Belgium plans missions to Turkey and DRC to negotiate migrant return agreements

Asylum and Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt is planning missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Turkey this year to negotiate agreements on the return of migrants. As part of the talks, a representative of the Afghan administration is also expected to visit Belgium.

Bilateral negotiations with countries of origin on voluntary and forced returns are a key priority for Van Bossuyt this year. The minister has described the approach as one of "give and take". "Those who do not want to cooperate on returns will not be able to count on our full support," she said on Tuesday.

That is why Belgium's asylum services are preparing missions to the DRC and Turkey, said Freddy Roosemont, director-general of the Immigration Office. During the missions, they will discuss return arrangements with the relevant authorities. Last year, applicants from the DRC and Turkey ranked fourth and fifth respectively among asylum seekers in Belgium.

"There are many people in countries of origin who are unaware of what an asylum application actually entails," Roosemont explained. "They believe human traffickers who claim everything is much easier in Europe. It is also our responsibility to provide information and explain that procedures and conditions apply."

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Negotiations with Taliban

Afghanistan is also a focus of the return policy. A technical and administrative mission to the country took place last week as part of a broader European initiative. During that visit, officials held talks with the Taliban authorities on the possibilities for returning Afghan nationals. In the spring, a representative of the Afghan administration is expected to travel to Brussels for discussions with the EU.

Afghanistan remained the main country of origin for asylum applicants in Belgium in 2025. The number of Afghan applications rose by 11 per cent compared with the previous year, reaching 3,947 out of a total of 34,439 requests. A significant share of these, 39 per cent, were follow-up applications, which can be lodged when new elements emerge in an applicant’s file.

^{Asylum and Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt. © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE}

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