Call for eased border checks at Brussels Airport sparks union outrage

A dispute has erupted between the Christian union ACV and the federal police leadership over alleged internal instructions to ease border controls at Brussels Airport in Belgium during peak traffic times. According to ACV, the airport’s aviation police director called on staff to invoke Article 9 of the Schengen Code to reduce passenger congestion, even preemptively.

The union shared a screenshot of what it claims is internal communication proving the directive came from aviation police chief Simon De Block. “I strongly urge the application of Article 9,” the message reads, adding that it’s better to use the measure “once too often than too little.”

The federal police deny these allegations outright, calling the leaked communication inauthentic. In a statement, the police emphasized that the message “did not originate from the director or any part of the management” and was “neither mandated nor supported by the chain of command.” The force says it will investigate the source of what it describes as false information. It insists that all border checks are being carried out professionally and within the legal framework recently reiterated to staff.

Union representative Joery Dehaes condemned the denial, calling it “beyond belief” and accusing the police leadership of abandoning their frontline officers. ACV plans to file a formal strike notice by Sunday or Monday, after which a negotiation committee will convene. No date for the strike has been set yet, but the police union NSPV has expressed support for the action.

Source: VRT NWS