Belgium is stepping up its efforts to tackle illegal migration and is urging other European Union (EU) members to join its initiatives. The call comes in the wake of a terrorist attack carried out by a Tunisian man in Brussels, which resulted in the deaths of two Swedish football fans.
The assailant, who was killed by the police, had been residing in Belgium illegally after his asylum application was rejected. Nicole de Moor, Belgium's secretary of state for asylum and migration, emphasized the need for organized deportations for individuals whose asylum requests are turned down. De Moor stated, "We need to stand side by side in this, not only in Belgium, but in the EU because with 27 countries we can achieve a lot more."
The EU has been working on enacting new migration and asylum legislation to curb the increasing number of irregular border crossings by third-country nationals. De Moor highlighted that effective deportations often face challenges in establishing cooperation with the countries of origin, particularly in cases involving countries like Tunisia. She emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating, "As long as we don't bring all our weight to bear, we won't succeed. Countries have to accept the return of their own citizens."
Belgium has committed to prioritizing this issue when it assumes the rotating presidency of the EU in January next year. The EU has already encountered over 250,000 irregular border crossings this year, with a staggering 600,000 pending asylum applications, according to EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.
The recent terrorist attack prompted the lowering of the threat level in Brussels from 4 to 3 following a manhunt that resulted in the perpetrator's death. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo clarified that the suspect was known to the police but was not on their watchlist of 700 suspected terrorists.
Initial concerns arose over whether the attack might have been motivated by the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Nevertheless, it appears that the assailant was driven by anger over events in Sweden.
While investigations are ongoing, Belgian authorities lean towards the likelihood of the perpetrator being a lone wolf attacker. Prime Minister De Croo acknowledged, "While all evidence points toward a lone wolf, this is only evidence, we don't have absolute certainty yet."
Belgium's proactive response to the recent attack highlights the urgency for comprehensive action at the EU level to address illegal migration effectively. By rallying other EU member states and urging collaborative efforts, Belgium aims to strengthen the deportation process, particularly regarding individuals with rejected asylum applications, and ultimately enhance overall security within the union.