The Federal Government has announced that tighter checks will be carried out on those entering the country. The aim is to combat the issues of illegal immigration and secondary immigration. Secondary immigration concerns people that already have protection or an asylum application pending in another country but nevertheless come to Belgium.
The checks will target car parks along motorways, intra-Schengen flights arriving at our airports from counties such as Italy and Greece, the road between the west Flemish town of De Panne and the French town of Dunkirk and internation trains arriving at stations such as Brussels South.
The checks will be carried out by the Federal Police, Local Police and the Immigration Department. The tighter checks were announced by the Federal Interior minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal) and the Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (Flemish nationalist) on Thursday.
Pressure of migration
Mr Quintin told journalists that “We are taking responsibility by carrying out strict checks that will be targeted at specific locations. This means that we will be tackling illegal migration flows and preventing migration pressure from moving into Belgium, while at the same time we will be tackling crime more effectively to improve security in our country.”
Meanwhile Ms Bossuyt says that some neighbouring countries have already tightened their checks.
“If we do not take action, the country risks becoming a magnet for those denied access elsewhere. Our message is clear. Belgium will no longer tolerate illegal migration and asylum shopping.”
In May, Germany’s new Interior Minister instructed police to tighten border checks with the goal of turning back more illegal migrants.
The Netherlands also implemented temporary controls at its borders with other Schengen countries in December 2024. They were recently extended until 9 December this year.