Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Belgium’s Asylum and Migration Minister, is planning to visit Turkey and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to negotiate migrant return accords. NGOs have expressed concern about cooperating with authoritarian regimes.
This is part of a renewed emphasis on voluntary and forced returns under the country’s asylum policy, according to local media. DRC and Turkey were fourth and fifth among asylum seekers in Belgium, respectively.
Van Bossuyt has identified bilateral negotiations with countries of origin as a top priority for 2025. She framed this as part of a “give and take” policy, stating that “countries that refuse to cooperate with us on returns cannot expect our full support in other areas.”
Afghanistan is likewise a priority for Belgium’s return policy. A technical and administrative team to the country was sent last week as part of a larger European operation, and officials met with Taliban officials to discuss the prospect of returning Afghan nationals.
Belgium is likely to “rent” prison capacity for undocumented perpetrators.
Belgium is also looking into the potential of hiring jail space in Estonia to house unauthorized criminals. also relieve the pressure on our prisons.”
“Our message is clear: anyone who resides in our country illegally and is also guilty of criminality has no future here,” said the migration minister.
A General Outlook of the Migrant Situation in Belgium
With 11 other countries, the European Commission’s 2025 European Annual Asylum and Migration Report has classified Belgium as a “risk country” with regard to migration pressure.
According to the OECD in 2024, Belgium accepted 106,000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free movement), as in 2023.
This proportion comprises 59 percent immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 7 percent labour migrants, 20 percent family members (including accompanying relatives) and 15 percent humanitarian migrants. Around 9,800 visas were provided to overseas students, 1,100 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants.
This also suggests that the foreign-born population was roughly 20 percent in 2024. Main countries of birth are Morocco (10 percent), France (8 percent), the Netherlands (6 percent).
Following elections in 2024, the incoming federal coalition partners reached a federal coalition agreement on 31 January 2025 Objectives in the plan regard migration in the 2025 2029 period. The new government wants to reduce the number of asylum applications in Belgium, fight against illegal migration and attract foreigners who contribute economically and socially.
