Several measures concerning Belgium's asylum and migration policy were given the green light at first reading by the House of Representatives' Internal Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Two bills were introduced by Asylum Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA). They aim to speed up procedures and relieve pressure on reception facilities.
The measures will only apply to new applications submitted after they come into force. A second reading will take place within a few weeks before the bills pass through the plenary Chamber.
One of the proposed measures includes treating an application that has already been fully examined and decided upon in another EU Member State as a "subsequent" application. This means that the new examination may be limited to new elements that could justify international protection.
The second bill provides for a restriction on reception when an asylum seeker already has protection in a Member State of the European Union and when a foreign minor submits an application himself, even though an application has already been submitted on his behalf by his parents and a final decision has been taken on the matter.
The text also removes the existing links between material assistance and financial assistance. As a result, the asylum reception agency, Fedasil, will now be solely responsible for assisting asylum seekers, and only in the form of material assistance. New asylum seekers will no longer be eligible for social assistance from the Belgian social welfare centres (CPAS).
A bill dealing with family reunification was also due to be examined. This has been postponed pending the publication of the opinion of the Data Protection Authority (APD), which is required before discussions can begin.
