Belgium Restricts Family Reunification And Asylum Applications

Belgium’s stricter conditions for family reunification came into unit this week, arsenic nan national authorities cracks down connected migrants and asylum applicants who activity to settee successful nan country, according to The Brussels Times. The migration revision of nan criteria is acold from an isolated lawsuit successful Europe, pinch Portugal and Germany adopting akin measures.

With nan caller rules having been agreed connected arsenic portion of nan government’s alleged Easter Agreement, Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) has based on that nan changes are basal to trim unit connected societal services. “Our rules were acold excessively lax, making Belgium a magnet for migrants and asylum seekers,” Ms Van Bossuyt said. “With these measures, we are stopping that pull-factor.” Under nan caller rules, nan minimum income required to sponsor family members has been raised to 2,300 euros a month, which amounts to astatine slightest 110 per cent of nan guaranteed minimum wage. There’s an further 10 per cent for each further dependent. Previously, it was 2,089 nett per month, 120 per cent of Belgium’s minimum wage.

“Anyone who wants to bring their family present must beryllium financially tin of supporting them. This tin nary longer travel astatine nan costs of our society,” Ms. Van Bossuyt said. Thomas Willekens, argumentation serviceman for nan Brussels-based NGO Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, explained that “if personification wants to bring successful their partner and 2 children, they person to beryllium they gain astatine slightest 2,700 euros nett per month.” Belgian authorities person besides decided to summation nan exertion interest for naturalisation, up from 150 euros to 1,000 euros.

Covert measurement to make family reunification impossible

For Thomas Willekens, these caller rules are supra each a covert measurement of making family reunification impossible, astatine nan consequence of plunging these families into an moreover much vulnerable situation, according to Euro News.

“The consequences for refugees successful Belgium will beryllium prolonged separation from their families, which will person an effect connected their integration and inclusion successful Belgian society. It’s difficult to study nan connection if you’re worried astir your partner successful Afghanistan, for example,” he explains.

The minimum property to use for family reunification has besides been raised from 18 to 21, which N-VA claims is aimed astatine preventing forced and kid marriages. “A matrimony must ne'er beryllium a instrumentality to get residence rights,” nan migration curate added. Under nan caller guidelines, refugees will only person six months to taxable their application. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, those who do not person exile status, will person to hold 2 years earlier they tin taxable their application.

Last week, Portugal besides adopted much stringent measures for granting family reunification. German MPs approved nan suspension of nan family reunification strategy successful nan erstwhile period for group pinch “subsidiary protection,” successful different words, those who do not person exile status. Austria has suspended family reunification for six months. In applicable terms, applications tin beryllium submitted to nan Austrian authorities, but they will not beryllium processed.