|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Fedasil presented its new management plan for the period 2021-2026. It defines the organisation’s strategic and operational objectives. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
In order to fill gaps in labour market shortages caused by the pandemic, applicants were exceptionally exempted from the 4-month waiting period until 30 June 2020. In view of the continuing shortage of workers in some sectors due to the closing of the borders, this measure was resumed from December 2020 until 30 June 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
All new protection officers at the CGRS were trained on gender in the asylum procedure and a specialised training course was provided for more experienced protection officers and supervisors on cases involving gender-related grounds. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
Fedasil made improvements to the arrival path in the temporary arrival centre in Brussels, rendering registration and lodging procedures quicker and more efficient. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A law proposal was put forth to reduce the period of exemption for beneficiaries of international protection from the requirement to have sufficient economic resources from one year to three months. |
BE LEG 01 2019 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Changes to the integration path entered into force in the Flemish region of Belgium. The new programme includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation and a 40-hour tandem programme with a Flemish ‘buddy’) and concludes with an exam. The compulsory programme is subject to a EUR 360 fee. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The State Secretary for Asylum and Migration announced the recruitment of 700 new staff for the CGRS, the Immigration Office and Fedasil and published a vacancy notice in June 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Minister of Asylum and Migration announced new measures aiming to fight against the abuse of the asylum system. Persons already benefitting from international protection in another EU Member State no longer receive material reception conditions. Dublin applicants who abscond and re-apply for reception following 6 months are also no longer entitled to material reception conditions. Fedasil evaluated these rejections in an individual manner, case-by-case, taking into account any possible vulnerabilities. This policy was withdrawn later in 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Council of State suspended the project which aimed to pilot the use of videoconferencing in open centres. This is due to the fact that the Royal Decree on the functioning of the CGRS does not mention this among the competencies of the authority. The project can only continue once the Royal Decree is amended. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Fedasil issued a new instruction on the forced and voluntary withdrawal of reception conditions for working applicants. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The new Royal Decree establishing the list of safe countries of origin entered into force. The list itself includes the same countries. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The CGRS updated its guide for unaccompanied minors applying for international protection and published two new guides on accompanied children’s right to be heard in the asylum procedure (one for children, one for parents or guardians). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The State Secretary for Asylum and Migration extended the transfer period from 6 months to 18 months for applicants in the Dublin procedure who refused to undergo PCR testing. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was reviewed, but no changes were introduced. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
By 2022, 80 new staff members are expected to be recruited as return counsellors to organise interviews and information sessions with migrants and rejected asylum seekers living in private housing, who have recently received a return decision. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The registration process was reorganised, and applicants were required to report again directly to the Immigration Office in the Pacheco building instead of the arrival centre. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The Immigration Office set up a new department for alternatives to detention. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Integration programmes for newcomers became mandatory in Brussels, including for beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The CGRS allocated 32 new staff members to work on applications launched by unaccompanied minors. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
5 411 new reception places were created. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Applicants do not need to obtain a separate work permit since 1 January 2019. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new IT system was launched in the arrival centre in Brussels to document residents in accommodation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Immigration Office provided detailed guidance on the exceptional circumstances to extend the validity of family reunification decisions and the validity of supporting documents. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The government pledged to introduce a new legal status for stateless persons which would give them the right to legally reside in Belgium if they cannot return to their country of habitual residence. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Fedasil concluded a cooperation agreement with the construction sector to orient asylum applicants towards employment in construction. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |