News

Never before have so many women been protected from genital mutilation

6 February 2018
Theo Francken

In 2017, 456 women were granted asylum in Belgium to protect them from genital mutilation. That’s a record. However, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken wants to strengthen women’s rights even further. “Female circumcision is an inhumane practice,” says Theo Francken. “Any …

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New weapon in the fight against social fraud

6 February 2018

From now on, when a foreign worker submits a document in Belgium falsely reporting that he or she is paying social security contributions in his or her own country, a judge has the option of rejecting it. Until recently, one of these so-called A1 documents was still binding in all circumstances …

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Border-free online shopping in Europe

6 February 2018

From now on, consumers in Europe will have unlimited access to online services and goods. In other words, the days of not being able to order something from a website because there were no access permissions from your country are now over. “This will ensure a larger, and often also cheaper, online …

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Parade projects will not bring Europe closer to its citizens

2 February 2018
Straatsburg

The European Parliament is investing millions in the construction and renovation of various European ‘liaison offices’, including 360° cinemas in Tallinn, Paris and Helsinki. These parade projects now mean that the parliamentary budget will reach EUR 2 billion for the first time in 2019. “In their …

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Helga Stevens honoured for her commitment towards people with disabilities

31 January 2018
Improved status for sign language interpreters in Europe

Parliament Magazine considers Helga Stevens one of the three best MEPs on the Employment and Social Affairs Committee. She is committed to the rights of people with disabilities and is involved in the fight against social dumping. “I consider it my duty to make the inclusion of vulnerable groups …

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First reliable figures, and only then make decisions about a nuclear phase-out

31 January 2018
Maintenir les centrales nucléaires en activité plus longtemps pour éviter une pénurie d’énergie

The N-VA is not against phasing out nuclear power, but that can only happen if it is affordable and sustainable and if the energy supply remains guaranteed. Contrary to what some media report, the party is not straying from the position it has long defended. Late last year, the prime minister …

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