MEPs question Commission on reception of asylum seekers in Belgium

Brussels, September 19, 2023 - Eighteen MEPs, including Francisco Guerreiro, have questioned the European Commission about the crisis in the reception of asylum seekers in Belgium and non-compliance with court orders.


Read the question below:


Subject: Crisis in the reception of asylum seekers in Belgium and non-compliance with court orders


Several reports[1] indicate that, since October 2021, Belgium has not been complying with the Reception Conditions Directive (Directive 2013/33/EU), which stipulates that asylum seekers have the right to accommodation. As of June 2023, 2,100 asylum seekers[2] had no accommodation, which severely affects their health and well-being. Forecasts indicate that this number could increase and will soon include minors and vulnerable adults. In January 2023, the Commission launched infringement proceedings against Belgium for failing to correctly transpose the Reception Conditions Directive. In February 2023, a Dutch court suspended a transfer under the Dublin Regulation to Belgium because of the reception crisis. In March 2023, four UN special rapporteurs wrote to the Belgian government about the situation.

By May 2023, Belgian courts had handed down 6,761 decisions condemning Belgium's failure to provide accommodation for asylum seekers. At the same time, the European Court of Human Rights ordered 1,656 provisional measures in this regard.

1. In light of the above, what formal measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that Belgium complies with its obligations under the Reception Conditions Directive? Will infringement proceedings be initiated with regard to Belgium's implementation of the directive?

2. Does the Commission consider that non-compliance with court orders is compatible with Belgium's rule of law obligations and does it intend to address this issue in its annual rule of law report?

[1] https://www.msf-azg.be/fr/rapport-crise-migratoire.

[2] Data as of June 6, 2023.

Read the Commission's response below:

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

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