

contribute to the preparation of and approve the EMN's annual programme of activities, including an indicative amount of the minimum and maximum budget for each National Contact Point, which ensures that the basic costs arising from the proper functioning of the Network; review progress made by the EMN, making recommendations for necessary actions when required; provide a succinct status report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions concerning the ongoing activities of the EMN and the key findings of its studies, at least once a year; identify the most appropriate strategic cooperative relationships with other entities competent in the area of migration and asylum and approve, when necessary, the administrative arrangements for such cooperation; advise the National Contact Points on how to improve their operations, and help them to take the necessary actions, when identified persistent shortcomings in the work of a National Contact Point may have negative consequences on the work of the EMN.

National Contact Points : each Member State shall designate one entity which shall act as its National Contact Point (composed of at least three experts). Member States must take into account, when necessary, the need for coordination between their representative in the Steering Board and their National Contact Point.

Information exchange system : an Internet-based information exchange system, accessible through a dedicated website, is established. The content of the information exchange system will normally be public. The system will comprise at least the following elements:

a) access to Community and national legislation, case law and policy developments in the areas of migration and asylum;

b) a functionality for ad-hoc requests;

c) a migration and asylum glossary and thesaurus;

d) direct access to all EMN's publications, including reports and studies, as well as a regular newsletter;

e) a directory of researchers and research institutions in the area of migration and asylum.

Reports and studies : each National Contact Point shall provide every year a report describing the migration and asylum situation in the Member State, which shall include policy developments and statistical data. The annual programme of activities will include the preparation by each National Contact Point of other studies, following common specifications, covering specific migration and asylum-related issues necessary for the support of policymaking.

Cooperation with other entities : the EMN will cooperate with entities in the Member States or in third countries, including EU agencies and international organisations, competent in the field of migration and asylum. The administrative arrangements for the cooperation, which may include when necessary the conclusion by the Commission of agreements on behalf of the Community, will be subject to the approval of the Steering Board.

Review: no later than three years after the entry into force of this Decision, and every three years thereafter, the Commission shall present a report, based on an external and independent evaluation, on the development of the EMN. The report shall be accompanied, if necessary, by proposals for amendments.

Territorial measures : Ireland and Denmark will not take part in the adoption of this Decision. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has notified its wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision.

It should be noted that the Council did not accept the main amendments adopted by the European Parliament which aimed to change the name of the organisation from European Migration Network to European Migration and Asylum Network and to provide it with more tasks in the area of asylum.

DATE OF APPLICATION: from 21/05/2008.

Decision 2008/381
OJ L 131 21.05.2008, p. 0007

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted, by 539 votes to 31, against a legislative resolution amending the proposal for a Council decision establishing a European Migration Network. The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Luciana SBARBATI (ADLE, IT), on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Parliament changed the name of the organisation from European Migration Network to European Migration and Asylum Network, stating that since the network's job is to collect and exchange information on immigration and asylum, and this should be reflected in its acronym (EMAN rather than EMN). The objective of the organisation is to meet information needs of Community institutions, Member States' authorities and institutions, and the general public, as well as third countries and international organisations, on all aspects of migration and asylum, by providing information on migration, asylum and integration, including detailed statistics showing the impact of EU legislation.

The other main amendments - adopted under the consultation procedure - are as follows:

Extension of remit : Members introduced a series of amendments to ensure that EMAN’s remit might be broadened to include the production of analyses and comparisons of European legislation and policies and the implementation of European and international rules at national level, as well as the drawing up of recommendations and conclusions. EMAN should cooperate with all involved and interested parties and disseminate information. It should establish indicators and criteria that will help in the development of Community activities relating to migratory statistics and to asylum (for example, data and statistics concerning the number of legal and illegal immigrants, of returns, of asylum applications accepted and rejected, and of countries of origin) for the purpose of harmonising such indicators and criteria at European level, in cooperation with other competent European bodies. Parliament added that the organisation should compile and publish the EU’s and the Member States’ migration and asylum laws and any other relevant information on the subject (quotas, regularisations, terms and conditions to be met by those wishing to apply for refugee status, practices and related case-law, etc.). The exchange of information concerning requirements on the labour market in the Member States could represent a step forward in the management of economic migrants as part of a comprehensive approach at EU level. Furthermore, EMAN should produce analyses, assessments, recommendations and conclusions on the implementation in the Member States of EC directives on migration and asylum and on the compliance of national rules with European and international rules, at the request of the Commission, the European Parliament or the Council.

Common indicators : with a view to ensuring the comparability of data at European level, the EMAN should be able to play a role in the progressive introduction of common indicators and criteria.

Cooperation with other organisations : the EMAN should co-ordinate information and co-operate with other relevant national, European and international governmental and nongovernmental bodies. It should ensure that its activities are consistent and coordinated with the relevant Community instruments and structures in the area of migration and asylum. It must establish a national migration and asylum network, composed of a wide-range of governmental and non-governmental organisations, in particular universities, research centres, and professional associations. EMAN cooperation with the countries in which asylum-seekers and migrants originate and through which they transit shall ensure consistency in the implementation of the common immigration and asylum policy. Such cooperation shall be designed to achieve a suitable degree of cooperation with neighbouring countries in order to consolidate the European neighbourhood policy. The EMN shall give priority to interaction with third countries of origin and transit for migrants to the European Union.

National Contact Points : Parliament stated that the entity designated as a National Contact Point must be neutral. The EMAN will contribute to the preparation of and approve the annual programme of activities, including an indicative amount of the minimum and maximum budget for each National Contact Point, which ensures that the basic costs arising from the proper functioning of the EMAN are covered, on the basis of a draft from the Chair. The National Contact Points shall be bound by the principles of impartiality and objectivity in all aspects of their competences. The report produced by the National Contact Points each year must include legal developments (laws and case-law).

Publication and dissemination of results : the information exchanged, collected and compiled by the EMAN must be published and disseminated as widely as possible, and all involved and interested parties must be included. The content of the information publication, dissemination and exchange system must include: a European bibliography including published and unpublished academic works, in particular reports, brochures and conference papers; a European agenda announcing conferences and key events in relation to all aspects of migration and asylum; a database into which researchers and doctoral students may enter information on their theses and studies in progress.

Members inserted a clause stating that the Decision must be revised within a period of six months following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. No later than 3 years after the entry into force of the Decision, the Commission must present a report accompanied, if necessary, by proposals for amendments to the decision, with a view to the possible establishment of a European Migration Monitoring Centre.

Lastly, it should be noted that the text amended by Parliament takes into account the broad views of the Council on this matter.

T6-0110/2008

A6-0066/2008

A6-0066/2008

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted a report drafted by Luciana SBARBATI (ADLE, IT), and amended, in the framework of the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council decision establishing a European Migration Network Members wish the organisation to be called a European Migration and Asylum Network as opposed to a European Migration Network, since the network's job is to collect and exchange information on immigration and asylum, and this should be reflected in its acronym (EMAN rather than EMN). The objective of the organisation is to meet information needs of Community institutions, Member States' authorities and institutions, and the general public, as well as third countries and international organisations, on all aspects of migration and asylum, by providing information on migration, asylum and integration, including detailed statistics showing the impact of EU legislation.

The other main amendments are as follows:

Extension of remit : Members introduced a series of amendments to ensure that EMAN’s remit might be broadened to include the production of analyses and comparisons of European legislation and policies and the implementation of European and international rules at national level, as well as the drawing up of recommendations and conclusions. It should cooperate with all involved and interested parties and disseminate information. EMAN should establish indicators and criteria that will help in the development of Community activities relating to migratory statistics and to asylum (for example, data and statistics concerning the number of legal and illegal immigrants, of returns, of asylum applications accepted and rejected, and of countries of origin) for the purpose of harmonising such indicators and criteria at European level, in cooperation with other competent European bodies. T he Committee added that the organisation should compile and publish the EU’s and the Member States’ migration and asylum laws and any other relevant information on the subject (quotas, regularisations, terms and conditions to be met by those wishing to apply for refugee status, practices and related case-law, etc.). The exchange of information concerning requirements on the labour market in the Member States could represent a step forward in the management of economic migrants as part of a comprehensive approach at EU level. Furthermore, EMAN should produce analyses, assessments, recommendations and conclusions on the implementation in the Member States of EC directives on migration and asylum and on the compliance of national rules with European and international rules, at the request of the Commission, the European Parliament or the Council.

Common indicators : With a view to ensuring the comparability of data at European level, the EMAN should be able to play a role in the progressive introduction of common indicators and criteria.

Cooperation with other organisations : EMAN should co-ordinate information and co-operate with other relevant national, European and international governmental and nongovernmental bodies. It should ensure that its activities are consistent and coordinated with the relevant Community instruments and structures in the area of migration and asylum. It must establish a national migration and asylum network, composed of a wide-range of governmental and non-governmental organisations, in particular universities, research centres, and professional associations. EMAN cooperation with the countries in which asylum-seekers and migrants originate and through which they transit shall ensure consistency in the implementation of the common immigration and asylum policy. Such cooperation shall be designed to achieve a suitable degree of cooperation with neighbouring countries in order to consolidate the European neighbourhood policy.

National Contact Points : the EMAN will contribute to the preparation of and approve the annual programme of activities , including an indicative amount of the minimum and maximum budget for each National Contact Point, which ensures that the basic costs arising from the proper functioning of the EMAN are covered, on the basis of a draft from the Chair. Experts from the National Contact Points should be composed of at least three experts from different backgrounds (government departments, non-governmental organisations and universities) who may come from the Member States' administrations, nongovernmental organisations, universities or research centres. Each National Contact Point should also collectively have adequate expertise in information technology, in setting up collaboration schemes and networking with other national organisations and entities, and in collaborating in a multilingual environment at European level.

Publication and dissemination of results : the information exchanged, collected and compiled by the EMAN must be published and disseminated as widely as possible, and all involved and interested parties must be included.

Members inserted a clause the Decision must be revised within a period of six months following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. No later than 3 years after the entry into force of the Decision, the Commission must present a report considering the possible establishment of a European Migration Monitoring Centre .

Lastly, it should be noted that the text amended by the Committee takes into account the broad views of the Council on this matter.

PE402.703

PE400.535

PE400.300

2838

2828

PURPOSE: to formalise the establishment of a “European Migration Network”.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: in 2003 the Commission set up a three-year preparatory action establishing a European Migration Network (EMN), with a view to providing both the Community and the Member States with objective, reliable and up-to-date migration data. It was set up as a new budget line (18 03 05). The EMN pilot project if fully compatible with the objectives set by the 2004 Hague Programme, which calls for the development of a common policy in the field of asylum, migration, visas and borders.

A migration network is deemed essential for a number of reasons. Firstly, access to information on international migration is not always easy to obtain as it is not centrally available. Secondly, there is insufficient comparable, reliable and up-to-date information and analysis of legal and policy developments concerning asylum and migration and thirdly, there is an acute lack of accurate, up-to-date and comparable statistical data on migration and asylum.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to formalise the EMN through the adoption of an appropriate legal instrument (a Council Decision based on Article 66 of the EU Treaty). Many of the existing structure will be maintained – although some important modifications are being introduced in a bid to improve the EMN’s working efficiency. The proposal lists the EMN’s main objective, tasks, structure, information exchange system, financing arrangements and relations with other organisation.

In brief, the main elements of the formalised EMN, are as follows:

Objective: The EMN’s objectives will be to meet the information needs of the Community institutions, the Member States and the general public on migration and asylum. It will do so by providing up-to-date, objective and reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum, with a view to supporting policy and decision-making in the European Union.

Activities: To obtain this objective the EMN will carry out a number of activities including, inter alia : collecting and exchange existing data and information from a range of sources; undertaking an analysis of such data; creating and maintain an internet-based information exchange system; and co-operating with other relevant European and international bodies.

Structure: The network itself will be composed of National Contact Points, designated by the Member States and the European Commission. The National Contact Points will need to fulfil a certain number of requirements such as offering expertise in the area of asylum and migration and having necessary IT skills. They will also need to have an ability to work and write in a second official language of the EU institutions. For its part, the Commission will be responsible for overall co-ordination of the EMN; adopting its annual programme and ensuring that the work of the EMN reflects the political priorities of the Community. The Commission will appoint a service provider to offer assistance in setting up the IT system and internet site as well as the preparation of synthesis reports and by the complexity of ensuring appropriate cooperation between the 26 National Contact Points.

The Commission's responsibilities will involve:

general coordination of the EMN; adoption of the EMN's annual programme of activities; one representative from the Commission will sit in the Steering Board and will chair it. He or she will be assisted by two scientific experts appointed by the Commission; ensuring that the work of the EMN reflects the political priorities of the Community in the area of migration and asylum; appointment of a service provider that will assist the Commission with the day-to-day management of the EMN, including the information exchange system of the EMN. The Commission will closely monitor the activities of this service provider, establishing clear responsibilities and working practices; involving, if necessary, working groups of National Contact Points to work closely with the service provider on particular activities. The Commission will also ensure that the National Contact Points are capable of carrying out the tasks entrusted to them. This includes checking if the National Contact Points proposed by the Member States fulfil all the necessary requirements and proposing the necessary actions to the Steering Board when it identifies persistent shortcomings in the work of a National Contact Point, which may have negative consequences in the work of the EMN; lastly, the Commission will award operating grants, co-financing the annual work programmes of the National Contact Points which fulfil all the necessary requirements.

Information exchange systems and studies: the EMN will disseminate information in the form of studies and reports through a dedicated web-site. The web-site will be open to the public and the information, in principle accessible to all. Exceptions to the general rule are possible in cases where Member States communicate sensitive/confidential information.

Financing: the budgetary resources needed for funding the EMN will be entered in the annual appropriations of the general budget of the EU. Such resources will co-finance (up to 80%) of the eligible costs of the National Contact Points. It will also cover the costs of the service provider, plus other expenses including evaluation and special activities. For the 2008-2013 period, appropriations totalling EUR 56.7 million are foreseen.

Territorial measures : Title IV of the EC Treaty is not applicable to the United Kingdom and to Ireland, unless these Member States decide otherwise in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to the Treaties. Title IV is likewise not applicable to Denmark, by virtue of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaties.

COM(2007)0466
EUR-Lex

SEC(2007)1062
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to formalise the establishment of a “European Migration Network”.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: in 2003 the Commission set up a three-year preparatory action establishing a European Migration Network (EMN), with a view to providing both the Community and the Member States with objective, reliable and up-to-date migration data. It was set up as a new budget line (18 03 05). The EMN pilot project if fully compatible with the objectives set by the 2004 Hague Programme, which calls for the development of a common policy in the field of asylum, migration, visas and borders.

A migration network is deemed essential for a number of reasons. Firstly, access to information on international migration is not always easy to obtain as it is not centrally available. Secondly, there is insufficient comparable, reliable and up-to-date information and analysis of legal and policy developments concerning asylum and migration and thirdly, there is an acute lack of accurate, up-to-date and comparable statistical data on migration and asylum.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to formalise the EMN through the adoption of an appropriate legal instrument (a Council Decision based on Article 66 of the EU Treaty). Many of the existing structure will be maintained – although some important modifications are being introduced in a bid to improve the EMN’s working efficiency. The proposal lists the EMN’s main objective, tasks, structure, information exchange system, financing arrangements and relations with other organisation.

In brief, the main elements of the formalised EMN, are as follows:

Objective: The EMN’s objectives will be to meet the information needs of the Community institutions, the Member States and the general public on migration and asylum. It will do so by providing up-to-date, objective and reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum, with a view to supporting policy and decision-making in the European Union.

Activities: To obtain this objective the EMN will carry out a number of activities including, inter alia : collecting and exchange existing data and information from a range of sources; undertaking an analysis of such data; creating and maintain an internet-based information exchange system; and co-operating with other relevant European and international bodies.

Structure: The network itself will be composed of National Contact Points, designated by the Member States and the European Commission. The National Contact Points will need to fulfil a certain number of requirements such as offering expertise in the area of asylum and migration and having necessary IT skills. They will also need to have an ability to work and write in a second official language of the EU institutions. For its part, the Commission will be responsible for overall co-ordination of the EMN; adopting its annual programme and ensuring that the work of the EMN reflects the political priorities of the Community. The Commission will appoint a service provider to offer assistance in setting up the IT system and internet site as well as the preparation of synthesis reports and by the complexity of ensuring appropriate cooperation between the 26 National Contact Points.

The Commission's responsibilities will involve:

general coordination of the EMN; adoption of the EMN's annual programme of activities; one representative from the Commission will sit in the Steering Board and will chair it. He or she will be assisted by two scientific experts appointed by the Commission; ensuring that the work of the EMN reflects the political priorities of the Community in the area of migration and asylum; appointment of a service provider that will assist the Commission with the day-to-day management of the EMN, including the information exchange system of the EMN. The Commission will closely monitor the activities of this service provider, establishing clear responsibilities and working practices; involving, if necessary, working groups of National Contact Points to work closely with the service provider on particular activities. The Commission will also ensure that the National Contact Points are capable of carrying out the tasks entrusted to them. This includes checking if the National Contact Points proposed by the Member States fulfil all the necessary requirements and proposing the necessary actions to the Steering Board when it identifies persistent shortcomings in the work of a National Contact Point, which may have negative consequences in the work of the EMN; lastly, the Commission will award operating grants, co-financing the annual work programmes of the National Contact Points which fulfil all the necessary requirements.

Information exchange systems and studies: the EMN will disseminate information in the form of studies and reports through a dedicated web-site. The web-site will be open to the public and the information, in principle accessible to all. Exceptions to the general rule are possible in cases where Member States communicate sensitive/confidential information.

Financing: the budgetary resources needed for funding the EMN will be entered in the annual appropriations of the general budget of the EU. Such resources will co-finance (up to 80%) of the eligible costs of the National Contact Points. It will also cover the costs of the service provider, plus other expenses including evaluation and special activities. For the 2008-2013 period, appropriations totalling EUR 56.7 million are foreseen.

Territorial measures : Title IV of the EC Treaty is not applicable to the United Kingdom and to Ireland, unless these Member States decide otherwise in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to the Treaties. Title IV is likewise not applicable to Denmark, by virtue of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaties.

COM(2007)0466
EUR-Lex