Belgian city imposes fee on foreigners

[pampango]

Antwerp is to charge non-Belgians, including EU citizens, who want to live in the city a one-off administrative fee of €250, Belgian daily Le Soir reports. The far-right Vlams Belaang party said it is designed to see "fewer foreigners." The Green party said it goes against European principles.

http://euobserver.com/tickers/119203

Antwerp approves €250 registration fee for foreigners

34 councilors voted in favour and 19 against. The far right Vlaams Belang was the only opposition party to back the Flemish nationalist and Christian democrats. Opposition socialists, greens and the far left pointed to legal and moral objections to the introduction of the measure.

Antwerp is the first Belgian city to charge such a high registration fee. The hike came in for considerable criticism also from the towns of Ghent and Mechelen that fear that many newcomers will decide to move there instead. The measure has also been condemned by human rights organisations that say that it is discriminatory.

Socialist Yasmine Kherbache ... held up legislation dating from 1968 that bans discrimination between Belgians and foreigners with regard to the height of this fee.

Far left and green councilors said that the decision would lead to problems with the European authorities.

http://www.expatica.com/be/news/belgian-news/Antwerp-approves-250-registration-fee-for-foreigners-_259758.html

The far-right in Europe has come up with another way to limit immigrants and foreigners in general.