Belgium Advocates for EU-Wide Aid and Visa Leverage in Migrant Returns Policy

Belgium Calls for Stronger EU Migration Policy

Belgium has called for the European Union to adopt a policy that leverages development aid and visa regulations to facilitate the return of migrants to their countries of origin. Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Belgium's Minister for Migration and Asylum, articulated this position in recent statements, emphasizing the need for a more effective EU-wide approach to migration management.

Minister Van Bossuyt stated on January 8, 2026, that the EU should utilize its influence by making development aid and support conditional on third countries' cooperation with migrant returns. She also suggested that visa policies, including aspects like costs, processing, and access, could be used as a tool to encourage such cooperation. Belgium is already implementing a 'whole-of-government approach' domestically, where development aid is tied to the willingness of countries of origin to take back their nationals.

Context and Rationale Behind the Proposal

The Belgian minister highlighted that only about one in five individuals ordered to leave the EU actually return to their home countries. In Belgium alone, over 110,000 people are estimated to be living without residence permits. This situation, according to Van Bossuyt, underscores the necessity for stricter return policies and greater leverage at the European level. The current Belgian government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, has committed to implementing what has been described as the 'strictest possible migration policy' in the country's history.

Van Bossuyt expressed confidence that an EU-level implementation of this strategy would provide significantly more leverage over countries of origin. She noted a growing 'political appetite' for such measures among her European counterparts, indicating a shift in sentiment across the bloc.

Broader EU Discussions and Concerns

The concept of linking development aid to migration cooperation is not new within EU discourse. It has been a recurring theme in Brussels for several years, signaling a move away from unconditional development assistance. Discussions for the EU's next seven-year budget, the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), include proposals to explicitly or implicitly tie development aid to cooperation on the return of failed asylum seekers. Furthermore, the new 'Pact on Migration and Asylum,' slated for application from mid-2026, also places a strong emphasis on returns and readmissions.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism. Organizations like Amnesty International have warned that such an approach could undermine development goals and compromise the EU's credibility as a partner. Olivia Sundberg, EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum at Amnesty International, was quoted as saying that this 'short-termist policy reflects the EU's growing fixation on increasing returns at any cost and will undermine the effectiveness of EU development objectives.' Despite these concerns, the European Parliament's Committee on Development (DEVE) is also debating a report that supports using development aid to encourage migration control cooperation by non-EU states.

Conclusion

Belgium's push for a more conditional approach to development aid and visa policies underscores a growing determination within some EU member states to enhance the effectiveness of migrant return policies. The debate surrounding this proposal highlights the complex balance between migration management, development cooperation, and human rights within the European Union's external relations.