Belgium’s federal asylum agency Fedasil announced on 24 September that it has started a fresh reduction in specialised accommodation places for non-accompanied minor foreigners (NBMV). The measure comes as overall arrivals have fallen from last year’s peak but continues a controversial trend towards closing high-support units in favour of mainstream collective centres. Fedasil did not specify the exact number of beds to be phased out but said the cutback is part of a post-pandemic ‘capacity recalibration’ that also involves the closure of the Koksijde reception centre by the end of October. Child-protection NGOs warn that dispersing vulnerable minors into larger facilities risks gaps in schooling and psychological support. The agency argues that resources can be redirected towards upgraded guardianship and faster family-reunification processing. It points to a 15 % drop in NBMV asylum claims since January, crediting EU-wide border initiatives such as the Entry/Exit System and the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. Companies employing humanitarian permit holders should monitor HR obligations: minors turning 18 in collective centres will now transition directly to the adult asylum system, potentially affecting work-authorization timelines. Relocation providers may also see demand tick up as municipalities receive higher numbers of young adults seeking private housing. Fedasil says it will reassess winter-capacity needs in November. Stakeholders can submit comments via its consultative platform before 20 October.
Source: Fedasil press release
