Belgium gets invite to EU ‘migration realist’ club pressing for stricter migration policies

The De Wever I government’s insistence it wants to implement ‘the strictest migration policy ever’ has not gone unnoticed in Europe.

For a first time, Belgium was invited to informal talks between member states that want stricter European rules on asylum and migration.

The meeting of what are termed ‘migration realist’ countries is an initiative of Italy’s Georgia Meloni, the Netherlands’ Dick Schoof and Denmark’s Mette Fredriksen. ‘We are looking at how we can push for tight migration policies,’ the Dutch prime minister told press agency Belga ahead of the meeting.

A total of 13 countries participated in the consultations. Members of the group include Hungary and Austria. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also present.

The countries already met twice last year, when Belgium, with its caretaker administration, didn’t get an invite.

Forcing stricter return policies

By uniting, these nations hope to weigh more on the EU decision-making process on migration. Much more than individual member states, it is the EU that sets the rules in this field. Next year, the new EU migration pact will enter into force.

Migration is also on the agenda of this week’s European summit in Brussels. Up for discussion are measures that deal with the return of people living here without valid residence papers. This issue falls outside the migration pact. Member states and parliament still have to decide the matter.

The European commission is pushing for new rules. Among other things, it is advocating building controversial return centres outside Europe. There, deported migrants could await their return to their country of origin.

The ‘migration realist’ group will now draft recommendations further to tighten the return plan proposed by the commission and work get it approved by the European Parliament as soon as possible.