News

120 administrative simplification measures

23 June 2017

Tasked with Administrative Simplification, State Secretary Theo Francken is looking to simplify the life of small and medium-sized enterprises. Together with Minister for the Middle Class, Self-employed and SMEs, Willy Borsus (MR), he has proposed an ambitious, far-reaching plan intended to reduce …

Anneleen Van Bossuyt elected chairman of influential EU Committee

21 June 2017

ECR Member of the European Parliament Anneleen Van Bossuyt has been elected chairman of the influential Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO). “I will do my upmost to help further develop the European single market and continue our group’s work on consumer protection”, a …

Inheritance law reform: inheritance allocation while benefactor still living

20 June 2017

The Parliamentary Committee for Justice has approved a far-reaching modernisation of the inheritance law. With this development, another important part of the coalition agreement is being achieved. A bill drawn up by the N-VA relating to the inheritance agreement was also included in the latter …

The opposition on the left votes against necessary anti-terror measure

16 June 2017

The bill to lengthen the detention period for suspects in terrorism cases from 24 to 72 hours has narrowly missed achieving a two-thirds majority in the Chamber. The hoped-for extension will therefore not be introduced. “Most regrettable,” says Minister of Security and the Interior Jan Jambon …

F-16s deployed for six more months in the fight against IS

15 June 2017

At the proposal of Minister of Defence Steven Vandeput, the government has decided to prolong Belgium’s commitment in the fight against IS by six months. “In the meantime, the fight against IS has reached a crucial stage,” Steven Vandeput explains. “We will be there as long as we have to be there.” …

Congo: Kabila stifles critical voices with travel ban