News

Accelerated proceedings for all sexual offences

25 January 2016

"There must be no impunity for asylum seekers who have committed theft, sexual assault or rape," Member of Parliament Sophie De Wit thinks. Therefore she pleads for the use of accelerated proceedings, as is already applied to hooligans. "State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken and …

Over 10,000 people sent back in 2015

22 January 2016

In 2015, a total of 10,081 people were taken back to their country of origin. That represents an increase of 15.5% compared to 2014, when 8,727 people returned. Those repatriations were both forced, via the closed centres, and voluntary, with the assistance of the Belgian Government. “Voluntary …

Number of foreign investments in Flanders reaches new high

20 January 2016

Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois has some good economic news to start this new year. Flanders has never seen as many foreign investment projects as it did in 2015: a total of 227. That is an increase of 23.4%, or almost a quarter more than in 2014. Those projects represent a total …

Europe must tear down obstacles to digital single market

20 January 2016

The European Parliament has approved a report about the completion of the digital single market. In the report, a request is made to allow companies to create and trade digital goods, services and information as easily as possible. “With no unnecessary thresholds or additional burdens,” European …

No sale of tobacco to people under 18

18 January 2016

The N-VA has readied a bill that increases the age from which tobacco products may be purchased from 16 to 18. “While the global number of smokers is in gradual decline, the number of young people that start smoking is on the increase. Increasing the legal age is intended to further discourage them …

Extra Flemish integration programmes in Brussels

14 January 2016

As a result of the asylum crisis, the Flemish Minister for Civic Integration, Liesbeth Homans invests in 2,400 extra civic integration programmes in Brussels. "That will bring the total to a capacity of 5,400 civic integration programmes via the Brussels reception agency for integration," Flemish …

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