News

Every asylum seeker undergoes a thorough safety check

17 November 2015
Every asylum seeker undergoes a thorough safety check

Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken has established a “radicalisation task force”. The goal of this special unit is to guarantee that every asylum seeker undergoes a thorough safety check. “In this way, we protect both our asylum system and our society against radicalism,” …

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Europe ratifies 2016 budget proposal

17 November 2015
Europe ratifies 2016 budget proposal

The European Commission has ratified the federal budget proposal for 2016. It is of the opinion that it is globally in agreement with the stipulations imposed by the Stability and Growth Pact. “In this way, Europe is confirming that Belgium has broken fresh ground with its new government,” said …

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Fight against terrorism: “Europe must act faster and more efficiently”

17 November 2015
Fight against terrorism: “Europe must act faster and more efficiently”

“Europe must crack down on the arms trade, apply the Schengen Agreement more rigorously and more quickly develop the PNR system for tracking down suspicious persons and travel movements.” Belgian Minister of the Interior, Jan Jambon, reached this conclusion after emergency security consultations …

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General crisis communication with text message alerts coming soon

13 November 2015
General crisis communication with text message alerts coming soon

When a terrorist attack, disaster or other emergency strikes, everyone in the danger zone will soon receive an alert by text message, even visitors and foreign travellers, Jan Jambon, Minister of the Interior, recently announced in his new policy brief. The brief also refers to a new system for …

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N-VA wants to phase out the princely endowments

12 November 2015
N-VA wants to phase out the princely endowments

MPs Hendrik Vuye and Veerle Wouters have submitted a bill for phasing out the endowments to Prince Laurent and Princess Astrid over a five-year period. “Why should we use the taxpayer’s money for the maintenance of members of the royal family who do not undertake work in the public interest?”, they …

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Plea for a wider European recognition of sign languages

12 November 2015
On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) Helga Stevens, one of two deaf members of the European Parliament, pleaded in favour of a wider recognition of sign languages in the EU. “Many countries are already making great efforts to offer the deaf community the facilities it needs. But in several EU Member States, the policy continues to be sub-standard. Legal recognition of the national sign language is an important step forward for achieving full inclusion and lang

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) Helga Stevens, one of two deaf members of the European Parliament, pleaded in favour of a wider recognition of sign languages in the EU. “Many countries are already making great efforts to offer the deaf community …

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