The federal government, driven by the Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, has announced the gradual end of housing asylum seekers in hotels. This measure, a symbol of a stricter and more responsible migration policy, is in keeping with the programme pursued by the government and championed by the Mouvement Réformateur: an asylum policy that is fair but firm.
Thanks to the reforms introduced in recent months, the influx of asylum seekers into Belgium is experiencing a historic decline. In September, arrivals fell by 21%, and estimates for October predict a 38% drop. For the first time in several years, Belgium is recording a much sharper decrease than the European average.
“Much work remains to be done, but the turning point has been reached,” said Minister Van Bossuyt. Under the previous government, Belgium saw a 12% rise in applications in 2024, against the European trend. Today, that trend has been reversed thanks to a series of targeted measures:
- an end to abuses linked to return bonuses;
- tighter checks on transport within the Schengen area;
- exclusion from reception for applicants who have already obtained protection elsewhere in the EU;
- tightening of family reunification rules (higher income requirements, minimum age of 21, waiting periods);
- linking the integration income to integration efforts.
With the end of hotel accommodation, the government closes a chapter seen as symptomatic of the previous administration's improvisation. “Reception must remain dignified, but sober: it is about providing shelter, not hotel rooms,” she insisted.
This policy reflects the MR's line: managing migration flows while preserving human dignity, acting with realism and efficiency, and preventing Belgium from once again becoming a magnet for procedural abuse.