Brussels, 02/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - Shortly after the adoption of the Pact on Immigration and Asylum, on 25 September (EUROPE 9748), Belgium wrote to the different EU capitals indicating to them that the aim of combating illegal immigration as set out in the pact will not prevent it from proceeding to individual regularisations in accordance with Belgian national law. The document sent to the EU27 refers to the criteria for regularisation of those without legal papers - such as the concept of long, local residency, the prospect of gaining official paid employment and the possibility of covering one's own needs - on which the Belgian prime minister, Yves Leterme, is working in relation to what the Belgian political parties have proposed. Formal approval of the pact will take place at the European Council on 15 October, the day following the day when the prime minster is supposed to read his general political declaration to the Belgian parliament. October 14 is the deadline set by the president of the Centre démocrate humaniste (cdH), Joëlle Milquet, for an agreement on the regularisation of illegal migrants. (B.C./transl.jl)