Belgium’s federal parliament has approved a major reform proposed by Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt aimed at strengthening national security by tightening entry rules for individuals linked to terrorism and extremism.
The new law, announced on April 23, allows authorities to impose indefinite entry bans on people listed in the TER database, a key tool used to monitor radicalisation and terrorist threats.
The Strategy TER — Terrorism, Extremism and Radicalisation — is a Belgian national framework introduced in 2021 to contain threats through a multidisciplinary approach combining prevention, intelligence gathering and enforcement.
The database centralises information on high-risk individuals. It is managed by the Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAM) and used by various services, including police and intelligence agencies.
Until now, Belgium could only issue temporary entry bans. Under the reform, individuals identified as security risks can be barred from entering not only Belgium but the entire Schengen Area for an unlimited period.
The Immigration Office will be able to deny entry or residence permits to individuals listed as “validated entities” in the database, even if they do not currently hold valid residence status. That includes profiles such as foreign terrorist fighters or individuals accused of spreading extremist propaganda.
Once an entry ban is issued, the person will be registered in both the Schengen Information System (SIS) and Belgium’s General National Database (BNG). In practical terms, that means they can be refused access at borders across Europe and prevented from obtaining a visa or residence permit.
The reform comes as Belgium’s overall threat level remains classified as “serious”, meaning an attack is considered possible and likely. Authorities argue the new rules will help prevent potentially dangerous individuals from entering the country and reduce security risks before they materialise.
The law was adopted by the governing majority, supported by Vlaams Belang and the Anders group. The Socialist Party (PS), the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB), Ecolo-Groen and DéFI voted against the measure.
Van Bossuyt has presented the reform as part of a broader shift towards a tougher migration and security policy, arguing that Belgium must have the legal tools to keep individuals linked to terrorism or extremism outside its territory.
At the same time, another reform remains under discussion in parliament. That proposal would allow judges to access classified intelligence from the State Security Service in cases involving migration and national security.
With the entry-ban vote, Belgium is taking a stricter stance on counterterrorism, focusing not only on monitoring threats inside the country but also on preventing them from crossing its borders in the first place.
