News

F-16s deployed for six more months in the fight against IS

15 June 2017

At the proposal of Minister of Defence Steven Vandeput, the government has decided to prolong Belgium’s commitment in the fight against IS by six months. “In the meantime, the fight against IS has reached a crucial stage,” Steven Vandeput explains. “We will be there as long as we have to be there.” …

Congo: Kabila stifles critical voices with travel ban

15 June 2017

MP Peter Luykx and Member of the Flemish Parliament and Senator Karl Vanlouwe deeply regret the travel ban imposed on them by the Democratic Republic of Congo. “President Kabila clearly won’t put up with critical observers,” conclude the two politicians, who are also electoral observers for the …

Government must continue reforming and cutting costs

14 June 2017

Following the European Commission and the IMF, the OECD and the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau, the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) is now also expecting to achieve higher economic growth in this and in the coming years: 1.6% to be precise. By way of comparison, this growth was 1.2% last year. All …

Anneleen Van Bossuyt candidate president of important EU committee

14 June 2017

The ECR group in the European Parliament has put forward MEP Anneleen Van Bossuyt as Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO). “I am especially grateful to the ECR group for its confidence in me,” a satisfied Anneleen Van Bossuyt responds. “It is with exceptional …

Automatic revocation of terrorists’ nationality

13 June 2017

Among other things, N-VA is looking to see convicted terrorists automatically lose their Belgian nationality. “If you still don’t lose your right to Belgian nationality carrying out such crimes - or even by being complicit in them or just having the intent to carry them out - when exactly should …

New European energy labels must ensure lower energy bills