Belgium has emerged as the leading EU country for Palestinian asylum seekers, surpassing Greece. According to the General Commission for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS),
Palestinians have been the largest group of asylum seekers in Belgium since March.
In June, 301 Palestinians sought asylum in Belgium. This trend began in March with 417 applications, making Palestinians the most significant group of asylum seekers in the country. From January to June, 2,506 Palestinians applied for asylum in Belgium, compared to 3,249 applications in the entire year of 2023. Greece, which saw 6,713 Palestinian asylum applications last year, received 1,106 applications in the first five months of this year, while Belgium had 2,167.
The reasons for the migration of Palestinians to Belgium remain unclear. CGRS spokesperson Olivier Brasseur stated, "We just don't know." He noted that about 90 percent of these asylum seekers come from Gaza. Additionally, around half of the Palestinian asylum seekers have already been granted international protection in another EU country, adding pressure on Belgium's asylum services. "A person with a status in another EU country will be rejected in principle. We are obliged to invite them for an interview," Brasseur explained.
The acceptance rate for asylum seekers in Belgium was 89 percent in the first half of this year, a significant increase from 58 percent in 2022.
In addition to Palestinians, Syrians (285) and Eritreans (224) are the next largest groups seeking asylum in Belgium. Eritrea is known for having one of the most repressive regimes globally, according to Human Rights Watch, while Syria has been embroiled in civil war since 2011.
Afghans, previously among the top three, saw a decline with only 125 initial applications. "The protection rate for Afghans has dropped. Many Afghans are still recognized as refugees, but our country no longer grants subsidiary protection status to Afghans.
This is a special status for people from a region of intense war," said Brasseur. Following the Taliban's violent takeover of Afghanistan in 2022, the situation has de-escalated, according to CGRS. "However, certain profiles at risk of persecution, such as women or ex-soldiers who collaborated with the West, are granted refugee status," Brasseur added. Photo by Mstyslav Chernov, Wikimedia commons.