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Belgium: Former Yugoslavs sent back

01 May 1995

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The Belgian government has decided to deprive up to 7000 citizens of the former Yugoslavia of their "displaced persons" status. The net effect of this will mean that many who have benefitted from easier access to Belgium will now be facing deportation. The news emerged from a circular sent to all local authorities from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Johan Vande Lanotte, in which he stated that most of the problems in the former Yugoslavia are now over. The circular does exclude Bosnians, Kosovans and Krajinan citizens, but even they will be vulnerable if they have in any way misbehaved or have "threatened public order", or if they have spent a lengthy period of time in a third country. According to government sources the impact on the former Yugoslavs living in Belgium will be relatively limited: "a maximum of thirty percent of ex-Yugoslavs currently resident in Belgium will lose their status and be forced to return home". However Senator Lozie of the Agalev party attacked the new policy claiming that this meant "the end in our country for the policy of accommodating people who have fled from ex-Yugoslavia". De Morgen 5.4.95

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