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Belgium: Polish-Belgian treaty creates asylum wall

01 January 1997

Belgian Home Affairs minister Johan Vandelanotte has signed a treaty with Poland that aims to prevent asylum seekers from entering Belgium via Poland. The treaty, which encourages cooperation between the Belgian and Polish police forces and immigration services, is one of several that are due to be signed between EU countries and central and eastern European countries with the eventual aim of creating an "asylum wall" across eastern Europe.

The treaty is designed to prevent Poland acting as an entry gate into the EU. At present many asylum seekers from the former Soviet Union, Asia, Africa and the Middle East do not need visas to enter Poland and therefore use Poland as a transit country for entry into the EU. Following the signing of the treaty Poland aims to extend the number of countries that require visas.

Another perceived problem with Poland is that its eastern frontier is regarded by EU countries as being very "open". Following the signing of this latest treaty Poland will now aim to guard its frontiers, aided by the EU. Other aspects of the treaty include greater Belgian-Polish cooperation against people who smuggle in asylum seekers.

Poland's bid to join the EU is widely regarded as being dependent on its ability to keep asylum seekers and other immigrants out of the EU. Chris De Stoop, a journalist who recently wrote a book critical of Europe's asylum policies ("Haal de Was Maar Binnen", see Statewatch, vol 6 no 1) criticised the treaty claiming that such treaties reveal the long-term aim to be the creation of a "fortress Europe", excluding asylum seekers together with other immigrants.

De Standaard, 12.11.96