The applicants, a coalition of Belgian NGOs, filed an appeal claiming the suspension of the Royal Decree of 22 July 2018 due to the reception condition of children in detention, with special concern to the children detained in 127bis Centre, located near Brussels Airport. They provided the court a list of deficiencies contained in the Royal Decree regarding the protection and safeguards in place for families and children. The applicants stated, more specifically, that the structure of the centre was inadequate for families, the best interests of the child was not taken into account, and that detention was not being used as a means of last resort.
The Court suspended the execution of Article 13 of the Royal Decree of 22 July 2018 amending the Royal Decree of 2 August 2002 laying down the rules and operating rules applicable to places in Belgium, managed by the Aliens' Office. The Court stated also that, due to the proximityto the airport of the 127Bis Centre, children were exposed to noise pollution.