Secretary of State Maggie De Block (Open VLD) pays attention to misuse of the right to family reunification, more particularly false declarations of parenthood.

Every month, the Office of the Commissioner Gereral for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) publishes a document providing the statistics on the asylum applications and the first instance decisions.

The law of January 19, 2012 introduced the concept of a “return track” for asylum seekers, a framework for individual counseling on return, offered by the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil). New instructions implement this return track in the reception centres.

The Commission published today its report on the development of the European Migration Network (EMN).

The newsletter of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) for July/August 2012 has been launched.

The statistical data up till the month June on assisted voluntary return (REAB) are available. In June 410 people voluntarily returned to their country of origin, bringing the total for the first six months of 2012 to 1990.

A permanent system for relocating internationally protected persons within the EU would help to improve asylum policy solidarity among EU member states, says a resolution voted by the Civil Liberties Committee.

Eurostat publishes an edition of 'statistics in focus' on mixed-marriages. By using data from two EU surveys, the percentage of persons in mixed marriage is estimated in 30 European countries over recent years.

On 30 June 2012 the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, taking over the Danish Presidency, presented its 6 months programme. Asylum, Migration and Borders is one of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency's Operational Programme.

This publication provides an analysis of recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and two analytical chapters, covering the role of migration in renewing the skills of ageing workforces and the role of Asia in international migration.

The first issue on "Global Perspectives on Migration and Development" explores fresh strategies proposed by the GFMD in its fourth year of operation in Mexico and beyond.

The Belgian Minister of Justice and the State Secretary for Immigration and Asylum have presented a new national action plan to combat trafficking in human beings and human smuggling to the Belgian Council of Ministers.

The handbook was presented and commented on by panelists from IOM, MPI, Swedish Ambassador for the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) as well as representatives from the European Commission, Board of the Diaspora Forum for Development and other stakeholders.

On the occasion of the World Refugee Day on 20 June 2012, the statistical office of the European Union releases data on the results of asylum decisions in the EU 27.

This first issue of the EMN Bulletin briefly presents EU, National and Related Developments in migration policy published in the period January to May 2012, as well as key statistics, plus related EMN outputs and developments that have occurred in this period.

Every month, the Office of the Commissioner Gereral for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) publishes a document containing the statistics on the asylum applications and the first instance decisions.

The annual reports of the different public services of the FPS Home Affairs provide an overview of the structure and activities of the respective organisations.

The new article 57/6/1 of the Aliens Act of 1980 has introduced the notion of safe country of origin in the Belgian law. The royal decree implementing this article came into force on the 1st of June 2012.

Belgium has committed itself towards the European Commission to resettle 100 refugees in 2013

Every month, the Office of the Commissioner Gereral for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) publishes a document containing the statistics on the asylum applications and the first instance decisions.

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.

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

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