SAMPLE POSITION PAPER

Forum: EU Council

Submitter: Belgium

Topic: Freedom of movement within the EU

The Kingdom of Belgium wants to show its deep concern towards the freedom of
movement within the European Union, especially after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom
and the Syrian refugee crisis. Even though the UK does not yet leave the union until March
2019, since now, it is a huge issue for UK citizens’ freedom of movement within the EU as well
as ordered movement for the refugees. Generally, there are 1.3 million UK citizens are living in
EU countries1 and specifically, there are 25,000 British citizens reside within Belgium.2 This
huge amount of people is living in instability of their lives since the withdrawn decision from
the UK government. Currently, there are UK citizens who applied for Belgian citizenship in
order to gain the EU citizenship3. This, in the long term, is not effective and applicable for every
UK citizens. Moreover, until 2017, Belgium has taken around 5,500 Syrian refugees4 due to the
Syrian refugee crisis. Because the number keeps increasing, it raises a huge concern not only to
Belgium but also to other countries in the EU.

As the quota of citizens from less developed countries within the EU came to more
developed countries is increasing, it causes the unbalance population between nations as well
as burdens the generous social welfare system of Belgium specifically5. Belgium believes that
even though the free movement of EU citizens is applied, it is not an absolute right and every
citizen who lives in the host country must have their responsibility and should be deported if
they do not work. However, Belgium always obeys the legal law as it only sends labors home
after six months if they cannot support themselves6. Nonetheless, Belgium believes that until
the refugees or asylum seekers received the complete EU citizenship, only then the freedom of
movement can be applied. This is for keeping the control and security of the huge influx of
Syrian refugees within EU currently.

As freedom of movement within the EU has been established and applied in Belgium
since 1985, Belgium believes that every country should strictly obey the law to keep the order
and security within the union. However, Belgium welcomes any further suggestions or
adjustments since the situation has changed tremendously and needs to be reconsidered.

1
Joseph O'Leary, "Brits Abroad: How Many People from the UK Live in Other EU Countries?," Full Fact, last modified February 1, 2018,
https://fullfact.org/europe/how-many-uk-citizens-live-other-eu-countries/.
2
Adam Fleming, "Why Some Brits Are Opting for Belgian Citizenship," BBC News, last modified April 16, 2017,
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-uk-leaves-the-eu-39590751.
3
Fleming, “Brits Are Opting for Belgian Citizenship”.
4
Jack Brooks, "Belgium Welcomed Record Number of Refugees in 2016," The Bulletin, last modified January 9,
https://www.thebulletin.be/belgium-welcomed-record-number-refugees-2016.
5
Andrew Byrne, "Free Flow of Labour Stemmed As Belgium Cracks Down on Migrants," Financial Times, last modified March 16, 2014,
https://www.ft.com/content/d736fe48-a912-11e3-bf0c-00144feab7de.
6
Byrne, "Belgium Cracks Down on Migrants.”
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brooks, Jack. "Belgium Welcomed Record Number of Refugees in 2016." The Bulletin. Last
modified January 9, . https://www.thebulletin.be/belgium-welcomed-record-number-
refugees-2016.

Byrne, Andrew. "Free Flow of Labour Stemmed As Belgium Cracks Down on Migrants."
Financial Times. Last modified March 16, 2014.
https://www.ft.com/content/d736fe48-a912-11e3-bf0c-00144feab7de.

Fleming, Adam. "Why Some Brits Are Opting for Belgian Citizenship." BBC News. Last modified
April 16, 2017. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-uk-leaves-the-eu-39590751.

O'Leary, Joseph. "Brits Abroad: How Many People from the UK Live in Other EU Countries?"
Full Fact. Last modified February 1, 2018. https://fullfact.org/europe/how-many-uk-
citizens-live-other-eu-countries/.