Belgium wants to participate in European solidarity mechanism for migration

Belgium and 20 other member states of the European Union or the Schengen area want to participate in a voluntary and temporary solidarity mechanism for Mediterranean countries facing heavy migratory pressure, according to a statement published on Wednesday. ​ ​ 

Through the mechanism, participating countries can resettle registered asylum seekers who arrived in countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece. The countries themselves decide how many people they want to take in, and they retain the freedom to revise this commitment if secondary migration puts pressure on their own asylum systems.

Belgium was one of the countries that insisted on a flexible mechanism that takes into account the national situation. "As long as our reception is full, no extra effort can be made," stated Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) recently. 

In addition, participating countries can also choose not to resettle people, but to give a financial contribution to countries on the Mediterranean Sea or to projects in third countries that can slow down the migration pressure. Participating countries can also express their solidarity by sending personnel or material to frontline countries. ​ 

The declaration is endorsed by Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Negotiations with the European Parliament can now begin. 

(TOM)

State Secretary for Asylum and Migration policy Sammy Mahdi pictured during a plenary session of the Chamber at the Federal Parliament in Brussels. - © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK