News

Further investment in repatriation policy

28 November 2016

The budget for repatriating foreigners is increasing next year by 17.7%, from 72 million euros to 84.8 million euros. “And this in particularly difficult budgetary conditions,” stresses Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken. He wishes to use the extra funds to further increase …

Risk of poverty falls for the first time in years

28 November 2016

According to the Federal Planning Bureau, by 2008 the number of persons at risk of poverty and social exclusion will have fallen by 104,000. And if the policy continues unchanged, the poverty risk percentage will fall from 21.1% to 16.1% by 2030. “The shift has started to take place: the risk of …

N-VA commits to a strong Flemish climate policy

24 November 2016

The N-VA group in the Flemish Parliament has reached an agreement spanning majority and opposition in the Flemish Parliament on a Flemish climate resolution. All parties involved - N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld, Groen and sp.a - are giving the Flemish Government a large number of ambitious, specific …

Curbing the illegal trade in animals and plants

24 November 2016

In a clear resolution, the European Parliament is calling on the EU Member States to crack down hard on the illegal trade in wild animals and plants. MEP Mark Demesmaeker contributed to this call: “A shocking number of elephants, tigers, rhino and other wild animal species are killed for gadgets …

Stricter European air quality standards

23 November 2016

By a large majority, the European Parliament has approved stricter goals in the fight against air pollution. “We would have preferred an even higher level of ambition,” says MEP Mark Demesmaeker. “Still, I am pleased that Europe is already taking clear steps towards better air quality. “Currently, …

Improved status for sign language interpreters in Europe