AIDA Report on Belgium analyses legislative changes introducing an effective remedy for asylum seekers from ‘safe countries’ and subsequent applicants

13th June 2014 | News

13 June 2014 The updated AIDA report on Belgium, compiled by ECRE member organisation Belgian Refugee Council, highlights the recent changes to the appeal procedures in asylum cases contained in the Aliens Act. The amending law, which entered into force on 1 June,...

European Migration Network publishes comparative study on reception facilities for asylum seekers in 24 countries

14th February 2014 | News

14 February 2014 A new comparative report by the European Migration Network reveals that the organisation of reception facilities for asylum seekers differs greatly between Member States and also within some Member States at sub-state level. In some cases, asylum...

Belgium: The Constitutional Court reinstates right to an effective remedy for asylum seekers from “safe countries of origin”

17th January 2014 | News

17 January 2014 On 16 January, the Belgian Constitutional Court partially annulled Belgian asylum law, in the context of an appeal brought by an alliance of Belgian refugee and human rights organisations – among others the Flemish Refugee Action, Ligue des Droits de...

ECRE Interview with Azzam, 23-year old Syrian refugee living in Belgium

13th December 2013 | News

Azzam’s younger brother transited Greece when fleeing Syria. The Belgian authorities examined his application and granted him asylum. Azzam’s older brother arrived in Belgium after traveling through Italy. They still don’t know if they will be allowed to stay together...

UN Committee against Torture criticises Belgium’s detention of asylum seekers in ‘Dublin’ procedures

2nd December 2013 | News

In its Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Belgium published this week, the Committee Against Torture (CAT) acknowledged Belgium’s efforts to improve the situation for asylum seekers and refugees since the last report, but expressed concern regarding the...