A delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Belgium from 3 to 7 November 2025 as the first step in the preparation of a monitoring report. The visit was preceded by online meetings on 27 and 28 October 2025. During the visit, which was carried out within the framework of ECRI’s seventh country monitoring cycle, ECRI’s delegation gathered information on preventing and combating hate speech and hate crime and ensuring equal treatment and inclusion in education and healthcare.

The ECRI delegation held meetings with representatives of the federal government and the governments of the federated entities, the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Discrimination (Unia), the Flemish Human Rights Institute (VMRI), the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men (IEFH), the Federal Migration Centre (Myria), independent media regulatory bodies, public prosecutors, representatives of civil society organisations and of groups of concern to ECRI. Moreover, members of the delegation went to Ghent and Charleroi, where they met with representatives of the local authorities, law enforcement officials, heath guides and health community workers, as well as civil society representatives. They also visited two schools – in Ghent and Fleurus – where they talked to education professionals. In Charleroi, members of the delegation visited a hospital, where they talked to healthcare staff and intercultural mediators.

Following this visit, ECRI will adopt a report in which it will make a new set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities to address racism and intolerance in the country. The implementation of two priority recommendations will be reviewed after 18 months from the publication of the report as part of ECRI’s interim follow-up procedure.

In its 2020 report on Belgium, among other recommendations, ECRI recommended that the Belgian authorities extend the exception for racist or xenophobic press offences provided for in Article 150 of the Constitution to incitement to LGBTI-phobia so that such cases can be brought before the ordinary courts.

It also recommended that the Belgian authorities strengthen their integration courses for migrants by adding elements concerned with promoting cultural diversity and combating discrimination, with a view to making integration policies more effective by encouraging equality and intercultural dialogue.

For more information on previous ECRI reports on Belgium, please visit ECRI’s country monitoring page.