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On 13 February 2023, the European Commission (DG ECHO) has opened a call for proposals related to the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN), which might be of interest to a number of H2020 projects, in particular in the area Disaster Resilient Societies/DRS (including CBRN).

On 14 October 2022, the 65 members of the Commission expert group on the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS) met each other for the first time in Brussels. DG HOME explained the policy context and the objectives of the expert group. The group took note of the Terms of Reference, agreed on the Rules of Procedure, and discussed its mandate.

On 7 February 2023, the European Commissioner for HOME Affairs Ylva Johansson visited the Port of Antwerp, where she went to see a demonstration by BorderSens, an EU-funded security research project. BorderSens works on detection of illicit drugs and precursors by highly accurate electrosensors.

The European Commission makes €10.7 billion available to all Member States to be used on migration, border management and security. This includes activities that fall under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund where €5.8 billion is available. The Border Management and Visa Instrument at €3.8 billion and the Internal Security Fund €1.1 billion. These funds are to be used between 2021 and 2027 and represent a significant increase compared to the previous funding period.

Two public consultations are open at the moment seeking the views of all interested. The first is on corruption with a call for evidence asking the public for their view. This call is open until 17 February. The second call will develop the basis for a technical solution to provide access to security-related information for frontline officers in the EU and key partner countries. Responses are welcome and the second public consultation is open until 18 March.

Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson discussed protection from organised crime with a group of young people from all over Europe on 23 January. Seventeen young participants who work in law enforcement and civil society shared their experience and work on how to combat organised crime and cooperation between the EU, NGOs, law enforcement and social services. This conversation is part of the European Year of Youth, which aims to engage young people in building a greener, safer, more inclusive and digital future for Europe.

On 19 December, the European Commission reported on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings and proposed a revision of the EU Anti-trafficking Directive to strengthen EU rules to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings and protect its victims. Over 7000 people are thought to become victims of human trafficking in the EU each year and more than half of them are EU citizens.

The Special European Council on 9 and 10 February reiterated the EU's solidarity with Ukraine, in the presence of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to work actively with Ukraine on a 10 point peace plan. Overall assistance to Ukraine and its people by the EU and its Member States amounts to more than € 67 billion.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson was on an official visit to the port of Antwerp accompanied by Belgium’s Minister of the interior Annelies Verlinden on 7 February. Antwerp is one of the main ports of entry and transit of cocaine into Europe. Only last year, Belgian authorities seized 110 tonnes of cocaine at that port.

Ahead of the launch of the upgraded Schengen Information System on 7 March, an information campaign is set to raise awareness about the most important border management system of the EU and its new features.