The mayor of the City of Brussels has banned a planned protest on “remigration” scheduled to take place at the place du Luxembourg, in front of the European Parliament, citing concerns over public order after left-wing groups announced counter-protests
The decision has prompted accusations of political censorship from the left-wing city government.
The protest, organised by the Save Europe initiative, was due to bring together politicians, activists and commentators advocating stricter immigration policies and the promotion of “remigration”—the return of illegal migrants, rejected asylum seekers and, in some versions of the concept, other foreign nationals to their countries of origin.
Among the announced speakers were Austrian activist Martin Sellner and Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
According to organisers, the City of Brussels informed the venue that the conference could not proceed after authorities concluded there was a serious risk of disturbances.
Local officials reportedly pointed to calls for demonstrations by anti-fascist groups and concerns over public safety.
The organisers said they were exploring legal options and were willing to fight the Brussels’ mayor decision in court.
They argued that the authorities should have ensured the event could proceed safely rather than prohibiting it because of the prospect of counter-protests, which is the legal norm.
Sellner condemned the decision on X, writing that Brussels had “banned the Save Europe event” and arguing that authorities had yielded to pressure from political opponents rather than protecting freedom of assembly.
“Completely insane. On the very same square, there are constantly demonstrations by the radical left. Only Patriots are banned. But our lawyers are on it. We will fight this to the teeth in a speed trial”, he said.
Eva Vlaardingerbroek likewise accused the city authorities of suppressing dissenting political views, describing the move as an attack on freedom of expression.
Next to their own event, Vlaardingerbroek and Sellner are also set to speak in a seperate event by the ESN group in the European Parliament, at 6 PM, about lawfare.
The Dutch activist told Brussels Signal that “in any case, Martin and I will be in Brussels and that we will do something tomorrow because there are already hundreds of patriots who have vowed to come to Brussels for the Save Europe act.”
Everyone is allowed to protest on the Place du Luxembourg in front of the European Parliament: whether they are Antifa, Pro-Palestine, Pro-Curdistan and Pro-refugee.
But the EU does not seem to like Pro-European
They want to shut down ONLY our demonstration.
The current EU is… pic.twitter.com/qMEBHV4s9j— Save Europe Act (@SaveEuropeAct) July 14, 2026
The conference was organised by the Save Europe initiative, which is campaigning for an EU-wide Save Europe Act through the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), the official mechanism that allows EU citizens to ask the European Commission to consider new legislation.
The proposal calls for stricter external border controls, faster deportations of illegal migrants and rejected asylum seekers, an end to what organisers describe as “pull factors” for irregular migration, and a Europe-wide framework for voluntary remigration.
According to the organisers, the initiative has already gathered more than 500,000 signatures, halfway to the one million valid signatures required for the European Commission to formally examine the proposal, although the Commission would not be obliged to turn it into legislation.
On their website they demand “that the political elite halt replacement migration, secure our borders, and protect the ethnocultural identity of European nations”.
The Mayor of Brussels has banned our protest, announcing the decision just one day before the event.
If the democratic right to protest exists only by the permission of those you’re protesting against, then it isn’t a real right at all.
See you in court! pic.twitter.com/LANY6itfcn
— Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) July 14, 2026
