Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA), will visit Moldova on Sunday as part of a campaign aimed at reducing the number of asylum

applications from the country, which have increased significantly since 2020.

The rise in applications, mostly from economically vulnerable Roma communities, is seen as seasonal, with many arriving in winter to escape harsh conditions and high energy costs, worsened by the war in Ukraine. Most applicants reportedly seek temporary shelter in Belgian reception centres before returning home in spring.

Van Bossuyt noted that Moldova is considered a safe country of origin, meaning most asylum requests from its citizens are unlikely to be approved. “Belgium cannot be a place where people settle during winter to take advantage of an already overstretched asylum system,” she said. “This undermines our ability to support those who truly need protection.”

During her trip, Van Bossuyt will meet with Moldovan officials, Roma community leaders, local media, and representatives from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The campaign will highlight Belgium’s fast-track procedures for Moldovan applicants, which often result in rapid repatriation due to low approval rates. Photo by © European Union, 1998 – 2025, Wikimedia commons.