The Federal Migration Centre (Myria) warns about the risks of new family reunification rules which were approved as part of the government’s crisis measure package.
The organisation made the following observations:
- The financial requirement in Belgium is assessed to be already well above the requirement stated in the Family Reunification Directive. Currently, the resources need to be equivalent of 120% of the social integration income (approximately 2,131 euro). The new measures would increase this to 110% of the guaranteed monthly minimum income.
- The reduced period for more favourable conditions for submitting a family reunification request by refugees may risk that refugees will still not be able to fulfil all the administrative steps before the new 6-month period. Myria suggests that such a reduction in time should be accompanied by compensatory measures, for example, obligation to inform refugees about the family reunification procedure immediately upon recognition, possibility to submit applications remotely or from Belgium.
- Myria also underlined that the humanitarian protection needs are the same for refugees and for persons with subsidiary protection. Therefore, it expressed its regret about the waiting time introduced for this latter group, and about the fact that beneficiaries of subsidiary protection cannot benefit from more favourable conditions in the same way, as refugees.
The Federal Migration Centre (Myria) warns about the risks of new family reunification rules
Source
- Myria – Federal Migration Centre | Myria – Centre fédéral Migration | Myria – Federaal Migratiecentrum (29 April, 2025), [Communiqué de presse] L’accord de Pâques porte atteinte au droit de vivre en famille des étrangers [[Press release] The Easter Agreement undermines the right of foreigners to live with their families],