Brussels newcomers won’t benefit from ‘extra light’ civic integration

“The Brussels government is putting the future of newcomers in Brussels and the chances of success of a diverse Brussels society at jeopardy,” Brussels Parliament Member Liesbet Dhaene states. After all, the government is not opting for a fully-fledged Civic integration Flanders has a policy for civic integration. This is a guided and targeted form of social integration for people of foreign origin. The intention is that the newcomers are provided with a valuable place in society by including them instead of excluding them. Civic integration, which includes language lessons and civic integration courses, was brought about by the participation of the N-VA in the Flemish Government since 2004 and the appointment of a Minister for Civic Integration. civic integration path of rights and duties, but rather for ‘extra light’ integration. In addition, its dismissive attitude towards Flanders and the lack of funds at the French Community Commission (COCOF) is hampering the quick implementation of the civic integration measures.

Newcomers in Brussels are only being asked to “regularly” attend language and citizenship courses and there is no verification if they have actually acquired the knowledge provided. Nonetheless, this is essentially in order to help them to quickly find their place in our society. The maximum fine for non-compliance is 2,500 euros, meaning that people who have the money can pay their way out the integration obligation.

Brussels schizophrenia

Brussels can only make use of the Flemish civic integration paths in Brussels if it enters into a cooperation agreement with Flanders. However, instead of carrying out consultations first, the competent Brussels ministers decided to first draw up the regulations themselves and then subsequently present Flanders with accomplished facts. “One could wonder whether the Brussels government really is interested in collaborating with Flanders at all,” Liesbet Dhaene comments. “Nevertheless, the Flemish civic integration paths that the Brussels reception agency for integration has been offering in Brussels for over ten years provide tremendous added value to newcomers in Brussels and to Brussels society. Incidentally, Flanders accounts for 5,400 of the total 9,400 integration paths offered in Brussels.”

Finally, many questions remain about the effective entry into force of the civic integration obligation. Within the Brussels government, there are voices that there should first be sufficient civic integration paths for the number of newcomers expected. However, the French Community Commission (the COCOF), of which the same French-speaking ministers are members, has not allocated funds for any additional civic integration paths. “A typically Brussels schizophrenic situation,” Liesbet Dhaene concludes.