Belgium’s asylum seeker reception crisis and failure to comply with court decisions
29.6.2023
Question for written answer E-002070/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), David Cormand (Verts/ALE), Miguel Urbán Crespo (The Left), Karen Melchior (Renew), Damien Carême (Verts/ALE), Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Verts/ALE), Dietmar Köster (S&D), Stelios Kouloglou (The Left), Jordi Solé (Verts/ALE), Maria Arena (S&D), Helmut Scholz (The Left), Francisco Guerreiro (Verts/ALE), Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), Eugenia Rodríguez Palop (The Left), Katrin Langensiepen (Verts/ALE), Malin Björk (The Left), Philippe Lamberts (Verts/ALE), Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE)
Numerous reports[1] indicate that since October 2021, Belgium has failed to comply with the Reception Conditions Directive (Directive 2013/33/EU), which provides that asylum seekers have the right to housing. In June 2023, 2 100 asylum seekers[2] had no accommodation, seriously affecting their health and well-being. Forecasts indicate that this number may increase and will soon include minors and vulnerable adults. In January 2023, the Commission opened infringement proceedings against Belgium for not transposing the Reception Conditions Directive correctly. In February 2023, a Dutch court suspended a Dublin transfer to Belgium because of the reception crisis. In March 2023, four UN Special Rapporteurs wrote to the Belgian Government about the situation. By May 2023, Belgian courts had handed down 6 761 decisions condemning Belgium’s failure to provide shelter to asylum seekers, while the European Court of Human Rights had ordered 1 656 interim measures in this regard.
- 1.In the light of the above, what formal action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that Belgium fulfils its obligations under the Reception Conditions Directive? Will infringement proceedings be opened as regards Belgium’s implementation of the directive?
- 2.Does the Commission believe that non-compliance with court decisions is consistent with Belgium’s rule of law obligations, and does it intend to address this in its annual rule of law report?
Supporter[3]
Submitted:29.6.2023