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.

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.

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.

Belgium responded to the Green paper consultation of the European Commission on the Right to Family Reunification of Third Country Nationals (Directive 2003/86/EC).

The Council adopted a decision which establishes common EU resettlement
priorities for 2013.

The Ministers responsible for asylum and migration of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom met in Brussels on 7 March 2012 to discuss measures in the field of combating illegal immigration

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

The new Belgian Law of January 19, 2012 (published on 17 February 2012) transposes the EU Return Directive, modifying the current legal framework on removal and detention, and putting more emphasis on voluntary departure.

On February 17,2012 the law of January 19, 2012: “Law for modification of the legislation regarding the reception of asylum seekers” was published.

What are the common challenges faced by EU member states in the Mediterranean region? How can EU member states better learn from each other? These and other key issues will be addressed by the newly-established Mediterranean Migration Network (MMN).

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

A new research platform on return migration and reintegration: The Return migration and Development Platform (RDP) has been launched.

An updated and revised edition of the multilingual EMN Asylum and Migration Glossary (Version 2) has been launched.

The Migration Policy Group publishes the recordings of the webinar presenting the four MPG Family Reunion policy briefings to assist organisations responding to the EU Family Reunion consultation

The new Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration and for Social Integration, Maggie De Block (Open VLD) presented today her policy paper on reception in the Parliament.

The Frontex Risk Analysis Network (FRAN) released its newest quarterly Issue 3, July–September 2011.

The new Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration and for Social Integration, Maggie De Block (Open VLD), underligned her willingness to act "with determination" against abuses and fraud in the asylum and family reunification procedures, while respecting everyone's rights.

Every month, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons publishes a document containing the statistics on the asylum applications and the decisions taken. The statistical overview for December also provides an overview for the complete year 2011.

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) has recently published its Work Programme 2012. During its 2nd year of operations, EASO will consolidate the work undertaken in 2011 and start new tasks in accordance with the EASO founding Regulation.

The government Di Rupo published on 1 December 2011 its coalition agreement. We summarize the most important political goals of the new government with regard to migration and asylum

Eurostat presents its report 'Migrants in Europe - A Statistical Portrait of the First and Second Generation'

The report of the Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (Centre) offers facts and figures on migration flows to Belgium up to 2009

On December, 20, 2011,The Directive 2011/95/EC was published. The Qualification directive sets standards for the identification of people in need of international protection in the EU either as refugees or as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.