News

Priority for vulnerable asylum seekers

23 November 2018

“We give priority to the most vulnerable.” Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken is limiting the registration of asylum applications to a maximum of sixty per day. The reason is the steep rise in applications since July. In November, 2,750 migrants submitted their application, …

Zuhal Demir wants a Centre against Sexual Violence in every province

22 November 2018

“It is important that we as a society send the message that we are on the side of the victims of sexual violence.” Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities Zuhal Demir wants to seize on the success of the trial project with three Centres against Sexual Violence to advocate that there should be …

European attack on Flemish social welfare state

20 November 2018

“The new European social security law flings the door wide open to welfare tourism.” MEP Helga Stevens calls the new law unacceptable. “The biggest stumbling block is that every EU citizen can make use of our Belgian unemployment benefit after having worked just one day in Belgium. This will cost …

Not enough people in Wallonia and Brussels at work

17 November 2018

The budget shortfall in Belgium can only be resolved if more people in Wallonia and Brussels go to work. Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt went straight to the heart of the problem during the Finance Avenue 2018 event held by newspaper De Tijd. “My conclusion after four years is that the key …

A Brexit plan for Flanders

16 November 2018

“A no-deal Brexit endangers no fewer than 28,000 Flemish jobs.” Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois is not leaving anything to chance: with the Brexit plan that he and Flemish Minister of Economy Philippe Muyters have drawn up, he is preparing Flemish companies for all possible scenarios, …

Fight against terror remains priority for the Ministry of Defence in 2019