A single National Security Plan

The Belgian government has established the priorities for our police and security services in a new National Security Plan. The previous one dated back to 2004. “For the first time in twelve years, this N-VA government has ensured that in Flanders, in Brussels and on the federal level, everyone is headed in the same direction,” minister of Security and the Interior Jan Jambon says. “I am proud that we have been able to achieve this so rapidly, despite the pressure of terror threat and attacks.”

“Fluid cooperation and coordination between the federal level and the regions is essential to ensure the success of such a global security plan,” Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois states. The document clearly indicates who is responsible for what in our complex, fragmented security policy.

Ten priorities

The new National Security Plan is based on ten security factors that will be prioritised in the four years to come. All other plans, such as the police’s National Security Plan, must be based on the most important limits of that global plan, which is what will enable the government to smoothly coordinate the entire chain of prevention, detention and after-care between the regions, the communities and the federal government.

“The plan’s ten security factors are all equally important,” Minister Jambon finds. “But within my personal competence, in addition to human trafficking, slave-running, cybercrime and cyber-security, fighting terrorism is a priority.” He points out that for each of the ten priority factors, there are also five common points for attention: improving exchange of information, applying ICT resources, internet patrolling and an internet investigation force, international cooperation, identity fraud and a perpetrator and results-oriented approach.

Preventive policy

For Minister-President Geert Bourgeois, the top priority is the fight against terrorism and radicalisation in the areas in which Flanders is competent. That results in a preventive policy, aimed at removing radicalism’s breeding ground and signalling problematic situations early on. “Colleague Liesbeth Homans plays a coordinating role in this, between education, wellbeing, young people, integration and 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 and domestic administration,” Geert Bourgeois relates.

“But there remain other security domains in which we must fulfil an important role,” Geert Bourgeois remarks. “For traffic safety, awareness-raising and a punitive approach are crucial, for which Minister Ben Weyts is actively engaged. Similarly, we consider awareness of family violence and child abuse exceedingly important. We are working in concert with the courts on an integrated approach toward victims and perpetrators in the family.”

The new National Security Plan applies until 2019. The government will evaluate the implementation status twice a year.