Belgian authorities will use all legal means to reject asylum applications from migrants who have already been granted international protection in Bulgaria and Greece, reports the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
Belgium’s State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, stated that this decision was based on the fact that Bulgaria and Greece are considered safe countries. Each European Union Member State draws up a list of "safe countries" where individuals fleeing persecution or war are not at risk and whose citizens do not receive protection.
On average, Belgium receives over 450 asylum applications each month from refugees who have already been granted protection by Bulgarian and Greek authorities. According to De Moor, this is unacceptable, as refugees are already adequately protected in these countries.
The primary reason for these applicants seeking asylum in Belgium is the higher benefits offered in the country. From now on, Belgian authorities intend to appeal applications submitted by individuals who have already obtained refugee status in other EU countries. To date, half of these applications have been approved, with the argument that the assistance available in other European countries is "insufficient."
