The Chamber of Representatives adopts the draft law allowing Frontex to support the Federal Police
On 2 May 2024, the Chamber of Representatives adopted in plenary session the draft law relating to the competencies of the members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on the national territory. The law inter alia defines how Frontex members will support the Federal Police in the field of border controls and forced return of foreigners.
On 29 March 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a preliminary draft law relating to the competencies of the members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on the national territory. According to the text, Frontex members would eventually be able to be deployed at airports, seaports, the Brussels South train station and the Eurostar tunnel and would be responsible for border controls. The draft law also laid the legal basis for using Frontex employees as escorts to carry out the forced return of foreigners.
On 2 May 2024, the draft law was put to a vote in the Chamber of Representatives, receiving 68 votes for, 11 votes against, and 44 abstentions. Accordingly, the draft law was passed and will be subject to royal assent.
The text has been criticised by the Ciré and other organisations including the Human Rights League, the FGTB and CSC unions, the BelRefugees platform, the CNCD-11.11.11 and Amnesty International Belgium. In a press release, the signatories pointed out the risk of deploying, on Belgian territory, an agency “accused of illegal acts and inhuman treatment”. “The risk of impunity in the event of violations of fundamental rights is high,” the associations warned. For further information about this opposition, please read for example the press release in The Brussels Times.