Belgium holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2024, from 1 January to 30 June. Among its six priorities, high attention is dedicated to migration issues, titled Protecting people and borders.
Belgium’s migration program aims to address remaining legislation associated with the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, finalized after more than two years of intense negotiations between EU member states and the European Parliament. The Pact is scheduled to enter into force in February this year. It should reinforce trust between EU member states in dealing with migration issues, bring legal clarity for people arriving in the EU, as well as ensure humane and effective management of migration in line with EU values and international law.
The Pact also offers a common and rapid response to migration crises and improves legal pathways to the EU. The document is meant to be particularly important about African countries. Therefore, the Belgian Presidency plans to work closely with African partners, as part of developing a mutually beneficial partnership between the two continents.
In his speech at the UN General Assembly last September, ahead of the country’s EU Presidency, Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated: “The current model gives the people smugglers all the control and power. They make decisions over life and death. They decide who gets into a country and who does not.” According to him, it would be “a pact to ensure that every EU country plays its part.” By strengthening solidarity and standardizing procedures, the Pact would work towards a common European re-admission and return policy.
By including migration in its program for the EU Presidency, Prime Minister De Croo also has in mind creating more legal pathways to Europe through education and talent programs in the countries of migrants’ origin. In this regard, De Croo marked that young Africans should be able to pursue the “African dream” instead of risking their lives at sea for the European or American dream. Belgium sees significant importance in investing in partnerships with countries of migrants’ origin in order to address the root causes of migration; poverty and lack of economic opportunity.
The success of the Belgian EU Presidency on migration issues cannot be solely dependent on one document. However, success can involve, if not eliminating the problem entirely, at least alleviating illegal immigration. It will also be crucial to observe how Hungary, the next presiding country in the Council of the European Union, will continue with the established policy. All member states must contribute to its success, while it is clear that some populist governments in Europe maintain strong support among the anti-immigration population. Although most European countries need to fill the missing labor force, the crises of illegal immigration will largely depend on developments in the countries of origin.
