Brussels language legislation: Dutch-speaking residents left out in the cold

The annual report from the Vice-Governor of Brussels once again paints a bleak picture of last year’s compliance with language legislation. No fewer than 1,232 of the 1,920 appointments within Brussels' public social welfare centres (CPAS) were suspended due to irregularities—nearly two out of three. “Language laws ensure that every citizen in the Brussels-Capital Region can be served by the authorities in either Dutch or French, according to their preference. When these laws are ignored, firm action must be taken,” stated the N-VA group in the Brussels Parliament.

“Some municipalities are systematically falling short,” said Gilles Verstraeten, N-VA group leader. “The number of senior management positions filled in accordance with the required linguistic parity remains worryingly low. Only five of the nineteen CPAS respected the mandatory language parity at management level. In 2010, that number stood at twelve. The decline is both obvious and ongoing.”

Brussels government turns a blind eye

While the Vice-Governor can suspend appointments, only the Brussels government has the authority to annul them—and that’s where the problem lies. “The government, though responsible for annulling these appointments, fails to act. The report isn’t even discussed, let alone addressed. In doing so, the government effectively places the municipalities and CPAS above the law. Language legislation is a matter of public order and must be upheld,” said Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre.

Flanders takes action

While the Brussels government remains passive, the Flemish Community is stepping up. Flemish Minister for Brussels, Cieltje Van Achter, has launched a comprehensive Dutch Language Plan. “The Dutch Language House now offers expanded support to help municipal staff learn Dutch. But it’s clear that the CPAS and municipalities have little interest in genuinely tackling the issue. Dutch-speaking residents of Brussels—whether native speakers or those who’ve learned Dutch as a second or third language—are being let down when they need to rely on their municipality or CPAS. They are the real victims,” Vanden Borre continued.

Time for real choices

“Supervision of language law compliance must primarily come from the Brussels Region itself,” Verstraeten concluded. “It’s high time for a new Brussels government to take this issue seriously, implement structural reforms, draw a clear line in the sand, and finally take action against municipalities that deliberately and persistently ignore the rules.”