Belgium Plans Border Checks Amid Schengen Migration Controls

Belgium announced it will reinstate targeted border controls this summer to combat illegal migration and asylum shopping, joining other Schengen countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands that have already tightened border policies. The checks will focus on major access points such as motorway rest stops, international bus routes, select trains including Brussels-South, and intra-Schengen flights from countries with high migration pressure like Greece and Italy. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt emphasized that these measures aim to prevent Belgium from becoming a magnet for migrants rejected elsewhere and to enhance national security by tackling crime and irregular migration flows. While the policy targets specific checkpoints rather than systematic border inspections, it marks a significant shift away from the Schengen agreement’s principle of free movement. The move has been criticized by opposition parties, including the Green party, for potentially causing public anxiety and traffic disruptions. Belgium’s decision comes amid rising asylum applications that have exceeded the country’s reception capacity, underscoring the pressure on the government to address migration challenges.