Starting from September 1, lovers who have been separated for months now due to the ongoing pandemic, one of whom is Belgian, can now reunite in Belgium.
The decision has been announced by the Belgian Minister of the Interior, Security and Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem through a tweet, which consists of a picture of him near a monument of the letters “LOVE”.
“Love triumphs and knows no boundaries. From September 1, visits are again possible for Belgians with relations abroad. Couples must be able to demonstrate a lasting love relationship,” the Minister tweeted above the picture.
De #liefde zegeviert en kent geen grenzen. Vanaf 1 september zijn bezoeken opnieuw mogelijk voor Belgen met relatie in het buitenland. Koppels moeten hierbij duurzame liefdesrelatie kunnen aantonen. #LoveIsEssential #LoveIsNotTourism @JONGCDENV pic.twitter.com/MpNAgkNc3L
— Pieter De Crem (@pieterdecrem) August 20, 2020
The decision has been confirmed by the Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès, who published a list of the measures decided to be taken by the Federal Council regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, among which was also listed the lifting of the travel ban for unmarried but long-term partners of Belgian citizens.
“People who have been physically separated in recent months because they come from different countries and who prove that they have a lasting relationship but are not married will be allowed to cross the border from September 1. They will be subject to the same testing and quarantine rules as the others,” the press release explains.
In a press release following the meeting of the Council during which the decision was taken, the Prime Minister also explained that a relationship of at least two years or partners who have lived together for at least a year would qualify for the entry ban exemption. In addition, she noted, having a child together would also satisfy the conditions.
Despite that the other conditions of entering Belgium under this purpose haven’t been published yet, the decision has, however, left many unhappy.
About 50 people protested last Sunday in front of the Federal Public Service for Home Affairs, asserting that permitting only those in a “lasting relationship” to reunite, is old-fashioned and too strict.
The protestors insisted that the requirement of a “lasting relationship” would leave many unable to meet, in particulars couples who have met less than two years ago, and have not lived together, nor have a child together.
Today’s #LoveIsNotTourism protest in Belgium ❤️ ??
Get organised, all around the world! pic.twitter.com/tH3OZICYfM— LOVE IS NOT TOURISM (@LovesNotTourism) August 23, 2020
Belgium is not the only country to receive backlash from couples separated by the entry ban, upon exempting them from the ban, due to the requirements introduced for qualification.
Other countries as Spain, the Czech Republic, and even Germany have been accused of making the conditions too harsh for the majority of lovers.
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