Belgium’s Federal Public Prosecutor Frédéric Van Leeuw has dismissed a criminal complaint filed by four asylum-seeking families against Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt. The families alleged that the minister’s 2025 directive—ending reception-centre accommodation for refugees already recognised in another EU state—amounted to degrading treatment. (brusselstimes.com)
Van Leeuw ruled on 6 February that asylum policy is a collective government decision and that individual criminal liability could not be established. The ruling spares the N-VA politician a potentially lengthy court battle but is unlikely to quell criticism from NGOs, which accuse Belgium of violating EU reception-conditions rules by leaving recognised refugees without shelter.
![Prosecutor drops ‘inhumane treatment’ case against Belgium’s migration minister]()
While the political and legal debates continue, individuals and companies still need practical solutions for stays in Belgium. Online platform VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers step-by-step assistance with Belgian visas, work permits and other travel documents, helping applicants compile compliant files and track submission deadlines efficiently.
The case highlights the legal tightrope Belgium walks as it tries to deter so-called “secondary-movement” asylum seekers while avoiding infringement proceedings from Brussels. In December Belgium recorded its highest number of asylum applications in a decade, and the coalition government is drafting what it calls the “strictest migration law ever,” including higher income thresholds for family reunifications.
For employers sponsoring work-permit or single-permit applications, the decision means current policy—prioritising first-time applicants over recognised refugees—remains intact. Companies should continue to anticipate processing backlogs and advise transferees to secure private housing rather than rely on state accommodation.
Van Leeuw ruled on 6 February that asylum policy is a collective government decision and that individual criminal liability could not be established. The ruling spares the N-VA politician a potentially lengthy court battle but is unlikely to quell criticism from NGOs, which accuse Belgium of violating EU reception-conditions rules by leaving recognised refugees without shelter.
While the political and legal debates continue, individuals and companies still need practical solutions for stays in Belgium. Online platform VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers step-by-step assistance with Belgian visas, work permits and other travel documents, helping applicants compile compliant files and track submission deadlines efficiently.
The case highlights the legal tightrope Belgium walks as it tries to deter so-called “secondary-movement” asylum seekers while avoiding infringement proceedings from Brussels. In December Belgium recorded its highest number of asylum applications in a decade, and the coalition government is drafting what it calls the “strictest migration law ever,” including higher income thresholds for family reunifications.
For employers sponsoring work-permit or single-permit applications, the decision means current policy—prioritising first-time applicants over recognised refugees—remains intact. Companies should continue to anticipate processing backlogs and advise transferees to secure private housing rather than rely on state accommodation.
