News

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 …

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Plan against social dumping inadequate

20 July 2016
Plan against social dumping inadequate

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 …

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Turkey does not deserve a place in the EU

19 July 2016
Turkey does not deserve a place in the EU

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 …

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Comparison of European energy prices to become easier

12 July 2016
Comparison of European energy prices to become easier

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 …

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Stricter European air quality standards

12 July 2016
Stricter European air quality standards

The Environmental Committee of the European Parliament has approved stricter goals in the fight against air pollution. MEP Mark Demesmaeker is pleased that the EU is taking clear steps towards better air quality: “Currently, an annual estimated 400,000 European citizens die prematurely due to bad …

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Pensions: end to ‘benefit tourism’

12 July 2016
Pensions : c'en est fini du « tourisme social »

At the N-VA’s behest, the phenomenon of social shopping, in which people over the age of 65 migrate to Belgium in order to receive the Guaranteed income for the elderly (inkomensgarantie voor ouderen, IGO) without ever having contributed to our social security, is being brought to an end. The …

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