Expulsions via Charleroi: Jambon and Crucke initiate working meetings

Expulsions via Charleroi: Jambon and Crucke initiate working meetings

Federal Minister Jan Jambon and Walloon Minister Jean-Luc Crucke agreed Monday, during a meeting at the former’s cabinet in Brussels, that their offices would initiate working meetings to examine the request put forth by Secretary of State Theo Francken to proceed to carry out expulsions from Charleroi Airport. The involved cabinets will meet at the airport next week in order to examine in which way they can meet the expectations and start working.

On Friday, Minister Crucke (MR) had contradicted the Secretary of State N-VA, in charge of Asylum and Immigration, who had mentioned on Twitter statistics of “deportation’’ from Charleroi Airport, when there is no convention to regulate it.

A battle of words resulted, at the end of which the two ministers clarified what was already being done at the regional airport, from removals (turning back at borders and unescorted returns) to a few forced escorted returns that took place in Charleroi but were registered at the Zaventem Airport (11 during these last two years).

“It is not a matter of principle, but a way of presenting things; the attempt was made to force this on us,’’ commented Monday the MR Minister’s entourage, who affirmed its intention to examine “how to meet the expectations.’’

Mr. Crucke took advantage therefore of a long-planned meeting with Mr. Jambon (N-VA) to launch a work which the involved cabinets will pursue next week, during a visit to airport authorities, the precise date of which not being known yet.


The Brussels Times


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