Belgium’s new PM plans tougher migration, nuclear revival, and defence boost

5/2/2025 6:15

Belgium’s new Prime Minister Bart De Wever presented his government’s focus to parliament on Tuesday, highlighting stricter migration policies, reversing the nuclear phase-out law, and increasing defence spending to meet NATO targets.



The right-wing Flemish nationalist, once a harsh critic of Belgium's French-speaking southern region and its socio-economic policies, has recently adopted a more conciliatory tone, even starting his statement in French instead of Dutch.



His government wants to curb migration. Belgium received 39,615 asylum applications in 2024, 11.6% more than in 2023, while the country's reception capacity is just over 36,200 places and was nearly full for the entire year.