More expensive to immigrate: Details of new government accord revealed

The majority coalition consists of N-VA, Open VLD and CD&V. All other parties are in opposition, most notably the far-right Vlaams Belang, which came in second only to N-VA in the regional elections. N-VA held talks with Vlaams Belang this summer, but said it could not find common ground with the party.

Vlaams Belang has had influence, however, on many of N-VA’s demands for the government accord, in particular tighter immigration policies. “The great deal of unease that was expressed on 26 May has not gone unnoticed,” said Jambon today at a press conference to announce the details of the new accord. “There is a sense that burdens and advantages are not equally distributed in our society. Therefore, we are going to ask that those who want to become a part of our society to make more of an effort. Newcomers who successfully integrate – and we are going to help them with that – will then get every opportunity.”

Concretely, the new measures are:

• Asylum-seekers can no longer build up children’s allowance during the residency procedure. Previously, when refugees became regularised, they received the allowance retroactively for the period of the procedure.
• Newcomers will only be eligible for social housing after 10 years of living in Belgium and after five years of living in the municipality where the social housing is located. The five-year rule is being increased from an existing three-year rule.
• There will also be a 10-year wait for newcomers to be able to access the zorgkas, subsidies provided to those with special care needs.
• The required integration course for newcomers from outside the EU will no longer be free but will cost €360 per person. The course includes information on the history, structure and basic norms of Flanders. Newcomers who fail the required final exams must pay for the course again in order to retake the exam.

“The ticket to get into to Flanders will become more expensive,” said Jambon, “but once you’re a member of this society, you are a full member, with all of the opportunities and advantages.”

Other measures in the new accord:

• A new minister post will be established for justice and enforcement. While justice is a federal competence, the new minister will apply federal and regional laws at the regional level.
• Anyone unemployed for more than three months must register with the jobs and training agency VDAB or follow another course that demonstrates the desire to find employment. Anyone unemployed for more than two years must perform regular community service. The new government’s goal is to have an 80% employment rate by 2024. The current rate is 74%.
• The M Decree has been revoked. The M decree allowed pupils in special education to more easily move into regular education by requiring schools to equip them with the necessary tools, such as special software or sign-language interpreters.
• The tax break for a mortgage loan will be abolished. Anyone who takes out a home loan this year will still get the tax break, but after 1 January, it will no longer be an option. The registration fee required to pay to take out a home loan, however, will decrease from 7% to 6% of the amount of the loan. The government coalition hopes that property prices will fall as a result of the changes.
• Flanders will pull all support for Unia, the federal equal opportunities agency.
• The government will set a goal to establish twice as much solar and wind energy as it has now by 2030. By 2050, it will reduce CO2 emissions by 80%.
• Citizens are no longer required to vote in municipal and provincial elections. There will be no sanctions taken against those who choose not to vote. Also, the party in the ruling coalition with the most votes will automatically deliver the mayor of the municipality.

While Jambon will be sworn in as Flanders’ new minister-president, the others ministers have not yet been announced.

Photo: Political party chairs Gwendolyn Rutten (Open VLD), Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Wouter Beke (CD&V)
©Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA