At the start of the month, the federal government approved a proposition bill from State Secretary Theo Francken (New Flemish Alliance). It would stop some European residents who do not have a criminal record in Belgium entering Belgium, the Sudpresse newspapers reported on Saturday.
The measure would affect 1,670 European prisoners in Belgium. 1,009 are here illegally. The State Secretary said a European directive would allow this: the Netherlands already have something similar in place. The proposition bill has been sent to the State Council and will be approved according to the sources.