2023-09-21 04:40:00
Vivaldi is under pressure from all sides for its inability to curb the consequences of its migration policy. The reception crisis has today become a humanitarian drama, a political standoff, a legal conflict, a turf war, a security issue and an electoral issue. The geopolitical situation on Europe’s borders only increases the tension, which gives the feeling of being faced with a bomb ready to explode.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor (CD&V) tried to appease a beleaguered parliament. Recriminations and accusations of incompetence flew from all sides, and not just from the ranks of the opposition. Environmentalist and socialist parliamentarians shot the Secretary of State, accusing her of both her lack of foresight and the immobility of the crisis.
Campsite requisition, accelerated procedures… “backs to the wall”, Vivaldi draws up a winter plan in response to the reception crisis
MP Simon Moutquin (Ecolo) recalled that asylum requests increase every year in August and September. “For what ? Because people prefer to cross the Mediterranean when they are less likely to die. In winter and spring there are storms. The risk of dying is higher.”
Hervé Rigot (PS) expressed his “anger” and his “fed up to see that, despite the commitments, we are, 4 years later, still in the same place”. In opposition, several parliamentarians called on majority deputies to raise their concerns within the government. “All hands should be on deck,” insisted Vanessa Matz (les Engagés). François De Smet called on Vivaldi parties that disagree with Nicole de Moor’s migration policy to “raise their voices”.
The Secretary of State is supported by her party, the CD&V, and by the Prime Minister. Alexander De Croo has repeatedly stated that he supports his decision to no longer accept single men in reception centers. Among the environmentalist and socialist vice-premiers, on the other hand, the position leans more towards the side of the law, the judicial authorities and a handful of academics.
Vivaldi is torn apart over the suspension of the reception of single men: “Nothing is wrong with this decision”
The decision to temporarily exclude single male asylum seekers from receiving reception was rejected by the Council of State. The President of the Brussels Bar and the President of Avocats.be are also moving in this direction. “May our government get its act together. Quickly. Very quickly. Because a government that respects neither its laws nor its institutions sends shivers down your spine,” write Emmanuel Plasschaert and Pierre Sculier.
To this pressure, Nicole de Moor replies that the situation is temporary. Not having enough places to offer, the “absolute” priority goes to women and children. However, this state of affairs is not likely to change immediately because finding new places is a real headache. “Very few mayors are enthusiastic when they receive a call from the Secretary of State asking them to create reception places,” Nicole de Moor understates.
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Very few mayors are enthusiastic when they receive a call from the Secretary of State.”
In Flanders, the rumbling of the municipalities is, in fact, becoming more and more audible. The arrival of migrants is presented as a threat to the security of residents. This idea is fueled by the problems of insecurity around Brussels stations, caused by wandering people but also by nationalist parties. Vlaams Belang is increasing its demonstrations against the construction of reception structures for asylum seekers. Monday evening they were in Kasterlee. Wednesday, in Ypres.
Secretary of State CD&V repeats that a solution must come from Europe. She hopes to conclude a common policy agreement before the end of the legislature. Our neighbors, however, seem reluctant to welcome more migrants, despite an explosive situation in the south of Italy. Between last Monday and Wednesday, around 8,500 people arrived on the small island of Lampedusa. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that these migrants had no place in France. Nicole de Moor also announced that Belgium will not be able to relocate migrants who arrived in Lampedusa.
For Philippe Bocquier (UCLouvain), demographer and migration specialist, the crisis is “humanitarian, not demographic”. What happens in Lampedusa will not have “visible consequences” in Belgium. Even if a large part of the migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea were welcomed in Belgium, this would only have a minor impact on Belgian demographics. “Belgium receives around 55,000 people per year. It’s not a few thousand that are going to make a big difference.”
”The migrants who end up arriving in Belgium mainly want to go further towards England, but they find themselves stuck on our territory. We also find people who join a network of migrants, members of their family or citizens of their country of origin. Today, there is little chance that migrants who fall into the traps of the Mediterranean will want to go to Belgium,” continues the migration specialist.
”If the federal government is asked to satisfy a European policy, it is possible that Belgium will have to take its share of migrants in situations of humanitarian distress. But that’s not the problem. The problem comes from the government’s capacity and willingness to welcome more migrants.”
For Philippe Bocquier, the problem is structural. “We have seen this situation happen for years. We welcome but the budgets and actions do not follow. Belgium has not put the means they set out at the political level even though it should be a priority.”
Politically, this situation is holy bread for the opposition which can take aim at the government. “When Theo Francken was Secretary of State, in the middle of the European migration crisis, every asylum seeker had a bed,” commented MP Thomas Roggeman (N-VA).” We are five years later. Never before have we had a government that violated human rights so often.”
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