In 1995 the Flemish government ordered by decree the reporting on the Flemish environment. This assured the scientific foundation of the Flanders environment policy.

The Decree of General Regulations on Environment Policy of April 5, 1995 defines three tasks for MIRA. Each task is reported on separately:

Description, analysis and assessment of the actual environmental state	MIRA-T report(T=themes)
Description, analysis and assessment of the actual environment policy	MIRA-PE report (PE=policy evaluation)
Description of the expected environmental development in case of both unchanged and alternative policy, according to a number of relevant scenarios	MIRA-S report(S=scenario's)

MIRA-T : focus on environmental themes

MIRA-T ('T' means 'Themes') is published annually by the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).

This report describes the state of the environment and nature in Flanders, analyses the observed evolutions and assesses the already implemented policy measures.

It maps the progress or setback of approximately 25 environmental themes with well-chosen indicators. Yet the scope goes beyond the environment and nature: the report tries to explain the environmental problems and clearly indicates the driving forces, referred to as sectors in MIRA.

the report is aimed at policymakers and all persons interested in the state and development of the environment in Flanders.

The Reporting is based on the environment DPSI-R chain. The use of the environment cause-effect chain is typical in all MIRA reports. This so-called DPSI-R chain is a widespread analysis frame within (international) environmental reporting. The analysis always thinks in terms of driving forces of consumption, production, transport, recreation, etc., as the inherent causes of the disruptions. The second link maps the direct causes of the problems or pressure in terms of source usage (energy, water, space, raw materials) and emissions (discharge towards air, water and soil, waste). The third link assesses the resulting state of the various environmental compartments (air, water, and soil). The fourth link appraises the negative impacts of the environment on humans, nature and economy. The societal and policy responses concerning these problems is elaborated in the response last link (response). 
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MIRA-PE, focus on Policy Evaluation

MIRA-PE (PE = Policy Evaluation) evaluates the pursued environment policy. The preparation of this policy evaluation report was started in 2001. An inventory of the published environment policy evaluations was drawn up which showed that issues like discharge policy and water treatment policy already were documented fairly well. Furthermore there was information on environment policy instruments: a partial analysis of e.g. the impact of levies and subsidies was already available.

The first MIRA-PE was published in June 2003. Apart from a general introduction, it contains four chapters.

1. assessment of the environment permit grant in Flanders
2. the municipalities and the development of water treatment infrastructure
3. assessment of the Environment Policy Agreements on the implementation of the obligation to take back consumer goods
4. assessment of the implementing order waste products 1997-2001

The second report was published in October 2005. The first part of the report contains an inventory of (the summaries of) 21 environmental policy evaluations. Five out of these 21 are described with all the details in the second part:

1. the operalisation of the European Habitat and Bird directive
2. local water policy
3. assessment of the Policy Agreements with the Municipialities
4. maintenance and enforcement of the environmental law
5. assessment of the Intrument on Waste Prevention by enterprises (PRESTI)

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MIRA-S, focus on the future

MIRA-S (Environmental Outlook Report for Flanders) focuses on the future state of the environment in Flanders. MIRA strives, in an independent and scientific way, to give a view on how Flanders’ environment will be in a few decades. How will the environment evolve, and what is the influence of policy in this? The answers are given in this report, which provides a source of information for environmental policy-makers of the Flemish government.

The first MIRA-S report was published in 2000. MIRA is planning to publish its second Environmental Outlook Report in December 2009.

MIRA-S 2009 aims to prove that the future state of the environment in Flanders depends highly on policy choices that are made today. For this purpose, MIRA-S 2009 contains three scenarios:

• Reference scenario (business as usual): this scenario casts its eyes upon how the environment in Flanders will evolve if current policy remains unchanged
• European scenario: this scenario indicates which policy decisions are necessary if Flanders is to achieve the environmental commitments agreed on European level
• Visionary scenario: this scenario gives an idea of what needs to be done to arrive at a truly sustainable environment, which can be safeguarded for future generations                                                                                                                          

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 To the future!