The Netherlands is preparing for border controls with Belgium, a measure that will come into effect from December 9 and, according to Dutch Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber (PVV), is intended to tackle "irregular migration and migrant smuggling".
The temporary arrangement, which is expected to last six months, follows an earlier decision by the government to impose extra surveillance on cross-border traffic. However, the measure has caused controversy in Belgium's southern neighbours, where Belgian mayors have expressed concerns about the impact of these checks on both daily life and the economy.
Faber stressed that the checks are carried out in such a way that “commuters and economic traffic are hindered as little as possible”. How exactly this hindrance is limited, however, remains unclear. The minister did state that there is close contact with the border regions to ensure that the implementation runs as smoothly as possible, without giving any specific details. This lack of clarity is causing tension among the Belgian municipalities near the Dutch border, where there are fears that the checks will mainly cause hindrance and delays.
no additional financing
To ensure the border controls run smoothly, the Royal Marechaussee, a military organisation with police tasks that carries out border surveillance, is deployed. It is striking that no additional funding or personnel are being made available for this expansion of activities. Faber stated that the number of controls will be “gradually built up”, depending on the available capacity of the Marechaussee. This means that the current personnel structure will have to be shifted to implement the measures, which raises questions among some critics about the effectiveness and sustainability of the operation.
Belgian mayors in border municipalities have meanwhile expressed their concerns about the potential consequences of this new measure. Mayor Marc Vrancken of the Belgian border town of Maasmechelen expressed the concern: “We understand the concerns about migration, but these border controls do not tackle the root cause of the problem. They will mainly cause inconvenience.” Vrancken fears that the controls will cause many practical problems, such as delays for commuters and cross-border workers who travel between Belgium and the Netherlands every day. He also sees risks for the local economy, as freight transport and trade via the border regions are essential for both Belgian and Dutch companies.
no position
The Belgian government, often 'under construction', has not yet taken an official position, but in the political arena there are voices of indignation and concern about the unilateral nature of the measure. Although the Netherlands is seeking contact with the border regions, it remains unclear whether there is also coordination at the Belgian government level to ensure that the checks run smoothly and to reduce potential tensions.
However, Faber continues to support the measures, stressing that these checks are a necessary step in tackling what she calls a “structural problem” in irregular migration. She hopes that the gradual introduction will strike a balance between security and traffic flow, but acknowledges that resources are limited.
How the border controls will ultimately work out remains uncertain for the time being. The coming months will have to show to what extent these controls actually contribute to combating irregular migration and smuggling, or whether the Belgian mayors are right in their fear that the measure will cause more problems than it solves.
