Flemish priorities in European policy

“It is important for Flanders to enter into a direct dialogue with the European level.” The N-VA group in the Flemish Parliament has submitted a concept paper with six priorities that the European Commission should focus on in its policy.

The paper is part of a European pilot project to involve regional parliaments more directly in setting the European Commission’s agenda. It is organised by CALRE (the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies) and by the Committee of the Regions (the EU advisory body composed of regional and local representatives).

Clear agreements

According to the N-VA group, it is crucial to have a clear framework of agreements to guide our European cooperation. It must be based on Subsidiarity A principle that states that the lowest possible level at which a government is (still) effective is the most appropriate level from which to govern. It is for this reason that only the powers that a lower authority cannot exercise or cannot exercise well are allocated to a centralised or higher authority, and vice versa. The idea behind this is that political decisions are best made and executed as closely to the citizens as possible. subsidiarity , proportionality, responsibility and solidarity.

In addition, the concept paper puts forward six specific policy priorities:

1. an EU committed to jobs, prosperity, innovation and sustainability;
2. an EU that deepens and strengthens the internal market and promotes free and fair trade;
3. an EU that protects external borders and combats illegal migration;
4. an EU that is against social dumping and opposes unfair competition;
5. an EU that protects and promotes our European identity, democratic values, the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms;
6. an EU that has more impact at the international level.

The paper was discussed in the Committee on Foreign Policy and submitted to the European institutions.

Direct dialogue between Flanders and the EU

The N-VA considers it important that Flanders can enter into a direct dialogue with the European level. “This pilot project ensures that we don’t have to do this via a detour through the Belgian federal level. By means of this concept paper, the N-VA is highlighting where our priorities lie in the run-up to the preparation of the European Commission’s Work Programme.”