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Belgium
During the 19th century Belgium was more a country of emigration than immigration, with more Belgians living abroad (especially in France) than other nationalities settling in Belgium. From 1920 Belgium saw the first waves of migration of workers from Italy, Eastern Europe and the Maghreb, concentrated in the industrial areas of Wallonia. After the economic crisis in the thirties, unemployment increased dramatically and the government decided to send unemployed foreigners back to their country of origin. After the Second World War Belgium signed eight bilateral labour agreements permitting limited migration, primarily by men, but at the beginning of sixties family migration was encouraged, which gradually began to feminize both legal migratory flows (family reunification) and "illegal" ones (trafficking of human beings).
In 1974, migration was officially stopped in Belgium, so the only means to enter the country legally and to obtain a residence permit were family reunification, marriage, study or seeking asylum. Family reunification has constituted the major migration flow in recent years, while asylum applicants represent a small share, continuously decreasing since 2000.
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ULB
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Université Libre de Bruxelles,
GEM- Institut de Sociologie,13e étage, Bureau 109, Avenue Jeanne, 44 (CP 124),
BE -1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2/650 33 62
Fax: +32 (0)2/650 33 35 |
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