Mandatory civic integration in Brussels has now been postponed for the fifth time

The mandatory 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 programme that was due to start in Brussels next Friday on 1 April will be postponed until June. The decision to request a postponement was taken unanimously at the Conference of Mayors after several municipalities indicated that they were not at all ready to implement the obligation. Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten and Flemish MP Annabel Tavernier are critical: “Despite the promises of the minister responsible for civic integration, Maron, we have known for a long time that this was nothing more than a bad April Fool’s joke. This is the fifth postponement in two years, and Maron’s credit has actually run out.”

Chronicle of an announced postponement

The mandatory civic integration in Brussels was approved in 2017, and the date it had to be a reality was 1 January 2020. After the fourth postponement in two years, Brussels Health Minister Alain Maron repeatedly promised that the mandatory programmes would start on 1 April. Gilles Verstraeten says it had actually been clear for a long time that that date was not realistic: “The municipalities were left with questions, including about the regulations and the digital application, for which information and training sessions were quickly organised this month. In view of the continuing lack of clarity, the municipalities unanimously requested Maron for the postponement. He has now set the new target date for June. This is simply becoming an arduous process.”

Postponement to June

Minister Maron continued to insist on 1 April as the target date for quite a while, but at the same time, he stated that some aspects of the programme would not be ready until June. This applies not only to the sanctioning system and the portal for newcomers, but also to the interface that is to enable the exchange of personal data between the language communities. Flemish MP Annabel Tavernier: “This exchange is necessary in order to roll out the civic integration programmes. Flanders has long been ready to do its part of the work: the budgets needed have been provided and the reception offices are prepared to take up their duties.”

Learning lessons 

Gilles Verstraeten and Annabel Tavernier are very disappointed with the new postponement and scathing of Minister Maron. “In the meantime, this brings us to the fifth postponement in less than two years, despite Maron’s explicit promises. As feared, this is thus nothing more than a bad April Fool’s joke.” Gilles Verstraeten emphasises that the minister responsible for civic integration, Alain Maron, bears a crushing responsibility. “This issue has been dragging on for years. The municipalities are now sending the Minister the signal that his approach is amateurish and that it cannot continue this way. Hopefully, he is listening.” At the same time, Annabel Tavernier wonders aloud: “Is Maron still a credible partner for Flanders? It is high time to learn lessons from this.”