Helga Stevens successfully stops welfare tourism

“It is unacceptable for European newcomers to have access to our unemployment benefits after just one day.” MEP Helga Stevens made a final attempt in the European Parliament to block the new Social security Social security is currently managed at the Federal level in Belgium. The most important pillars of Belgian social security are: sickness and invalidity insurance (NIDHI), pensions, unemployment insurance and child allowances. In addition, occupational illness, occupational accidents and annual holidays are dealt with at this level. Some Flemish parties have been campaigning for years for (large parts of) social security to be transferred to the Regions and Communities. social security rules. Successfully. Her call was answered, and the file was taken off the agenda. “This is more than good news for the Flemish taxpayer”, responds Helga Stevens relieved, who still denounced the incomprehensible attitude of the CD&V.

Leeching social security

The new rules threatened to place a bomb under our own social security. Employees from the EU could claim unemployment benefits after just one day of work “This would completely deplete our social security system. Fortunately, this is now off the table. I am pleased that there were a sufficient number of sensible colleagues in the Chamber today”, says MEP Stevens.

A top destination for welfare tourists

Another thorny issue was the possibility of taking unemployment benefits back to the home country for six months. “Flanders has an export-oriented economy, but our social security is not intended to be an export product. It cannot be that the hard-working Fleming has to watch with dismay as his or her tax money disappears abroad”, says Stevens, who feared that Belgium would become a top destination for the social welfare tourist. “The N-VA has been insisting for a long time that Belgium must put its affairs in order and urgently limit these benefits over time.”

The incomprehensible principles of CD&V

Helga Stevens thus finds the attitude of the CD&V completely incomprehensible. After all, they voted against Stevens’ call. It is clear that these new rules would be very detrimental to Belgium in particular. “But apparently, for the CD&V, any agreement is more important than a good agreement. Kris Peeters may shout loudly that a day or a month’s work requirement is unacceptable, but putting his money where his mouth is turns out to be too difficult. Marrakesh parties and principles, it remains a problematic combination”, concludes Helga Stevens.