Belgium plans to implement stricter border controls for people entering the country in an effort to curb the flow of illegal migrants, according to Reuters, citing a statement from Annelen Van Bossuyt, spokesperson for the Minister of Migration.
According to Van Bossuyt, the measures are expected to take effect this summer. “It’s time for entry checks. Belgium must not be a magnet for those turned away by other countries. Our message is clear: Belgium will no longer tolerate illegal migration and ‘asylum shopping’,” she emphasized.
As reported by Reuters, the controls will be selective and will be carried out on major highways, bus routes, certain rail lines, and on intra-Schengen flights from countries experiencing high migration pressure, such as Greece and Italy.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated that limiting migration is a key priority for his center-right government. A representative of Belgium’s immigration service added that without systematic border checks, it is difficult to obtain accurate data on the scale of illegal migration.
Earlier this year, other EU countries began taking similar steps. In March, Poland temporarily restricted the right to apply for international protection. In April, Lithuania began drafting a legislative package that would allow authorities to close the border to asylum seekers. And in May, Germany’s new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered the detention of all migrants crossing the border illegally and increased police patrols along national borders.
