Belgian politician calls for Spain's partial Schengen suspension over migrant crisis

Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of Belgium's MR party, has called for Spain's partial suspension from the Schengen Area, citing the country's handling of a migrant crisis at Ceuta. Thousands of African migrants have attempted to cross into Spain in recent days, with at least 67 reported dead.

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With a massive regularization procedure, Spain perfectly illustrates what a pull effect is. The more permissive a country is with immigration, the more illegal immigration there will be.

Bouchez accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his socialist government of turning Spain into a gateway for criminal organizations. He argued that permissive immigration policies create a "pull effect," leading to increased illegal immigration. "Sánchez is thus endangering Europe, as we know that illegal immigration is now easy labor for major crime, such as drug trafficking," Bouchez stated on social media, denouncing the government's "irresponsible" management. He noted that 43% of Belgian inmates are not Belgian nationals, many of whom are in the country illegally.

The MR president advocated for stricter migration conditions, not a complete border closure. "We must do our fair share, but certainly not bear all the world's burdens," he said. He proposed targeted controls for individuals arriving from Spain, leading to a partial suspension of Spain's Schengen membership concerning personal movement. Bouchez believes that the "incompetence of the Sánchez government must not drag Europe down with it."

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Sánchez is thus endangering Europe, as we know that illegal immigration is now easy labor for major crime, such as drug trafficking.

Bouchez pointed to Denmark's decade-long migration policy, which he claims has reduced asylum applications and the number of migrants in the country. "I am not afraid to say that I do not want people in an irregular situation to swell the ranks of those present, for example, around our train stations. Belgium already has 150,000 undocumented individuals in its territory," he tweeted. "Our duty of solidarity must continue, but it must never make us give up our obligation to protect our social cohesion and the interests of our country and its inhabitants."

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We must do our fair share, but certainly not bear all the world's burdens.

However, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot of Les Engagés has opposed the idea, stating that a temporary exclusion of Spain from Schengen would not be a solution and would deprive all Spaniards of their freedom of movement.

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In the immediate term, the MR demands that targeted checks be reinstated for people coming from Spain, leading to a partial suspension of Spain from Schengen concerning the part relating to people.