BRUSSELS – 10 percent of minorities over the age of 55 in Belgium have emigrated to the country in the past five years, according to figures from the Flemish government’s research department.

The most recent data come from 2004. At that point 5 percent of all people 55 and over in the Flemish region was of foreign extraction, most of them (70.1 percent) were of European background (EU and non-EU)

None of the older people whose background is North African or Turkish were born in Belgium. About 1,000 people over the age of 65 have come from these countries to settle in Belgium recently.

These older immigrants often come to Belgium to live with a son or daughter here after they have lost their partner in their home country.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news