The N-VA is calling for an audit of Beliris funds spending

Federal Minister Karine Lalieux (PS party) received a barrage of questions about Beliris’ decision to suspend the Metro 3 project in Brussels. According to MP Wouter Raskin, the fact that an important mobility project is at risk proves that his long-standing criticism of the improper use of the Beliris fund resources is justified, as in 2021 and 2022. He proposes to have the Court of Audit investigate whether those funds are being spent correctly in accordance with the legal objective of the Beliris fund. Brussels group chair Cieltje Van Achter, in turn, is highly critical of the Brussels government’s approach to the matter: “I am wavering between amateurishness, incompetence or culpable omission in the failure to deal with an announced crisis.”

Extra budget for those with the same red colour

Brussels receives some EUR 125 million annually from the federal government through the Beliris fund. That money is intended to support the international and capital city role of Brussels. A considerable share of the money goes to mobility and infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a third metro line, but every year, a substantial amount of funds also flows to many smaller initiatives, such as the construction of social housing or the renovation of schools. “These initiatives do not fall under the objective of the Beliris fund, but are actually part of the core responsibilities of the local or regional levels of government. Those levels of government, and preferably those with the same red colour as the minister politically, covertly receive an extra budget to exercise their own powers,” says Wouter Raskin.

Amateurishness, incompetence or culpable omission?

The practice now threatens to bring down a crucial mobility project. Due to a lack of budget, Beliris wants to pull the plug on the Metro 3 project, a project that nevertheless falls squarely within the legal objective of the Beliris fund.

Brussels N-VA group chair Cieltje Van Achter is highly critical of the Brussels government’s approach to the metro dossier. They are forced to turn to the federal government for additional funding. And that is while Cieltje was repeatedly critical of the fact that the metro project was started without the necessary funding. Now that the Brussels budget is derailed, the Brussels government is begging the federal government for funds. “Is that amateurishness, incompetence or culpable omission?” Van Achter wonders.

Audit by the Court of Audit

The N-VA is thus calling for an audit by the Court of Audit on the use of the Beliris funds. “It is time to put a stop to this PS party cronyism because its consequences are particularly pernicious. I am therefore calling for the Court of Audit to be commissioned to carry out an audit of how Beliris fund resources are spent and whether this is in line with the fund’s legal objective,” Raskin concludes.