On 2 May, Representatives of the Parliament of the French community unanimously approved the reform of the reception and education of foreign newcomer children, improving and making "bridging classes" more flexible.

On April, 26 and April, 27, EIPA organises in Maastricht a seminar on management and control system audits for Migration Funds

The annual report of the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil) has been launced. Fedasil updates you on the voluntary return program that it runs as well as the reception situation and network in 2011.

According to Advocate General Bot, a serious infringement of the freedom of religion may constitute an ‘act of persecution’ where the asylum seeker runs a real risk of death, inhuman or degrading treatment, of being reduced to slavery or servitude, or of being prosecuted or imprisoned arbitrarily

On April 18th, the Association on the Aliens Law (ADDE) will propose a workshop in order to update and integrate different issues concerning the reforms of the immigration laws, and particularly the law of 15 December 1980.

Based on judgement in case C-83/12 Minh Koa Vo, a Member State may impose criminal penalties for aiding illegal immigration when the persons who have entered the Union territory, national of non member countries, hold visas fraudulently obtained but not yet annulled.

March 2012: More decissons, less applications

Philippe Fargues, director of the Migration Policy Centre (MPC), presents the different tasks, projects and activities of the new MPC, founded in January 2012, with the support of the European Union.

On March 29th 2012, the Center of European Culture will present a special session of the Belgian College entitled "XXIth century migrations and transformations of planetary relations". Presentation by Catherine Wihtol de Wenden.

A draft bill modifying the Immigration Law and transposing the European Blue Card Directive is approved in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on March 29, 2012.

This seminar of the Academy of European Law will provide legal practitioners with an in-depth analysis of the relevant legislative measures, the most recent and important developments in jurisprudence and the impact of European human rights instruments on the issue of familiy reunification.

On 23 March 2012 a newsrelease was issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the Europeon Union, on the number of asylum applicants and asylum decisions in the EU27 in 2011.

At the request of Maggie De Block, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, and Didier Reynders, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministerial Council approved list of safe countries of origin.

This International Symposium will explore the ongoing challenges that Europe is facing to increase the practical cooperation between member states, especially in relation to the collection of measurable data on asylum seekers.

On March 20th, Benoit Cerxhe, Liz Collett, Jean-Pierre Garson and different integration experts from both Belgium and Canada will examine integration trends and challenges, as well as case studies and best practices.

The Belgian National Contact Point of the EMN organised its first ‘Round Table on Migration and Asylum Policy’ – an event which brought together key stakeholders to discuss policy developments and challenges.