The Flemish Greens expects State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor to make “sustained efforts” to create additional reception places.
The decision by State Secretary de Moor (CD&V) to stop accommodating single men in the Fedasil network has been stirring up tempers for some time, including in the Belgian Government.
The Greens parties (Ecolo and Groen), who are in the ruling coalition, have not taken the decision lightly, speaking of a violation of the rule of law and international conventions. Green co-chair Jeremie Vaneeckhout is a staunch critic: "Surely the rule of law and international treaties should be the bottom line for any party in our society."
The fact that 2,000 extra places are being created is a good thing, according to Vaneeckhout. But it should not stop there. “The secretary of state must not resign herself to the shortage of places,” Vaneeckhout said. He expects “permanent efforts” from the CD&V secretary of state.
Groen's Jeremie Vaneeckhout pictured during a plenary session of the Flemish Parliament in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
But what if those extra efforts and extra places do not materialise? Vaneeckhout acknowledges that his party is somewhat twisted in the debate. “International law is our core business. And so we do a constant balancing act,” he continued.
Co-leader Jeremie Vaneeckhout said that he wants to “permanently consider” whether his party has sufficient impact within the Federal Government, particularly on the asylum and migration issue. For instance, the party constantly asks itself whether it should say stay in government.
