News

Flemish Minister-President wants North Sea Union

23 August 2016

Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois calls for the establishment of a North Sea Union, following the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), a partnership of the EU with fifteen non-EU countries around the Mediterranean Sea. As far as Geert Bourgeois is concerned, the North Sea Union will be a …

Municipal foreigners tax also receives green light

19 August 2016

Primo-arrivants : feu vert pour la taxe communale

At the indication of State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken, the government gave the green light for a municipal foreigners tax just before the summer. Now that it has also been approved by the Council of State, the proposal can be brought before Parliament. “Administration related …

Plan against social dumping inadequate

20 July 2016

European Commissioner Marianne Thyssen (CD&V) proposed her plans to fight abuse of secondment at the beginning of March. MEP Helga Stevens sees it as a step in the right direction, but thinks it is inadequate to turn the tide in the fight against social dumping. The number of secondments continues …

Turkey does not deserve a place in the EU

19 July 2016

At the Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament, which convened an emergency session to discuss the situation in Turkey, MEP Mark Demesmaeker issued a strong plea to finally put a lid on the Turkish prospect of joining the EU. Mark Demesmaeker directly addressed Johannes Hahn, the …

Comparison of European energy prices to become easier

12 July 2016

European member states are required by new legislation to provide information about the composition of their energy prices: not only about the energy costs themselves, but also about additional factors such as taxes and green energy certificates. “This is an important step towards a truly European …

Stricter European air quality standards