News

Over EUR 1 million in penalty fees already for mismanagement of asylum policy, and the fees are mounting: “Mahdi’s asylum policy is a flop”

12 June 2022

Secretary of State Mahdi’s asylum policy is not working. Despite the lofty words and big promises he made when he took office to resolve the so-called “asylum chaos”, the reality on the ground after 21 months of Mahdi is dramatic. “Even though there are 30,000 reception places and a record amount …

Johan van Overtveldt on the ECB interest rate increase: “Too little, too late”

10 June 2022

After months of delay, the European Central Bank has decided to raise interest rates. According to MEP and former Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt, this decision comes far too late. “All the signs already indicated last year that inflation was going to be a problem, but the ECB has waited …

N-VA: “The European Parliament is getting ahead of itself with the Climate Pact”

8 June 2022

The votes on the package of climate laws called “Fit For 55” turned out to be a fiasco today. The reform of the Emissions Trading Scheme did not win a majority, and the rapporteurs withdrew other related dossiers. “Just as we had predicted,” says MEP Johan Van Overtveldt. “The EU wants to be at the …

We can make Putin’s crew pay for Ukrainian reconstruction — smartly

8 June 2022

“Getting Russia to contribute to the effort won’t be easy, and Western leaders must proceed with caution,” says Johan Van Overtveldt, chairman of the European Parliament’s budget committee and Belgium’s former minister of finance (2014-2018) on politico.eu. Within the significantly, if not overly …

Negotiations on the nuclear power stations: “Van der Straeten must be removed from this dossier”

5 June 2022

In the VTM Nieuws television news programme, chairman Bart De Wever was unusually sharp towards the Groen party, and Tinne Van der Straeten in particular. “Van der Straeten is negotiating with Engie to fail. She must be removed from this dossier. If necessary, De Croo should remove the Groen party, …

Assita Kanko and Ayaan Hirsi Ali: “Never compromise on freedom”

4 June 2022

MEP Assita Kanko invited the Dutch Ayaan Hirsi Ali to a debate in the European Parliament on the freedom of expression, women’s rights and the future of our community. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Dutch politician with outspoken opinions on radical Islam and violence against women, among other things. “We …

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