The new government declared in its coalition agreement its main priorities with regard to migration and asylum:

1. The government will work for a ‘fast and consistent asylum procedure to guaranty a dignified reception of asylum seekers’. The government intends to limit the time frame of asylum procedures to a maximum of 6 months. In this context, the procedure shall be made more efficient, both with regard to speed of action and quality of the decision making-process. To achieve the goal, a permanent monitor mechanism shall be implemented. The government hopes herewith to eliminate one of the reasons for the overstraining of the reception system for asylum seekers, which is ongoing since 2008.
2. The government underlines the exclusive priority for material aid to asylum seekers as stipulated in the so called ‘Reception Law’ of 12 January 2001. Therefore, the government will draft a plan to organise the geographical allocation of asylum seekers in Belgium and hence the distribution of material aid, provided by local authorities. 
3. The government declares that it will implement a list of ‘safe countries of origin’ concerning asylum seekers as stipulated by the law adopted by the Federal Parliament on 16 November 2011. Asylum seekers originated from these countries will be the subject to an accelerate procedure of 15 days.
4. The government declares the high priority of stimulating the return of irregular migrants and failed asylum seekers, with the preference on voluntary return.
5. The government declared its will to oppose human trafficking and the enrichment of criminal networks involved in these illegal practices. The government stresses the importance to improve the interdepartmental coordination in combating the phenomenon. Victims of human trafficking and exploitation shall be better protected and the specialised centres to shelter them shall be legally recognized.
6. The government stresses the right of family reunification but declares its will to combat fraudulent abuses of this right. In this context the government expressed its will to implement the new legal rules for family reunification as drafted and voted by the Federal Parliament (BS 12 September 2011).
7. Concerning the regularisation of irregular migrants, the government declares that amnesty shall be just granted in case-by-case procedures as stipulated in the law. 
8. The government declares its will to reform the law on naturalisation. The current law sees naturalisation as a step on the way to integration. The new law will reverse this concept and will stipulate integration-requirements to start a naturalisation procedure. 
9. The government will ratify the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The asylum authorities will be in charge to recognize statelessness.
10. Belgium declares its willingness to further participate in resettlement programs, initiated by the UNHCR.
11. Belgium declares its active support of the European mainstreaming process on migration and asylum.

Download coalition agreement (Dutch)

Download coalition agreement (French)