Peeters pointed out that the Flemish economy grew by 2.6% in 2011. “All in all, that is spectacular,” he said. “Now we have to avoid that this summer’s political insecurity ends in a winter recession. That is the challenge for this political year.”

Flanders’ budget for 2012 will be one with no extra debt. “In Belgium, we are the only [region] that will manage this. Next year, there will be €230 million for new policy, while €220 million will be put away for unexpected expenses.”

Peeters also announced the “child bonus” for families with young children and a €30 million new jobs plan. Education is to get €30 million more, with particular attention paid to preventing overcrowding in preschool classes. Innovation, meanwhile, receives €60 million, while decisions on mobility were announced last week (see below). Life will become easier for entrepreneurs, as urban and environmental permits will be melted into one.

Peeters did not want to give “a hasty judgment” on the federal proposals for state reform. This judgment might prove divisive as N-VA is part of the Flemish government, but in the opposition federally. “Flanders is Belgium’s economic motor. Federal policy should therefore support Flemish policy,” Peeters reminded negotiators.

Noriant to start Oosterweel works

The Flemish government has taken another big step in solving the mobility problems in and around Antwerp. The building consortium Noriant has been given the go-ahead to construct part of the Oosterweel-link, which is to close the Antwerp ring road and connect both banks of the Scheldt River. The European Commission still has to approve this contract, which may take up to a year. However, this will not result in a loss of time, says Flemish mobility minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V), as that time is needed anyway to draw up an obligatory environmental report.

The contract concerns the building of the Scheldt tunnel and works on the left bank. All other works, including another tunnel under the docks, will become the subject of a public call to tender.

Noriant was appointed to carry out the original plans, which included the Lange Wapper bridge across the docks. However, these plans were changed as they were voted down in an Antwerp referendum. The city of Antwerp as well as the Port of Antwerp agreed to pay some of the extra costs involved. Both will now pay €352 million, some of which is in the form of land the city is handing over to build the Oosterweel-link.

“That the port should contribute, too, is not obvious, as roads are not our core business,” said port spokesperson Marc Van Peel, at a press conference with the Flemish Region last week. “But we do have a major interest, as we suffer greatly when traffic comes to a standstill, like it did after a minor incident last week.”

The Oostweel-link is part of the so called Masterplan 2020 for Antwerp. Also last week, the Flemish government agreed to another part of this plan called Brabo 2. Brabo 2 includes the construction of a new Operaplein, with an underground metro station designed by De Sola Morales, a make-over for the Noorderleien and a tram extension to Ekeren. “The pedestrian Opera Square and the new Noorderleien will transform the look of Antwerp’s inner city,” said Patrick Janssens, mayor of Antwerp.

At the same press conference, Hilde Crevits announced that the Flemish government has given the green light to the Spartacus Plan: a 33-kilometer tram link between Hasselt and Maastricht, in the Netherlands. The trams, which should come online in 2017, are estimated to transport up to 6.8 billion passengers a year. “This would make it as successful as the popular Coast Tram,” said Crevits.

The Flemish Parliament, meanwhile, has decided to scrap the “retirement bonuses” for MPs who leave of their own will. The wages of the president of the Flemish Parliament will be lowered by €4,000 a month. Jan Peumans (N-VA), who currently holds this function, had proposed this himself, as he declared himself “flabbergasted” by the size of his wage package.