This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46585237
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brussels protest over UN migration pact turns violent | Brussels protest over UN migration pact turns violent |
| (4 days later) | |
| Thousands of demonstrators in Brussels have marched against a UN migration pact, adopted in Marrakesh last week. | |
| Flemish right-wing parties called the march, which took place near major EU institutions, amid fears the pact could lead to an increase in immigration. | Flemish right-wing parties called the march, which took place near major EU institutions, amid fears the pact could lead to an increase in immigration. |
| Police deployed tear gas and water cannon as clashes broke out. About 5,500 protesters took part. | Police deployed tear gas and water cannon as clashes broke out. About 5,500 protesters took part. |
| A counter-protest organised by left-wing groups and charities in the city centre drew about 1,000 people. | A counter-protest organised by left-wing groups and charities in the city centre drew about 1,000 people. |
| The largest member of Belgium's ruling coalition, the right-wing N-VA party, left the government last Sunday in protest against the prime minister's decision to sign the agreement. | The largest member of Belgium's ruling coalition, the right-wing N-VA party, left the government last Sunday in protest against the prime minister's decision to sign the agreement. |
| In July, 196 UN members agreed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. | In July, 196 UN members agreed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. |
| It was signed by 164 countries in Marrakesh last week, with the US and a number of European states - including Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Slovakia - refusing to formally adopt the agreement. | |
| The deal, which is not legally binding, seeks an international approach to migration that "reaffirms the sovereign rights of states to determine their national migration policy" and asserts the "fundamental" importance of legal migration. | The deal, which is not legally binding, seeks an international approach to migration that "reaffirms the sovereign rights of states to determine their national migration policy" and asserts the "fundamental" importance of legal migration. |
| But critics in Europe believe it will lead to increased immigration to the continent. | But critics in Europe believe it will lead to increased immigration to the continent. |
| Bart Claes, the president of the youth wing of the Flemish nationalist party, Vlaams Belang, told the BBC that people should have been consulted before Belgium signed up to the deal. | Bart Claes, the president of the youth wing of the Flemish nationalist party, Vlaams Belang, told the BBC that people should have been consulted before Belgium signed up to the deal. |
| "It's been approved apparently," he said. "But the opinion of the people was never asked. That's strange for something that goes this far." | "It's been approved apparently," he said. "But the opinion of the people was never asked. That's strange for something that goes this far." |
| Dries Van Langenhove, from the nationalist youth organisation Schild en Vrienden, agreed, saying the protesters wanted to "raise our voice against the Marrakesh pact". | |
| "We think the decision was not made in a democratic way, with a minority in government and a minority of the Belgian people," he said. "That's what we are protesting against." | "We think the decision was not made in a democratic way, with a minority in government and a minority of the Belgian people," he said. "That's what we are protesting against." |
| A smaller number of counter-demonstrators objected to the marchers. | A smaller number of counter-demonstrators objected to the marchers. |
| "We want to raise the alarm to show that the organisers of the other demo are fascists groups," Naomi Stocker said. | "We want to raise the alarm to show that the organisers of the other demo are fascists groups," Naomi Stocker said. |
| "They advertise hate and discrimination and are violent. We want to warn people and send a different message." | "They advertise hate and discrimination and are violent. We want to warn people and send a different message." |
| Fellow protester, Barend Claessens, said that although they did not want a confrontation with the "extreme right", the counter-demonstrators wished to show "there are still a lot of people who agree with the pact". | Fellow protester, Barend Claessens, said that although they did not want a confrontation with the "extreme right", the counter-demonstrators wished to show "there are still a lot of people who agree with the pact". |
| More and more countries in Europe have clamped down on migration in recent years. | More and more countries in Europe have clamped down on migration in recent years. |
| Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was forced to cancel its migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean this month after repeated battles with Italy. | Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was forced to cancel its migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean this month after repeated battles with Italy. |
| And in June, Hungary made it illegal to help asylum seekers. | And in June, Hungary made it illegal to help asylum seekers. |