The European Migration Network (EMN) is a network that provides up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum.
In 2002/2003 the EMN was established as a pilot project. The pilot aimed to establish a system of exchange of information on asylum, migration and countries of origin. Its success led to the EMN's formal establishment in 2008 by Council Decision 2008/381/EC. It was created to respond to the information needs of EU and national policymakers, as well as the general public.
The EMN set up a Steering Board, chaired by the European Commission and consisting of one representative from each EMN Member Country. It provides strategic guidance on the EMN’s activities.
The EMN is composed of the European Commission (DG Migration and Home Affairs), which coordinates the network, and National Contact Points (NCPs) in each EMN Member Country (EU Member States except Denmark) as well as in the Observer Countries Norway, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Montenegro, Armenia, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania. Each NCP is appointed by the relevant national government. The NCPs are based in a variety of institutions, including Ministries of the Interior and Justice, specialized government agencies, research institutes, universities and Country Offices of the International Organization for migration (IOM).
Back in 2002/2003, the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior designated the IOM Country Office for Austria as the Austrian NCP. Since then, EMN Austria has produced numerous key publications, organized high-level national and international conferences, and built a strong network of national stakeholders.
Through these activities, EMN Austria aims to
- Understand the information needs of policymakers and the general public
- Enhance the EMN’s responsiveness to these needs
- Facilitate information exchange at both national and EU levels