News

No more permanent appointments at NMBS

26 May 2016

With a view to modernising Belgium’s national railway company NMBS and allowing it to operate more efficiently, the N-VA wants to phase out permanent appointments. The staff may retain their status, but new people may only be recruited with a contract. Too many expensive benefits are connected to …

Digital Europe: no discrimination, only differentiation

25 May 2016

The European Commission proposes a package of measures to improve online trade in Europe by creating a digitally unified market. Doing this, it focuses on tackling the phenomenon of geoblocking, a practice through which merchants block consumers from other countries from gaining access to their …

Asylum crisis: more budget for more returns

20 May 2016

The Belgian government has approved a budget of 30 million euros to substantially boost return services of the Immigration Service (DVZ). The same resources are also used to boost the decision-making capacity of the asylum authorities. “This allows us to shorten the asylum procedure and decrease …

New bank tax: fairer tax system

13 May 2016

Proposed by Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt (N-VA), the government has approved a new bank tax. It is part of the tax shift and will bring in 805 million euros a year. “That is 55 million euros more than previous income from the various contributions from the financial sector,” the …

Obligatory origin labelling is unnecessary

12 May 2016

The European Parliament has approved a resolution concerning obligatory origin labelling. The N-VA delegation voted against it. “Apparently, the majority of European Parliament members believe that an obligatory statement regarding the origin of milk in a carton of yoghurt or meat used in lasagne …

Flanders is also banning plastic bags

11 May 2016

After France and Italy’s earlier decision to ban plastic bags, Flanders is now also set to say goodbye to traditional plastic bags. At the same time, the authorised minister promised to investigate the option of bio-based plastics. Such plastic is made from starch and is biodegradable. Our Flemish …

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