Background

The EMN was established in 2003 as a pilot project with the aim of developing a European system for the exchange of information on migration and asylum. In 2008, the EMN was established as a permanent EU network by Council Decision 2008/381/EC.

Structure

The European Commission (Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs) coordinates the EMN. The EMN consists of 36 National Contact Points (NCPs) from EMN Member Countries (EU Member States except Denmark) and Observer Countries (Norway, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Montenegro, Armenia, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Albania and the United Kingdom). The work is supported by the EMN Service Provider (ICF).

The EMN Steering Board

The EMN Steering Board provides strategic guidance on EMN activities. It is chaired by the European Commission and is comprised of representatives from EMN Member Countries. A representative of the European Parliament may participate as an observer at the meetings of the Steering Board.

Multi-level Network

The EMN produces comparative reports, studies and other publications which analyse migration and asylum policies and track legislative developments in this field.

The EMN collaborates with other EU level agencies, for example the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on issues of common interest in the migration and asylum field.