Extra Flemish integration programmes in Brussels

As a result of the asylum crisis, the Flemish Minister for 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 , Liesbeth Homans invests in 2,400 extra civic integration programmes in Brussels. "That will bring the total to a capacity of 5,400 civic integration programmes via the Brussels reception agency for integration," Flemish Member of Parliament Karl Vanlouwe calculates. He calls on the French speaking Community in Brussels to also shoulder its responsibility. Currently, not a single civic integration programme has been provided in the capital yet by the French-speaking community.

In Flanders, civic integration for newcomers has been mandatory since 2004. The government in Brussels has - finally - also decided to make civic integration mandatory in the capital. Implementation takes place in the Common Community Commission, where a partnership agreement is still needed between the Flemish and the French-speaking Communities. The French Community Commission has announced it will create 4,000 places by the end of the year. “Too late”, says Vanlouwe. "But also 'too little': this means they will provide less than half of the total number of programmes needed." Vanlouwe calls on the French-speaking policy-makers in Brussels to take quicker action and asks them not to let the situation evolve into one like that of the capital's Dutch-language educational situation, suffering from a significant capacity shortage.

Voluntary - for now
"Unfortunately, the Flemish civic integration programmes still operate on a voluntary basis in Brussels," Vanlouwe indicates. "Politicians in Brussels did not like the idea. Civic integration has long been considered xenophobic, racist and stigmatising by the French-speaking population. But recent events abroad have made it painfully clear that not all newcomers are familiar with our Western values and norms. Civic integration is essential for building a real, tightly knit community. The French-speaking dignitaries in Brussels have finally cottoned on to that."