ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 6. MAXIMISING DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OF MIGRATION AND MOBILITY 6.1 Mainstreaming of migration in development policies Please describe any relevant activity, for example studies, and development of approaches to make migration an integral part in sectoral policies (e.g. agriculture, health, education etc.), solidarity development projects, etc. Please also highlight any migration-related initiatives with third countries in the framework of development policy. Even though there were no specific developments in this area, two government actions should be noted. The first one was the participation Global Forum on Migration and Development held in Mauritius in November 2012, as well as the overall contribution to the work of the Forum. The second one was the contribution, to the extent possible, to the preparation for the Dialogue on Migration and Development in the framework of the 2013 UN General Assembly. 6.2 Migrants’ Remittances Please describe any relevant developments and activities in the area of remittances, including financial support to such actions, implementation of an instrument for transferring migrants' remittances, co-development actions etc. There have been no significant developments. According to official figures from the Bank of Greece, for the financial year 2012, remittances from Greece amounted to 598,9 million euros. This amount is significantly lower compared to both 2011, when outflows amounted to 922.4 million euros, and 2010, when the outflows amounted to 1,080.6 million euros. 6.3 Working with Diasporas Please provide information on a possible national policy or actions with regard to how diaspora groups may be further involved in EU development initiatives, and how EU Member States may support diaspora groups in their efforts to enhance development in their countries of origin. Please describe any specific activities to address migrant rights and the empowerment of migrants. There are no significant developments in this area. It should be noted however, that the Ministry of Interior, as Responsible Authority for the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals in Greece, implements actions which, among other, aim at strengthening diaspora groups living in our country, and thus indirectly enhances the possibility that these groups shall contribute to the development of their home countries. Indicatively, in 2012, two actions that were implemented were: a) Action 1.3/10 "Supporting immigrant communities for their organization at primary 40