A new poll released this week shows where the Virginia election stands as Virginians begin to cast their ballots.
Day: September 19, 2025
Two federal watchdogs have accused the Belgian government of deliberately undermining asylum seekers’ rights, warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis., reports 24brussels.
The Federal Institute for the Protection of Human Rights (FIRM) and the migration centre Myria stated on Thursday that Belgium has failed to enhance its reception system since their last critical report a year ago. They contend that new policies are likely to further compromise fundamental rights.
The organizations cite thousands of unexecuted court orders, including over 15,000 national and 2,300 European rulings since 2022 that obligate the state to provide shelter. As of September 2025, unpaid fines related to these orders amounted to 10.7 million euros. They assert that the authorities are “knowingly accepting an inhuman and degrading situation, unworthy of a state governed by the rule of law.”
”Belgian authorities are knowingly accepting an inhuman and degrading situation, unworthy of a state governed by the rule of law”
This crisis is evident in the statistics: as of September 8, more than 1,900 asylum seekers were still awaiting a reception place. Legally entitled to accommodation from their first day, these individuals are currently facing delays averaging three to four months. Many are compelled to rely on friends, humanitarian shelters, squats, or even living on the streets.
Rather than increasing capacity, the federal government has announced significant budget cuts. By 2029, Fedasil’s budget is set to be slashed by 83%, with reception capacity expected to decrease, the cessation of financial allowances as an alternative to housing, and a controversial move of reception disputes from labor courts to the Council for Alien Law Litigation, a reform critics argue could jeopardize fair trial guarantees.
In 2023, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Belgium in the Camara judgment, citing a “systemic failure” to execute a domestic ruling concerning the housing of an asylum seeker.
The latest warnings align with concerns from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, which acknowledged some improvements through expedited case handling and enhanced cooperation with the European Union Asylum Agency. However, it still views the overall situation as precarious, with a continued decrease in reception places since late 2024, a high volume of asylum applications, and budget cuts posing significant risks.