Thousands protest the UN immigration agreement in Brussels, Belgium

Some of the protesters in Brussels. DW/Reuters.

Over 5000 people protested the UN immigration agreement in Brussels, Belgium. DW. 5500 people, led by Flemish right wing parties protested the non-biding resolution that was approved by every UN member but the United States, but was only singed by 164 countries last Monday. Between 300 and 400 people tried to raid the European Commission building but were stopped by police, who arrested 69 people. A much smaller counter protest supporting the UN resolution only drew 1000 people. Belgium's Prime Minster's descion to sign the resolution resulted in the right wing New Flemish Alliance to pull out of his ruling coalition. Critics say that UN pact could cause a 2nd wave of immigration to Europe. 

My Comment:

Even more civil unrest in Europe. It seems that everywhere you look in Europe right now there are protesters. There are, of course, the Gilets Jaunes/Yellow Jackets in France and in Hungry there are protests as well. It's not fair to say that all of these protests are about the same thing, other than it seems that many in Europe are deeply unhappy with the way their countries are being governed. 

In this case it seems that immigration is the issue. Belgium has a right to complain about this as they have had huge numbers of Islamic migrants come into their country and they have brought crime and terrorism with them. Belgium was a major hub for ISIS during the massive wave of attacks that occurred a few years back and the fact that there haven't been as many attacks lately is more due to the fact that their funding has been cut off since the terror groups setbacks in Iraq, Syria and Libya. 

Terrorism isn't the only problem as migrants often bring crime with them. Belgium was a relatively safe country, but the rates of crime has increased. And non-European people are overly represented in the arrests and convictions. 

Another major reason for people to be unhappy with this kind of immigration is the European social net. Throughout Europe, people pay very high taxes for their generous social programs. With these taxes so high it is infuriating to see new arrivals get those benefits that were supposed to be earmarked for the people that paid for them. And since those taxes are cripplingly high, people see it as essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul, except it's not Paul, it's Mohammad.

I think this discontent is only going to get worse. The millions, potentially billions of people from the third world see that Europe and other Western countries have a better standard of living and also see from their relatives that have made it, that getting there is possible. Some are fleeing war, but mostly they are fleeing the crappy governments and economies that they are responsible for.  They want a way out and as long as Europeans are allowing it, they will come. 

I have said many times that the 21st century is going to be defined by the massive movement of people from the third world to the first. There is going to be a backlash and it is going to be a lot more severe than it is right now. People are complaining about Trump and his efforts to build a wall, but I fear much worse kinds of reprisals are likely coming if the tide isn't stopped soon. That coming conflict will decide the future of Europe and the future of the world.