The federal police have strongly denied ordering any relaxation of border controls at Zaventem Airport.
According to the ACV Politie (CSC Police) union, a memo was circulated among relevant staff suggesting a reduction in checks during high passenger inflow at non-Schengen borders.
This memo, reported by Het Nieuwsblad, allegedly urged airport police staff to apply Article 9 of the Schengen Borders Code “insistently” when necessary, or even as a precaution. This article allows border checks to be relaxed under “exceptional and unforeseen circumstances.”
The federal police stated to Belga that this “so-called internal memo” did not originate from the director of aeronautical police or the management team. “It was neither authorised nor supported by the hierarchy. We are investigating internally to determine the source of this misinformation.”
The federal police highlighted that they strictly adhere to the legal framework, which they have recently reinforced with their border control officers, according to their press service.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior Bernard Quintin’s office confirmed having instructed the police to conduct thorough border checks to identify passengers entering the country for security and to combat illegal immigration. Concerning the lengthy queues at checkpoints, the office promised to present a plan early next week to bolster teams and reduce waiting times.
The far-right party Vlaams Belang expressed alarm over the memo on Friday evening. The ACV Politie (CSC Police) union secretary confirmed its existence on Saturday morning.
