Brussels Reception Crisis: 700 More Places Cut Under Deal

Belgium’s Federal Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) announced on Thursday the elimination of 700 additional reception places under the “Brussels Deal,” slashing the program’s capacity by half in just over two weeks. The decision has drawn sharp condemnation from Brussels regional ministers, who warn it will leave hundreds of people — including children — on the streets during a summer heatwave.

What Is the Brussels Deal?

The Brussels Deal is a 2022 agreement between the Belgian federal government and the Brussels-Capital Region, established under the previous Vivaldi coalition government. It allocates €42 million annually to fund 2,000 reception places for asylum seekers, addressing the chronic saturation of Fedasil, the federal agency responsible for asylum seeker reception. The deal was created because Brussels disproportionately bore the burden of the national reception crisis.

The Cuts: A Rapid Reduction

On June 30, Van Bossuyt announced the elimination of 300 places. Thursday’s decision to cut 700 more brings the total reduction to 1,000 places in just over two weeks, leaving the Brussels Deal with approximately 1,000 reception spots — a 50% reduction. According to RTBF, the minister hopes to end the Brussels Deal entirely by the end of 2026.

Van Bossuyt justified the cuts by pointing to a shrinking waiting list, which has fallen from over 4,000 to approximately 1,000 people — mostly single men. “Through our policy, we are systematically bringing order to the asylum chaos created by the Vivaldi government,” she said. “Taxpayers’ money can only be spent once. If there are only about 1,000 people left on the waiting list, I am not going to continue financing 2,000 places.”

Fierce Backlash from Brussels Officials

Brussels Minister of Social Action Ahmed Laaouej (PS) called the announcement “totally irresponsible and inhumane,” warning it “will throw hundreds of people onto the street, including children, in the middle of a heatwave.” He described the decision as “an all-out attack against Brussels.”

Brussels Finance Minister Dirk De Smedt (Anders) said the decision “will lead to a social drama.” He accused Van Bossuyt of presenting “a fait accompli, while knowing perfectly well that we will not be able to solve this problem quickly and that people will end up on the street.” De Smedt further alleged that the minister “plays with statistics” by regularly changing registration conditions for the waiting list to make it appear smaller.

The MENA Center Closure

Compounding the crisis, the Amran center in Brussels — a specialized facility for unaccompanied foreign minors (MENA) run by BelRefugees — is set to close by August 1, resulting in 21 job losses. This closure comes despite a nearly 14% increase in disappearances of unaccompanied foreign minors between 2024 and 2025, as reported by RTBF.

Soleyman Laqdim, the General Delegate for Children’s Rights, described the closure as “a miscalculation,” warning that reducing reception capacity for these vulnerable young people pushes them toward criminal networks. “These young people are prey for networks,” echoed Mehdi Kassou, director general of BelRefugees.

Broader Political Context

The cuts are exacerbating long-standing tensions between the federal government — now led by a coalition including the Flemish nationalist N-VA — and the Brussels-Capital Region, which is predominantly French-speaking and has been without a fully functioning government for over 600 days. Critics accuse the N-VA of systematically undermining Brussels. Brussels MP Celia Groothedde (Groen) previously stated that “Van Bossuyt is simply carrying out the N-VA’s strategy of decay toward Brussels.”

Humanitarian and Legal Concerns

The cuts come during a summer heatwave, raising urgent humanitarian concerns. Brussels already faces a severe homelessness crisis, and critics warn that reducing reception places will shift the burden onto already saturated emergency shelters. The situation is further complicated by an April 2026 ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, which condemned Belgium for leaving migrants on the street for months.

What’s Next

Van Bossuyt hopes that all remaining people on the waiting list can be accommodated within the Fedasil network by year-end, allowing her to terminate the Brussels Deal entirely. However, Brussels regional ministers have signaled they will fight the decision, and the Brussels Region reportedly already spends an additional €23 million per year beyond the Brussels Deal to accommodate asylum seekers — costs that may rise further as federal support is withdrawn. The coming weeks will test whether the federal government’s austerity approach can withstand mounting political and humanitarian pressure.