Belgium's Flanders region to launch online integration course for pre-arrival migrants

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Starting this autumn, the Flemish government will introduce an online integration course for migrants to take in their countries of origin, local media reported Tuesday.

The measure marks the first concrete step in the Flemish government's broader ambition to make pre-departure integration compulsory, according to Belgian daily De Standaard.

However, implementing such a requirement would need cooperation from the federal government, which has jurisdiction over visa and migration policies.

The course aims to prepare newcomers, particularly those applying through family reunification or for work, for life in Flemish society by familiarizing them with its "norms and values," said Flemish Integration Minister Hilde Crevits, according to De Standaard.

“Newcomers will increase their self-reliance and find their way more easily to our labor market,” she said.

The course, which is not a language class, will be offered in multiple languages and delivered online as a self-study module. Migrants will also receive remote guidance from an adviser based in Belgium.

De Standaard reports that similar pilot programs have been set up for participants in Morocco, Lebanon, and Jordan, which were "successful."

However, the Flemish integration agency notes that expanding the program would have an "operational and financial impact" on the organization.