It is no longer possible for a number of countries to make great efforts in this reception crisis and for others to do much less. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said this on Saturday at the Open Vld conference in Kinepolis in Brussels about a diverse society. At that congress, the party took the position, among other things, that there should be a mandatory distribution key for refugees at European level.
“We are once again in a reception crisis,” said De Croo on Saturday. “At the peak of the previous reception crisis, 33,000 places were created, today we are on the way to 35,000 places. At a certain point we have to dare to enter into the difficult discussion: how much more must and can we do? That is not an easy discussion.”
The Prime Minister is therefore arguing for more European solidarity. “There is a moment when we as a country have to say: we have done our part. We have discussed solidarity here today, but there must also be solidarity within Europe. It is no longer possible for a number of countries to make great efforts in this reception crisis and for others to do much less. That undermines solidarity. If this is not possible, then the support base in our country is in danger of eroding. That solidarity is not endless and even a bit fragile.”
Mandatory distribution key
On Saturday at the fourth and final congress on ‘Liberal Fire’, the party took the position that there should be a mandatory distribution key for refugees at European level. The Dublin system as it exists today is not working, it said. Instead, the refugees must be screened at the European borders by the European Asylum Agency. Sanctions must be imposed for member states that do not comply with the agreements within the European migration and asylum policy.
In addition, the party also argued at its congress for clear agreements at European and national level with countries of origin. “Trade agreements with those countries, development cooperation and the issuing of visas depend on their willingness to take back their compatriots effectively.”
The prime minister also welcomed the additional statement adopted at Congress on Saturday that we in our country can never tolerate women and children sleeping on the street. “We are working on this day and night with this government,” says De Croo.
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