News

Junckers investment fund to reinforce recovery policy

29 May 2015

The European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers reached an agreement about the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). This must result in 315 billion euros’ worth of extra investments in, among other things, research and innovation, infrastructure and SMEs …

European Parliament votes in favour of ambitious free trade agreement with America

28 May 2015

The European Parliament voted on the TTIP, the free trade agreement the EU wishes to conclude with the US. At the same time, the Parliament formulated several interesting recommendations to reach a balanced and well-supported agreement. Since June 2013, the European Union and the United Nations …

Ten measures for a fairer tax system and a decrease in labour costs

21 May 2015

The federal government has approved the bill for the Programme Law. This also includes ten measures for a fairer tax system. “This first tax shift represents a costs shift of about two billion euros in favour of companies and citizens,” Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt (N-VA) explains. “The …

Flanders introduces kilometre-based charge for commercial vehicles

19 May 2015

Starting in April 2016, domestic and foreign commercial vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes will pay a fee per kilometre driven on the main roads in Flanders. “The whole world uses our roads, but only Flemish citizens are paying for them right now. This changes now,” says Flemish Minister of …

Structural improvement of the budget: Belgium sets the tone in the eurozone

5 May 2015

Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt (N-VA) responds positively to the most recent economic prospects presented by the European Commission. “The prospects for Belgium remain stable, unemployment is decreasing, and job creation in the private sector is gaining interest,” summarises Van …

European personnel budgets increased despite objections from N-VA party

30 April 2015

During the annual vote on the EU accounting, the European Parliament decided to increase the personnel budget for its members, thus ignoring objections by, among others, the N-VA delegation. “In doing so, the EU is sending the wrong signal in these times of severe cut-backs,” argues N-VA Member of …

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