De Croo: "Brussels should clear the Maximiliaanpark"
De Croo, the federal minister for International Aid and Development, was quoted by the Francophone Brussels-based daily Le Soir.
Refugees that had to come back to file an asylum application in the nearby Immigration Office started camping in the park two weeks ago. What started as a couple of tents, has now become a whole camp, a small community.
De Croo admits that there was a good reason to create camping places there initially, but in the meantime things have changed with the government offering shelter in the nearby WTC III Tower. This is why De Croo wants the whole park to be cleared up.
"This spoils the image of Brussels"
"If I was the Brussels Burgomaster, I would never tolerate that a public park is being occupied in this manner, especially when there are alternatives. It looks like a big camp site now, a market place, or even a music festival site", De Croo said. The Brussels Mayor is Yvan Mayeur, a socialist. The Francophone socialists are at loggerheads with the N-VA and the right-wing liberals at present, red.
De Croo says the refugee camp is spoiling the image of Brussels as the capital of Europe and is damaging the image of the federal government. "All international media are here. This situation suggest that we can't handle the crisis, while it is just the opposite."
"I won't send any troops to the park"
"I am not sending any troops to clear up the camp and make the people leave", Mayeur retorted. "If there is anyone responsible for the present situation, it's the federal government. The city of Brussels is the victim of this situation." (the socialists are on the opposition benches in federal parliament, red.)
Mayeur (photo) says that the present situation in WTC III does not meet the demands of refugees. He wants to take soundings from the organisations offering help at the park (the Red Cross, Fedasil etc.), and has met the PM to find a proper solution.
The bottom line is the same: the tent camp at Maxiliaan will have to disappear sooner or later. A 'progressive evacuation' of the park is being prepared.
