News

New Justice Law: more illegal criminals to be expelled

29 January 2016

The choice of State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken, to focus his repatriation policy on criminal illegal immigrants is clearly bearing fruit: never were more criminals expelled than in 2015. "And the new justice law, which has also been approved by Parliament, will increase the …

Tax shift now visible on payslip

26 January 2016

At the end of last year the tax shift was voted on. This has brought about the biggest tax reform since 1963. "More competitiveness and less taxation on labour, that is what this historic reform is about," Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt explains. "And this decreased taxation on labour …

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