Most Belgians are in favour of a more humane approach to migration, according to the results of a large survey by Belgian NGO, 11.11.11.
The NGO highlights that, despite the tsunami of messages about keeping out asylum seekers spreading on social and popular media, Belgian support for the regularisation of people without legal residence and getting them out of illegality is increasing.
These findings were part of the annual 'Barometer of International Solidarity 2023', an online survey of more than 1,500 adult Belgians.
In 2021, hundreds of undocumented migrants went on hunger strike in Brussels to demand collective regularisation, a situation which moved many citizens to voice their opposition against their treatment.
Two years later, more than half (58%) responded that they are in favour of "the regularisation and granting of a work permit to undocumented migrants who have lived in Belgium for at least five years and have been able to prove their integration," compared to 21% opponents.
Undocumented migrants on hunger strike. Credit: Belga
Finding an end to the two-year-long reception crisis, which would force local governments to accommodate asylum seekers and protect refugees, was found to be important focal point for improving solidarity in the survey.
Humane approach
The majority of Belgians also support a reform of the EU asylum and migration policy with a greater respect for human rights.
Over half noted that they are in favour of the opening of safe and legal migration channels based on objective and transparent criteria, but this share has decreased from 66% in 2021 and 2022.
More people also want to revise the Dublin Regulation and distribute asylum seekers fairly between Member States.
The increased support for this could be explained by the fact that this has been a key focus point in State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor's stance on migration.
The majority of Belgians continue to support temporary protection measures for Ukrainian refugees, but at the same time, an increasing number of people think that all asylum seekers fleeing war or persecution, regardless of their country of origin, should be granted the same conditions as Ukrainian refugees.
"So, Belgians are not necessarily against a human rights-based asylum and immigration policy, but they want policies based on objective, transparent and fair criteria," the organisation noted in a statement.
The MSF team rescues people from a rubber boat in distress. Credit: Anna Pantelia/MSF
The findings also reconcile with research carried out by Refugee Council Flanders (Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen), that there is a "large group of people who are more silent on the matter", and find themselves in the middle of the debate with no strong opinion for or against migration.
"On either end, you have the extremes – the progressive side and the conservative side – and the latter often have the loudest voices, but they are certainly not representative of how most people think about migration," Thomas Willekens of Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen told The Brussels Times.
"I think if you ask people whether they are in favour of a more humane and just migration policy, more people than you would expect will say yes because they also see those shocking images of what happens at the borders and the misery that the current policy brings. The right-wing rhetorics only represent a small minority of the population, and this poll shows that once again."
Climate justice
The fight against climate injustice is also at the heart of the campaign. Almost three in four want to phase out fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower, while barely 9% oppose this. Belgians are also strongly in favour of phasing out fossil subsidies, which amount to at least €13 billion in the country.
This highlights that Belgians expect a lot more responsibility from politicians on climate policy. "They want ministers to show up for climate negotiations, stop fossil subsidies and be transparent about their contacts with lobbyists from these sectors," 11.11.11 Director Els Hertogen said.
Furthermore, 80% support a tax on large assets over €1 million. Almost three in four respondents also support the introduction of a global minimum tax on corporate profits.
