News

Stricter rules for family reunification

23 February 2011

Following the lead of two of its neighbouring countries, France and the Netherlands, Belgium has decided to apply a stricter family reunification policy. For example, tough housing and income requirements will from now on apply to foreigners and Belgians who sponsor a partner or spouse living abroad …

Unfair levy on electricity

21 February 2011

Currently, Flemish companies which take measures to reduce energy consumption are rewarded by the Flemish authorities for their efforts. However, strangely enough the Belgian “federal electricity contribution” makes it so that these same efforts are also punished at the financial level. In fact, the …

New rights for bus travellers a step in the right direction

15 February 2011

After 2 years of discussions with the Council of Europe the European Parliament approved an agreement which will provide a legal framework for the rights of passengers travelling by bus and motor coach. The N-VA supports this new law even though it is not perfect and should have been much more …

Second-generation immigrants better at securing employment than the first generation

15 February 2011

The second-generation of non-EU immigrants born in Belgium continues to improve its position in Belgian society. Such persons generally do better in school and on the labour market than the first generation. For example, close to 70% of the second generation of non-EU immigrants aged between 25 and …

31% more civic integration contracts in 2010

8 February 2011

In 2010, there were 31% more civic integration contracts signed than in 2009, and in absolute terms this amounts to 18,608 contracts. These figures were released by the Flemish Minister for Civic Integration, Geert Bourgeois (N-VA). The increase is attributable to higher inflows and the better …

Few Flemings present at “Shame” demonstration

24 January 2011

On Sunday, around 34,000 people participated in a demonstration in Brussels to voice their concern about Belgium’s current political stalemate. The demonstration was an initiative by a few young people organised under the slogan “Shame. No government, great country”. The N-VA shares in the …

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