2023-09-01 17:03:00
Nicole de Moor (CD&V) convinced her government partners. His instruction to no longer allow the reception of single men in the asylum network had provoked an outcry from Ecolo and the PS. But following a discussion in the Council of Ministers, the temporary suspension was confirmed, with no predefined end date.
A constructive atmosphere
After splitting over the failure of the tax reform in July, the members of the government took a few weeks off. The decision announced without collegiality by the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration had tensed the troops just before the reunion. Ecologists demanded explanations, recalling the legal obligations that the Belgian state must respect in terms of welcoming refugees. “We had a discussion between adults, where things were said, but without shouting matches”, we confirm among the French-speaking Greens. “We obtained the commitment that the measure would be as temporary as possible. ”
Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter (Groen) claims to have been heard. “Even the other parties now understand that places need to be added as soon as possible, which will automatically invalidate Secretary of State de Moor’s instruction. After all, everyone entitled to reception must be able to benefit from it, including single men”, she insists.
Secretary of State Nicole de Moor gives up doing the job she is paid to do
Anticipating winter
On the right, the Open Vld is happy to have avoided a new government crisis. “It was a positive back-to-school atmosphere, quite serene. We saw listening and respect”, we note in the blues. “It’s a rather good sign, a Kern on such a sensitive theme might not have had the same conclusion at the beginning of July. The rest has been good”, we slip into a liberal cabinet. “Fortunately it was back to school, abounds a socialist source. It was constructive on the form, but the discussion was quite frontal on the ideas”.
On the merits of the file, the government has agreed on the deployment of a winter plan, which will be completed within two to three weeks. Because the network, already saturated, should be even more under pressure in a few months. Each minister is invited to provide solutions in his department, to find additional reception places.
“No children in the streets”
Nicole de Moor also announced to increase contacts with campsites and accommodation for young people unused in winter. Support will also be put in place for all recognized refugees who are looking for accommodation, in order to get them out of places in the reception network. “I don’t want children on the streets this winter,” said the Flemish Christian Democrat.
The Secretary of State recalled that the Fedasil network has never been so developed in Belgium, with 35,000 places currently available. She hopes to be able to continue working at European level on a pact on migration, which might be completed during the Belgian presidency of the European Union, from January 2024.
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