Belgium faces European Court of Justice over lack of EU single permit

Pursuant to an EU directive requiring member states to combine work and residence authorizations for non-EU nationals into one “single permit,” Belgium was recently referred to the European Court of Justice by the European Commission for its continued failure to implement the directive. First handed down by Parliament in 2011, the Directive’s official deadline was 25 December 25 2013. Although many EU member states did not meet the original deadline, Belgium remains the only EU country to not have offered a single permit by this time.

In light of the nation’s failure to comply with the directive, Belgium is now legally susceptible to monetary sanctioning of up to EUR 52,000 per day at the discretion of the EU’s highest court. With the matter now pending before the court, global employers can anticipate that compliance is certainly on the horizon as it relates to immigration processing in Belgium in the months to come. Pro-Link GLOBAL continues to monitor the situation closely.

If you work in corporate HR or global mobility, contact Pro-Link GLOBAL today at [email protected] to discuss our visa and immigration services.

Caveat Lector | Warning to reader

This is provided as informational only and does not substitute for actual legal advice based on the specific circumstances of a matter. Readers are reminded that immigration laws are fluid and can change a moment’s notice without any warning. Please reach out to your local Pro-Link GLOBAL specialist should you require any additional clarification. This alert was prepared by Pro-Link GLOBAL’s Knowledge Management team. Pro-Link GLOBAL worked with our PLG | KGNM Correspondent Office in South Africa to provide you this update.

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