Immigration Immigration in Belgium : end to a pathetic track record ?

[Maciamo]

Belgium has been without a government for over 4 months now. French- and Dutch-speaking parties have not been able to reach an agreement on how to rule the country yet. So it is highly ironic that the first thing they came to agree upon yesterday was to tighten immigration laws.

VRT : First government accord after 120 days!

The liberal and Christian democrat negotiators finally reached an accord at about 3 am Tuesday morning regarding asylum and immigration. This is the first concrete success booked in the negotiations to form a new government since the Belgians went to the polls 120 days ago.
Belgian nationality legislation will be tightened up. Prospective Belgians will have to speak at least one of the country's languages and candidates must be able to prove residence of at least 5 years continuously.

The accord recognises the need for economic immigration. A kind of 'green card' system is to be implemented. If certain job vacancies cannot be filled by Belgian or other EU member state citizens, a green card will be issued to non-EU citizens.

The accord also stipulates stricter regulations regarding immigrant family reunification. Relatives will only be allowed to join an immigrant living in Belgium if the immigrant in question has a paying job here.
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Requests for asylum must be processed quicker and the extradition policy strictly followed.

Finally we have hope that Belgium will get immigration laws similar to other developed countries. With some luck in 5 years they might even think of enforcing passport checks at Brussels Airport ! That would be a first for me. Be there dozens of times coming from flights from outside the EU and I have never been asked for my passport nor seen anyone else being checked.

At present, it is not required to speak any of the country's official languages nor to have lived in the country for 5 years to obtain Belgian nationality. Anyone married to a Belgian can become Belgian after 6 months of marriage, even if they have never set foot in Belgium.

Under the family reunification law, sponsors of new immigrants do not need to demonstrate their ability to financially support migrant family members, nor have a job at all.

Asylum seekers are allowed to stay for years in the country before a decision is finally taken on their status. Usually, after that period, even if they are told to leave, they are granted amnesty for already being adapted to the Belgian lifestyle (esp. families with children).

So, the coming changes will be radical for Belgium, although it would only line up with the regulations of most English-speaking countries, and indeed most European countries as well.