Latest news with #Vooruit
Euractiv
6 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Belgium moves closer to coalition crisis over Gaza
Belgian lawmakers convened a reckoning over the country's paralysed policy stance on Gaza at an emergency parliamentary committee hearing on Thursday that cut short the summer break and drew Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot. For weeks, tensions have been brewing inside Belgium's delicate five-party coalition government, with three of the parties growing impatient with what they see as the executive's silence on Israel's ongoing war and the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip. So far, Belgium has no unified position on whether to officially recognise a Palestinian state, no agreement on whether to sanction Israel over alleged abuses and violations of international law, and no decision on whether to label the situation in Gaza a genocide. Prime minister under pressure The centrist Les Engagés party, as well as the centre-right Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) and the socialist Vooruit parties, had all urged Prime Minister Bart De Wever of the right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) to convene the cabinet before Thursday's session. The three parties hoped to push Belgium toward sanctioning Israel and recognising Palestine by winning over at least some politicians from the liberal Reformist Movement (MR), which has so far opposed describing Gaza as a genocide, and the N-VA, which has not yet taken a formal position. But De Wever, on holiday until Sunday, refused to call a meeting of ministers – even via video link. Ahead of the Thursday's showdown, CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi vented his frustration on public broadcaster VRT: "Let's hope the government meets soon, and that when the ministers return from holiday, they understand that in times of genocide, this is where they should be." He warned that if nothing is done, Christian Democrats could no longer "carry on with business as usual" on other policy issues. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau had also hinted earlier that a government crisis could loom without action. Belgium has taken part in humanitarian aid drops into Gaza, touted by the De Wever government. But those efforts are seen by many lawmakers as insufficient. During the parliamentary meeting, several MPs blasted De Wever for not cutting short his holiday, with Green lawmaker Rajae Maouane saying: "Genocide doesn't take vacations." Belgian government threatened by rift over Gaza inaction Belgium's governing coalition is divided over Gaza – with parties trading blows, the PM on holiday, and a stormy parliamentary debate on Thursday. Prévot pushes for a harder line Prévot, a member of Les Engagés who also serves as Belgium's deputy prime minister, took a much firmer tone than some of his coalition partners. "It is hard not to see all the elements that could amount to clear genocidal violence [in this war]," he told MPs. He said Belgium pushed hard at the EU level to target both Hamas and Israeli political and military leaders with sanctions, and blamed Hungary for blocking consensus. He endorsed a ban on imports from Israeli settlements and pledged to push again for Belgium to blacklist individuals and welcomed signs of support from De Wever's N-VA in that regard. Prévot lamented that Belgium had not followed the lead of other European countries like France in recognising a Palestinian state in July, but argued that halting the war is far more urgent. Without immediate progress, "there will soon be nothing left to recognise", he said. The minister promised MPs that they could "count on [him] to help shift the lines". A looming crisis? After the meeting, Prévot told broadcaster RTL that if N-VA and MR continue to block recognition of Palestine, "it will be grounds for a serious government crisis", and expressed fear that Belgium could suffer "a total loss of credibility on the international stage" due to a double standard for Gaza and other conflicts, such as in Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prévot demanded that Belgium reach a clear position before the UN General Assembly meets on 20 September in New York. Belgium supports bid to suspend Israel from EU research programme Belgium is one of around 10 countries supporting the move, but the threshold for triggering it is still out of reach (bts)
Euractiv
22-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
Belgian reform package targets excessive medical fees
Belgium's federal government has unveiled a socio-economic reform package after an all-night negotiating session among senior ministers. Among the agreement's most debated components is the proposed reform of the healthcare system. The so-called 'summer agreement', reached at 4 a.m. on 21st July - Belgium's National Day - marks a pivotal moment in Belgium's political trajectory, touching pensions, taxation, the labour market and healthcare. "What we have done in six months has not been seen in terms of reform impact in this century," Prime Minister Bart De Wever said. A key objective of the proposed healthcare system reform, led by Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit), is to make healthcare more affordable and transparent. Part of this involves limiting fee surcharges, the additional amounts some doctors charge patients above statutory tariffs. Shocked by the bill In a statement published on the social media platform Facebook, Vandenbroucke argued that "if you are ill, you should be taken care of, without being shocked by the bill afterwards simply because of the hospital you ended up in. We are removing excesses. This makes your bill fairer and more transparent. The right care should not depend on your wallet." According to an overview published by coalition partner Vooruit, the government is determined to rein in what it calls "excessive and unnecessary" fee surcharges. While most doctors do not charge extra fees, a minority continue to bill patients above the statutory tariffs, both in and outside of hospitals, leading to sharply unequal treatment and unpredictable medical bills. In some hospitals, patients may be charged over €2,000 in additional fees for procedures such as childbirth, while in others, no surcharges apply at all. "That's simply unfair," the party states. "And who ends up paying the price? Ordinary people." Vooruit party leader Conner Rousseau framed the reforms as a necessary intervention to preserve the sustainability of the system. "We are reforming healthcare to keep it affordable and to improve it for the future. Excessive and unnecessary surcharges that some specialists charge must be eliminated. Because if you need care tomorrow, you should still be able to get it," Rousseau said in a party communication following the agreement. The agreement confirms that limits on additional fees will apply across all medical sectors and disciplines. A negotiation period has now begun with representatives of the medical profession to set concrete ceilings on how much doctors can charge above the official rates. According to Vooruit, this moment represents a "historic turning point." If no consensus is reached, the government has reserved the right to impose limits. The agreement on surcharges follows a tense negotiation period that led to the first doctors' strike in decades. Balancing access and autonomy The reform package reflects a political compromise after weeks of mounting pressure from healthcare professionals. While Vooruit pushed to eliminate excessive billing practices, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) insisted that reforms be embedded in a broader structural agenda. "For N-VA, two principles were non-negotiable: high-quality care for patients and respect for caregivers," said MPs Frieda Gijbels and Kathleen Depoorter in a joint statement. "That's why we fought for a workable compromise that upholds both quality and professional independence." The agreement enshrines a coordinated approach to healthcare reform, covering not only fee supplements but also hospital financing and medical tariffs (the nomenclature). A revised framework law will be drawn up with a clear timeline to synchronise all three elements. Gijbels, a practising periodontist, said: "From the very beginning, we advocated for an integrated reform. The sector itself called for reforms to be considered together, and we ensured the voice of doctors was heard, even directly to the minister. These changes must never become a blank cheque." Depoorter added: "We're pleased that the final law leaves room for dialogue, entrepreneurship, and safeguards the liberal profession. Reforms must benefit both the patient and the care provider." As part of the broader package, the agreement also scraps the so-called 25% rule, ensuring patients receive equal reimbursement whether they visit a contractual or non-contractual provider. The option of partial contract remains, while mutual health insurers will take on increased responsibility for budget management, rising to €100 million annually by 2029. Curbing pharma overspending To rein in the projected 25% growth in pharmaceutical spending, the government will introduce a flat €2 co-payment for certain overprescribed drugs like statins and antacids, while promoting more selective prescribing and stricter fraud controls. The pharmaceutical industry is expected to contribute half of the required savings, which will be reinvested in underfunded areas such as mental health, dental care, staffing and innovative treatments. [Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]
Ya Biladi
21-03-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Flemish-Moroccan Cultural center Darna closes in Belgium
In service since 2017 to succeed Daarkom, the Flemish-Moroccan cultural center Darna has closed at its own request, considering that the managing nonprofit organization «was not functioning as it should» and that «the objectives were not fully achieved». On Thursday, the Flemish Minister of Culture, Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), confirmed before the Culture Committee of the Flemish Parliament that the continuity of the structure was uncertain. Last year, the board of directors of Darna «conducted its own evaluation» before reaching out to the overseeing ministers, reports Bruzz. Initially set up to replace the first Flemish-Moroccan House on Wolvengracht, the center benefited from a memorandum between the Flemish and Moroccan governments, as well as subsidies from both parties. Under this agreement, the association responsible for managing the activities and operations of the space was intended to «bridge Flanders and Morocco through cultural events», including gatherings around cinema, music, and an annual festival. Due to insufficient effectiveness relative to the resources allocated, Minister Gennez and her Moroccan counterpart «decided to pull the plug on Darna», as it was deemed not to be functioning as it should. «The objectives were not fully achieved», the minister emphasized in the committee. In this regard, Caroline Gennez mentioned the possibility of re-examining the memorandum with Morocco to ensure the sustainability of cultural cooperation on both sides. In the meantime, Darna's premises are being emptied. The nonprofit organization is considering its dissolution.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Riots in Brussels over plot to delay retirement age
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Brussels on Thursday to demonstrate against government pension reforms which included raising the retirement age to 67. A nationwide strike halted all air traffic and paralysed public transport across Belgium. Protesters clashed with police who used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the crowds. The industrial action was sparked by budget cuts introduced by the new centre-Right government, led by Bart De Wever, the Flemish nationalist, which would affect pensions, unemployment benefits and hospital funding. The so-called Arizona coalition has proposed raising the retirement age from 66 to 67 by 2030 while eliminating preferential pension schemes for military personnel and railway workers. The retirement age in Belgium has already risen from 65 to 66 this year. A wider package of reforms will reward those who work past retirement age with 35 years of service, while early retirees without 35 years face a penalty. The new system is seen as disadvantageous to lower-income earners compared with the previous system, which provided a lump sum based on career length. Thierry Bodson, president of the Belgian General Federation of Labour (FGTB), told Euronews: 'This is a real attack on the purchasing power of pensioners, because they will have to work longer to get a smaller pension.' The new executive wants to bring in a cap of up to two years on unemployment benefits, which do not currently have a limit. A ban on working on Sundays could also be abolished. The government hopes to save €23bn (£19bn) by 2029 through this budgetary tightening, around 3.5pc of Belgium's GDP. It insists the reforms are necessary to stabilise the country's economy amid an ageing population and a growing debt burden, which has surpassed 100pc of GDP and is among the highest in the EU. Belgium is also under pressure from the US and other Nato partners to raise defence spending to from 1.3pc to 2pc of GDP. However, unions and protesters argue that the working class will pay the price of the reforms while wealthier citizens remain largely unaffected. It follows mass protests in France where Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age have faced bitter resistance from political opponents, unions and the public. In 2023, the French president pushed through legislation that raised the legal age of retirement from 62 to 64 by 2030 in order to help plug France's ballooning deficit. De Wever's government was sworn in on February 3 after eight months of negotiations that resulted in a five-party coalition including Right-wing, centrist, and socialist parties, of which Vooruit was one. The socialist union had warned that a strike would be called if Vooruit joined the predominantly centre-Right government. Several days of rail strikes by two independent trade unions are planned for the end of February and a general strike on March 31. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Riots in Brussels over plot to delay retirement age
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Brussels on Thursday to demonstrate against government pension reforms which included raising the retirement age to 67. A nationwide strike halted all air traffic and paralysed public transport across Belgium. Protesters clashed with police who used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the crowds. The industrial action was sparked by budget cuts introduced by the new centre-Right government, led by Bart De Wever, the Flemish nationalist, which would affect pensions, unemployment benefits and hospital funding. The so-called Arizona coalition has proposed raising the retirement age from 66 to 67 by 2030 while eliminating preferential pension schemes for military personnel and railway workers. The retirement age in Belgium has already risen from 65 to 66 this year. A wider package of reforms will reward those who work past retirement age with 35 years of service, while early retirees without 35 years face a penalty. The new system is seen as disadvantageous to lower-income earners compared with the previous system, which provided a lump sum based on career length. Thierry Bodson, president of the Belgian General Federation of Labour (FGTB), told Euronews: 'This is a real attack on the purchasing power of pensioners, because they will have to work longer to get a smaller pension.' The new executive wants to bring in a cap of up to two years on unemployment benefits, which do not currently have a limit. A ban on working on Sundays could also be abolished. The government hopes to save €23bn (£19bn) by 2029 through this budgetary tightening, around 3.5pc of Belgium's GDP. It insists the reforms are necessary to stabilise the country's economy amid an ageing population and a growing debt burden, which has surpassed 100pc of GDP and is among the highest in the EU. Belgium is also under pressure from the US and other Nato partners to raise defence spending to from 1.3pc to 2pc of GDP. However, unions and protesters argue that the working class will pay the price of the reforms while wealthier citizens remain largely unaffected. It follows mass protests in France where Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age have faced bitter resistance from political opponents, unions and the public. In 2023, the French president pushed through legislation that raised the legal age of retirement from 62 to 64 by 2030 in order to help plug France's ballooning deficit. De Wever's government was sworn in on February 3 after eight months of negotiations that resulted in a five-party coalition including Right-wing, centrist, and socialist parties, of which Vooruit was one. The socialist union had warned that a strike would be called if Vooruit joined the predominantly centre-Right government. Several days of rail strikes by two independent trade unions are planned for the end of February and a general strike on March 31.
