Migration minister Van Bossuyt signs readmission agreement with Suriname

Belgium’s asylum and migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt has signed an agreement with Suriname, in which the South American country commits to cooperate more actively in the readmission of compatriots residing illegally in Belgium. In exchange, Surinamese diplomats and officials can travel visa-free to Belgium.

The two agreements with Suriname apply not only to Belgium, but to the entire Benelux region. Dutch and Luxembourg representatives also signed them, as did Suriname's foreign minister. It was the Belgians who led the negotiations.

The readmission agreement commits the South American country to speed up identification procedures and cooperating in the smooth return of Surinamese residing illegally in Belgium

The number of Surinamese who received an order to leave the Belgian territory rose from 155 to 249 last year. In total, about 2,200 Surinamese are living legally in Belgium. The main reasons for which Surinamese are ordered to leave the country is because their term has expired after a work visa or after unsuccessful family reunification.

The readmission agreement commits the South American country to speed up identification procedures and cooperating in the smooth return of Surinamese residing illegally in Belgium. Minister Van Bossuyt also underlined the importance of information sessions given both in Suriname and here. These should eliminate misunderstandings, such as that submitting an application immediately equals a green light for legal residence.

There is also a pilot project on healthcare in the pipeline with Suriname, the so-called skills mobility partnership. As part of the partnership, institutions in Belgium would finance healthcare training in Suriname and Surinamese people could come and work in Belgium for a specific period.

 

Belgium’s asylum and migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK


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