How much is Belgian citizenship worth? With one of the best passports for unimpeded travel, there is certainly an advantage to possessing this document. And Belgium's social security, healthcare, and general quality of life are all enviable – especially when compared to less developed nations.
The value of being Belgian increases greatly for those whose countries of origin don't have the same protections and rights. Even for those of us who enjoyed a comparable living standard before moving here, being an EU national so conveniently located on the Old Continent makes it an attractive status to obtain.
The promise of securing one's Belgian identity for good, not on condition of a temporary permit or employment status, motivates many people to commit to a number of years working and paying into the system.
It is not an easy process. Setting up in Belgium presents many administrative hurdles that multiply for third-country nationals. The steps one must complete on the way often seem designed to be difficult, in the worst cases arbitrary. When you do get to the point that you finally are eligible to apply for citizenship, formalities that on paper should be straightforward in reality can pose new challenges. The lack of coordination between local and national organisations can tangle you in legal loops akin to Catch-22.
Things could get harder still if the Flemish right-wing N-VA has its way. The party has proposed raising the fee for said process from €150 to €5,000 – making Belgian citizenship that much more exclusive, elusive even. N-VA argues this would partially offset the "high cost of migration", but given the party's hardline stance on immigration, one suspects other motives influence this initiative.
Belgium minted 55,000 new nationals through this process last year. Had each of these paid €5,000 the State would have made €275 million. This is undeniably a huge amount – more than half the annual budget for the national asylum reception body Fedasil. Though N-VA's proposal seems primarily designed to reduce migration numbers rather than make a profit from it. Besides, if cost saving was the main aim, there are certainly some efficiency gains that could be found in the long-winded process.
Then again, if you have made your life here and wish to make your identity as a Belgian official, what price would you be willing to pay?
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1. N-VA wants to raise cost of Belgian citizenship to €5,000: What does it mean?
N-VA MP Theo Francken believes that Belgian nationality is not just a piece of paper, but a "precious asset" and an "honour" that cannot be obtained for free. Read more.
2. Unions vow to take Audi Brussels to court over ‘locked out’ factory staff
A meeting between management and unions on Wednesday yielded little progress – but MPs will visit Audi Brussels site next week. Read more.
3. Brussels unemployment rate rises to 15.2% in August
The biggest unemployment increases have been among young people. Read more.
4. All flights cancelled at Charleroi Airport due to 24-hour strike
The disruptions due to the strike are worse than expected following a blockade on the runway: no flights will land or depart today. Read more.
5. Harvests in Belgium set to be ‘catastrophic’ for second year running
Potato crops have been highlighted as "dramatic", not least because they tend to yield good returns. Read more.
6. September already 12th consecutive month with above-average rainfall in Belgium
A phenomenon unseen since 1833 – when observations of the Royal Meteorological Institute in Uccle began. Read more.
7. Over 900 drivers’ licences suspended for cell phone use in West Flanders
Some 936 motorists caught using mobile phones while driving have had their licences suspended in West Flanders since 1 June. Read more.
