Schengen limits tighten as Belgium introduces border checks to curb migration

Belgium will begin border checks this summer to curb illegal migration and prevent asylum seekers from entering the country after being turned away elsewhere in Europe. The move marks a shift away from the open-border policy of the Schengen zone and adds to a growing trend of migration restrictions across the continent.

The checks will target key entry points, including motorway rest areas, bus routes, specific train lines, and intra-Schengen flights from countries facing high migration pressure, such as Greece and Italy. A spokesperson for Belgium’s junior minister for migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, confirmed the plan on Friday.

“Time for entry controls. Belgium must not be a magnet for those stopped elsewhere. Our message is clear: Belgium will no longer tolerate illegal migration and asylum shopping,” Van Bossuyt posted on X.

The announcement follows similar actions by Germany and the Netherlands and comes amid rising concern over migration levels, despite recent declines in arrivals on some major routes.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who took office in February, has made controlling migration a key priority for his government, which leans to the right politically.

Belgium, a member of the 29-country Schengen zone, is allowed to temporarily reinstate internal border checks under Article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code in response to security or migration pressures.

While the Belgian Immigration Office did not provide updated figures on illegal entries, it cited the lack of systematic border checks as a barrier to accurate tracking. In 2024, Belgium received 39,615 asylum applications, up 11.6% from 2023. However, the country’s reception system only had space for 35,600 people, leaving many without shelter.

(With inputs from Reuters)