Fields of Work
The European Migration Network is concentrating on the activities of research, analysis and documentation.
Research: Country Studies and comparative Synthesis Reports
A major part of the activities of the European Migration Network lies in the implementation or where appropriate commissioning of research studies.
The primary goal is to cover and evaluate existing research in the Member States.
The National Contact Points draft comparative research studies on jointly-agreed subjects which are topical and relevant at national and European level. The results of the individual country studies are to be compiled in a European synthesis report and published by the European Commission. The Federal Office cooperates in this field of activity with its German network partners.
You can find all studies and reports in the download section: Downloads.
Analysis: Interpretation of national developments
In order to obtain an overview of recent political and legal developments in the Member States in the field of migration and asylum, the National Contact Points in the European Migration Network draft an annual policy analysis report (Policy Report). In addition to a description of the main developments in the Member States, the report also deals inter alia with the transposition of EU law at national level.
What is more, the Contact Points make notable contributions to the preparation of the Annual Statistical Reports of the European Commission on migration, asylum and returns through interpretation of the national statistical data and analyses of migration trends and patterns.
In order to obtain the greatest possible benefit from the knowledge of those concerned in the Contact Points, it is also possible to submit ad hoc enquiries to the members of the network if information is needed in a hurry.
You can find the latest Policy Report and Statistical Report here:
German Annual Report on Asylum and Migration Statistics 2009
All reports since 2005 can be found in the download section Downloads.
Documentation: Extensive exchange of information
The main goal of the data collection of the European Migration Network (EMN) is to establish an extensive compilation of objective, reliable and comparable data on the migration and asylum situation in the Member States and at European level. A computer-aided information exchange system, which is available via the Internet to various user groups, forms the cornerstone of the document work.
The National Contact Points collect and document information on specified topics from various sources, for example research studies, statistical reports, communications from ministries and publications of non-governmental organisations. The data collection consists of the following categories
- legislation and case-law on migration and asylum
- publications on migration and asylum
- contact data of researchers and research institutes, specialised institutions and organisations in the field of migration and asylum
The individual publications and information are available in the information exchange system with the most important metadata, key words and a brief abstract in English and can be specifically called up using a search engine. In addition to the free text search, the most important entry here is search via the key words.
The basis for this is the EMN Thesaurus with an extensive glossary. Each term contains a definition stating the corresponding source. In principle the definitions come from the corresponding EU directives. Some are included from internationally-renowned thesauri (such as UNHCR, IOM or UNESCO). Where necessary, the terms also contain references to different definitions and applications in individual Member States. The EMN Thesaurus will also contain translations of each term into the individual languages of the Member States and should contribute to the development of a standard linguistic usage in the field of migration and asylum in the EU.
The downloads of the EMN-Webpage are accessible for every user. The database for the documentation is initially restricted to the National Contact Points and the partners in the national networks.
