The N-VA requires further study on the economic costs of migration

At the request of former Minister of Finance Johan van Overtveldt and Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken, the National Bank of Belgium conducted a groundbreaking study into the economic costs of migration. The study was completed in the autumn of 2020. Through Theo Francken, Yoleen Van Camp, Darya Safai and Christoph D’Haese, the N-VA is now asking for a thorough follow-up study.

Theo Francken calls the study by the National Bank commendable work. “The fact that the Belgian taboo on researching the economic costs of immigration has been broken means a great deal. However, we must not leave it at that. Further study is needed. There are still too many unknowns.”

Yoleen Van Camp: “Calculating immigration costs through life course calculation”

Yoleen Van Camp joins Theo Francken. “During the hearings on the results of the study, there were scientific-economic and scientific-demographic observations on the methodology used. The costs of immigration were calculated by means of a snapshot rather than the so-called life course calculation. This led, for example, to misleading communication that the second generation of migrants would contribute more to society than the immigrants. This is not true, as was apparent during the hearings. It is therefore necessary to make that life course calculation in order to compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges. All the data are available for this purpose, the National Bank itself admitted. What are they waiting for?”

Darya Safai: “The cost calculation for illegal migration still needs to be made”

Darya Safai points out that despite the explicit request of the N-VA, no cost calculation has been made of all the aspects of illegal migration. “Due to the defective European asylum model, the vast majority of rejected asylum seekers remain in the EU illegally. The costs of this are immense, ranging from reception and repatriation to crime and nuisance. Why was this not calculated? The N-VA is not in favour of the current asylum model of the right of residence after illegal travel and has resolutely opted for the Australian asylum model.”

Christoph D’Haese: “Additional research broken down by the region of origin is needed”

In our resolution, we are also asking for additional research into the economic cost of immigration broken down by the region of origin, Christoph D’Haese says. “After all, we learn from international research that there are differences between the different migrant groups, and this remains difficult to discuss.”

Theo Francken: “Starting point of taboo-free debate on migration”

For Theo Francken, it would be a pity if the National Bank’s study were to be the end of it. “Let it on the contrary be the starting point for structural and taboo-free research into demographics and migration. In Anglo-Saxon countries, the costs and benefits of diaspora have been openly studied and discussed for decades. This is the path that we must take, too. That is the only way to have a mature debate on migration and demography.”