Brussels: Europe and Arabs

About a year ago, the acceptance of asylum applications by Afghans was automatic, especially shortly after the Taliban seized power, and according to media reports in Brussels, Belgium recognized nine out of ten Afghan asylum seekers at the same time, but now things have completely changed, and The rate of recognition of asylum applications from Afghans to 47 percent. Meanwhile, asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected are not forcibly returned to Afghanistan After the Taliban seized power a year ago, nearly every asylum request was approved, but in March the Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) amended his recommendation, as it has become much safer in many places since then. The average recognition rate since the fall of Kabul in August 2021 is 53 percent, roughly the same as 2018. In 2019 and 2020, only a third of Afghans received protection. The CGRS stresses that the granting of refugee status was "very broadly" guaranteed. Forced return has been impossible since the Taliban seized power, which has resulted in a growing group of refugees without papers. Therefore, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moore (CD&V) wants to focus more on the domestic reception of refugees outside the European Union, but this takes a lot of effort. A spokesman said: "We must provide adequate shelter in the area and avoid dangerous journeys.