In order to address the need to exchange information on all aspects of migration and to contribute to a common asylum and immigration policy, the European Commission was invited to consider the "development of a European system for exchanging information on asylum, migration and countries of origin" by the Laeken European Council in 2001. The result was the European Migration Network, which was launched in 2003 as a Pilot Project, and since 2004 as a Preparatory Action until the end of 2006. The Thessaloniki European Council (2003) welcomed the "establishment of a European Migration Network and will examine the possibility of setting up a permanent structure in the future". The current Hague Programme has reinforced the need for common analysis of migratory phenomena (the collection, provision, exchange and efficient use of up-to-date information), and the EMN is one means towards this goal.
A phased bottom-up approach was selected to facilitate the launching of the operation. First, a system of Network Members was formed. In the beginning, eight contact points were designated by the Member States after an extensive exchange of views with the national governments on the role and structure of the proposed network. The Commission then appointed a co-ordinator to manage the exchange of information and the network system itself. Later, additional Network Members for other Member States were chosen to create a more complete network.
Once the network was efficiently set-up, large and small studies were developed and carried out, and peripheral networks formed. This was enabled by the individual Network Member establishing their own national networks. By conducting workshops, network members were able to support each other with a formal system of sharing information, management and research methods. Informal systems were also established, allowing for an easy exchange of information through ad hoc requests.
The EMN website is constantly being improved, with the end goal of allowing for a decentralised information exchange system to store documents, contacts, legislation and other relevant information related to the EMN. A thesaurus and glossary are also currently in the production stages, creating a standardised European vocabulary related to migration and refugee issues.
Currently (December 2006) the Commission is in the process of developing a draft for a legal basis for the EMN. This proposal would be based on Article 66 of the EC Treaty, requiring Qualified Majority Voting of the Council and consultation of the EP. The intention is for this to be formally presented to Council in the first quarter of 2007.