On the 21st of May 2008, the European Commission published its decision from the council for the establishing of the European Migration Network (‘EMN’) which will provide support and analysis  within the 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, the Network aims to support policymaking in the European Union in these areas.

The objective of the European Migration Network (‘EMN’)shall be 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 European Union in these areas.

The network will set out to achieve these the goal metioned above by the following actions:

• Collect and exchange up-to-date and reliable data and information from a wide range of sources.
• Undertake analysis of the data and information referred to in point (a) and provide it in a readily accessible format.
• 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.
• Produce and publish periodic reports on the migration and asylum situation in the Community and the Member States.
• Create and maintain an Internet-based information exchange system which provides access to relevant documents and publications in the area of migration and asylum.
• 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.
• Coordinate information and cooperate with other relevant European and international bodies.

There shall be a Steering Board consisting of one representative from each Member State and one representative of the Commission, assisted by two scientific experts, which will meet at least twice a year to formulate and implement its own rules of procedure.

Also, each Member State shall designate one entity which shall act as its National Contact Point. In order to facilitate the work of the EMN and to ensure the achievement of its objectives. The National Contact Points shall carry out the tasks of the EMN at national level and in particular:

• Provide national reports, including the reports.
• Contribute with national information to the information exchange system.
• Develop a capacity to issue ad-hoc requests and to respond quickly to such requests from other National Contact Points.
• Establish a national migration network, composed of a wide-range of organisations and individuals active in the area of migration and asylum.