The European Migration Network (EMN) is a network coordinated by the European Commission, consisting of national focal points and national networks in all EU countries, plus Norway.

Its purpose is to provide up-to-date, objective, reliable and reasonably comparable information on migration and asylum policies and practices with a view to supporting policymaking and implementation in the European Union and participating (Member) States  in these areas, for policy makers as well as to the wider public.

On 14 May 2008 the Decision of the Council of the EU (Council Decision 2008/381/EC) created the legal basis for the European Migration Network, the EMN.

The European Migration Network (EMN) includes relevant research, analysis and documentation activities.

Research: Country Studies and comparative Synthesis Reports

A major part of the activities of the European Migration Network lies in reviewing available research on specific issues in the (Member)States, or where appropriate, actually commissioning research studies.

The primary goal is to cover and evaluate existing research in the Member States.

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, each National Contact Point in the European Migration Network drafts an annual policy analysis report (Policy Report).

In addition to a description of the main developments in the (Member) States, this report also deals inter alia with the transposition of EU law at the national level, as well as similar legal developments in Norway.

Documentation: Extensive exchange of information

The main goal of the European Migration Network’s collection of information about immigration and asylum legislation and regulation practices in its participating States is to establish an extensive compilation of objective, reliable and reasonably comparable information for the Member States and at the EU level.

A computer-aided information exchange system, which is available via the Internet to various user groups, forms the cornerstone of this work.

The National Contact Points compile and document information on specified topics from various sources, for example research studies, statistical reports, laws and regulations, communications from ministries and publications of non-governmental organisations.

The downloads of the open EMN-Webpage are accessible for every user. A more extensive database  is restricted to the National Contact Points and the partners in the national networks.

Main European Migration Network website (external website)

EMN Information leaflet 2017 (pdf, 602 kB)

Norway has been a member of EMN since 2011, as the only non-EU country. 

The Norwegian contact point (NO EMN NCP) consists of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (JD) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

In order to ensure the flow of objective and reliable information about legislation, policy and practice regulating immigration and asylum, in Norway and EU, the contact point has established and maintains a network of experts in this field. The network consists of governmental and non-governmental organizations, researchers and individuals active in the field of migration and asylum.

Members in the network:

• The Research Council of Norway (external website)
• Norface (external website)
• Chr. Michelsen Institute (external website)
• FAFO (external website)
• Institute for Social Research (external website)
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (external website)
• The National Police Immigration Service (PU) (external website)
• The Immigration Appeals Board (external website)
• The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (external website)
• The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs  (external website)

Contact us

Email: emnnorway@udi.no

Newsletters (in Norwegian)

EMN Newsletter Autumn 2018 (pdf, 1,0 MB)

EMN Newsletter Spring 2018  (pdf, 308 kB)

EMN Newsletter Autumn 2017 (pdf, 634 kB)

EMN Newsletter Spring 2017 (pdf, 587 kB)

The EMN Return Expert Group (REG) has been established for discussion and exchange of information related to return and re-integration issues. The REG experts meet regularly on average four to five times per year in conjunction with the EMN NCP meetings. Each (Member) State is free to decide how much it wants to invest in this cooperation.

The EMN Ad-Нос Query tool is used to collect information on how (Member) States and Norway deal with specific aspects of return to and reintegration in the countries of origin.

Discussion topics/issues at EMN REG meetings:

1.  Experience with and good practices for return and reintegration, how to increase coherence in the implementation of return programmes and reintegration projects.

2.  Exchange information about the initiatives taken towards the countries of origin or transit to ensure a sustainable return of the irregular migrants (i.e. reintegration measures, re-documentation).

3.  Support of the development of practical solutions to overcome challenges and barriers to return and reintegration.

4.  Draw on stakeholders' expertise on issues related to return and reintegration of irregular migrants.

5.  Contributing to the compilation and availability of statistics on return and reintegration.

For each aspect of return, agreed through consultation with EMN members, the EMN REG aims to provide a clear overview of the situation across EMN Member States. This overview should serve as a basis to exchange best practices. Meetings provide for the opportunity to discuss current and future programs and to identify possible synergies. This supports better coordination of the actions of (Member) States on return to and reintegration in countries of origin.

Guidelines for monitoring and evaluation of AVR (R) programmes (pdf, 800 kB)