12 Minutes With - The Europe Interview Belgian Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt | Belgium 'no longer land of milk and honey'
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Jan 9, 2026 Belgian Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt discusses her role in implementing strict asylum and migration policies in Belgium. She reveals the staggering €1 billion annual cost of asylum applications and the need for a whole-of-government approach to returns. Van Bossuyt also highlights efforts to negotiate a deal with the Taliban for Afghan returns and the potential for sending foreign prisoners abroad. She emphasizes the EU Migration Pact's success hinges on member states' cooperation and shared responsibilities.
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Secondary Migration Drives The Crisis
- Belgium received 40,000 asylum applications in 2024, with about 15,000 being secondary migrants who had already applied elsewhere.
- Anneleen Van Bossuyt argues this secondary flow and costs (around €1bn/year) made previous policies unsustainable.
Tighten Reception And Reunification Rules
- Do stop reception for people who already have protection in another EU member state to discourage secondary movement.
- Also raise family reunification income thresholds to reduce pull factors, Van Bossuyt says.
Why Some Asylum Families End Up Rough Sleeping
- Van Bossuyt says families reported as sleeping rough often already hold protection in another country and refuse offered return-centre reception.
- She claims no one with a legal right to reception currently has to sleep on the streets in Belgium.