Belgium will introduce new border checks this summer as part of a sweeping effort to clamp down on illegal migration, the government announced on Friday.
The move marks another restriction on free movement within Europe’s Schengen zone, following similar actions by neighbouring countries.
The new measures will target people entering Belgium through its borders with the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, and Germany. According to a spokesperson for Anneleen Van Bossuyt, the junior minister for migration, the decision reflects growing concerns over the country becoming a preferred destination for those denied entry elsewhere in Europe.
“Time for entry controls. Belgium must not be a magnet for those stopped elsewhere,” Van Bossuyt stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our message is clear: Belgium will no longer tolerate illegal migration and asylum shopping.”
The Belgian government said the checks will be “targeted” and carried out at motorway rest stops, on buses, trains, and on intra-Schengen flights from countries experiencing high migration pressure, such as Greece and Italy.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who assumed office in February, has made migration control a top priority for his right-leaning government. Under Article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code, member states are permitted to temporarily reintroduce border controls in response to serious threats or migration pressures.
Belgium, one of Europe’s wealthiest nations, received 39,615 asylum applications in 2024 — an increase of 11.6% from the previous year, according to the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers. The country had the capacity to host 35,600 asylum seekers, leaving many recent arrivals without proper shelter.
A spokesperson for the Belgian Immigration Office said the current lack of systematic checks makes it difficult to accurately measure the scale of illegal immigration, further justifying the need for tougher border monitoring.
The announcement adds to a growing trend across Europe, where governments are tightening immigration policies despite a reported decline in irregular arrivals along several key migration routes.
Melissa Enoch
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