The policy has been met with considerable surprise given that the European Union is supposed to guarantee the free movement of goods and people.

During 2013, 2,712 Europeans residing in Belgium received expulsion orders as part of a so-called “anti-crisis” policy. And this figure is constantly on the rise.

In 2010, only 343 people from the European Union were requested to leave the country.

Belgium bases these measures on a European directive dating back to 2004, which states that: “Persons exercising their right of residence should not, however, become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the host member state during an initial period of residence.”

The measure applies to anyone who has been receiving unemployment benefit or social assistance from the Public Social Action Centres (CPAS) for over three months, and thus affects those in the most precarious circumstances.

Of those who had their residence permits withdrawn the top three nationalities were Romanian, Bulgarian and Spanish.

Workers in certain types of employment are also being targeted.

Article 60

Stéphanie Chauvin, a 37-year-old mother of four from France received an expulsion order in November. She was summoned by the administration of her local authority in La Louvière, her identity card was taken away from her and she was presented with an order to leave the country with her family within 30 days.

“I was really shocked. I never thought it was possible. I was left with no income, no medical cover, and was afraid that I’d be thrown out onto the street with my family,” she told Equal Times.

Yet Stephanie was working full time at a retirement home under the provisions of a law commonly known as ‘Article 60’, which allows people claiming CPAS benefits to have part of their salary financed by the Belgian state.

Despite working a 38-hour week, what Chauvin does “is not a real economic activity, it is a state subsidy,” argues Dominique Ernould, spokesperson for the Immigration Office.

Trying to play down the impact of these measures, Ernould says that: “it is a withdrawal of the right to residence. There have never been any forced deportations. Belgium has one of the best social security systems, which makes us a prime target for immigrants.”

The instigator of this drastic increase is Maggie de Block, secretary of state for migration and asylum policy.

This liberal party member appointed to the federal government in 2011 ranks amongst the most popular political figures in the country.

Her spokesperson, Else Cleemput, insists that “the minister is simply respecting European law” and that “each case is considered on its merits, to assess each one of these people’s chances of finding viable employment”.

But not everyone agrees. “Such decisions are made to win votes,” says Philip Cordery, the deputy representing French citizens living in the Benelux.

“This directive is much too vague and too harshly applied. We hope to have it amended in order to clarify the situation.”

Eurospecticism

With just weeks to go before the European Parliament elections, this measure does not bode well for the future of the European Union.

Aside from citizens’ disinterest in its institutions, a wave of euroscepticism is spreading across the continent.

Zoé Genot, a politician from the Green party who is very active on the immigration issue told Equal Times: “We now have a two speed Europe. We welcome tax exiles with open arms and we throw out those most in need. Freedom of movement is now the reserve of certain Europeans – the wealthiest.”

Silvia Guerra, an Italian musician living in Brussels, was asked to leave Belgium in December after being hired under the terms of Article 60.

Her expulsion notice states that the three years Silvia has spent in Belgium “are not sufficient to speak of integration”.

It adds: “There is nothing stopping” her seven-year-old son “from continuing his schooling in his country of origin” even though he was born in France and has never lived in Italy.

“I considered myself to be a European, but I’m not protected by the EU. The decisions are economic and nothing is done for the people.”

She no longer has the right to work and has no other source income. She has since filed an appeal.

“I am going to wait until the end of my son’s school year and, if nothing has been sorted out, I’ll leave.”

According to Genot, those ordered to leave have great difficulty coping with the situation.

“Some fall into depression, feel ashamed and hide. Others live like undocumented immigrants. For want of an income, they have to work undeclared for two euros an hour.”

The initiative could set off a trend within the European Union.

According to the Belgian Immigration Office, other member states such as the Netherlands have inquired with interest about the application of this directive.

The United Kingdom has also recently restricted access to social security for European nationals residing there.