Peeters delivers September Declaration
Flanders will emerge from the economic crisis of the last six years as one of the strongest regions in Europe, minister-president Kris Peeters told the Flemish parliament this week, noting that this administration had made “successful investments in difficult times”.
Annual address sums up government’s achievements
Peeters was speaking as part of the September Declaration, the “state of the union” address made annually to parliament, as it prepares to begin a new session. With regional elections due to take place in May 2014, this was the last opportunity for him to list the successes of this administration.
Peeters quoted a number of statistics to illustrate his government’s achievements:
• 21,072 responses to requests for care for the handicapped
• 18,379 extra places in day-care centres
• 6,500 new beds in residential care homes
• 110,000 people learning Dutch as a second language
• 1,850km of cycle paths laid or renewed
• 5,637 applications for school renovations approved
Our ambitions must remain higher
“These are investments that count, colleagues,” said Peeters. “These are investments that improve the lives of ordinary people … But as long as one child or one senior or one handicapped person is on a waiting list, our ambitions must remain higher. As long as strong companies have to close their doors, we cannot be satisfied. As long as hardworking people are losing their jobs, this Flemish government will not rest on its laurels.”
These are investments that count, colleagues
To begin the final stage, he said, the government offers a balanced budget, which involves savings but places no new burdens on workers or businesses. “The investment in research and development, school building, care infrastructure, sewers, heritage, sports facilities, social housing and mobility will remain at their current levels or even increase. The agreements worked out in education and the social sector will be implemented without cuts.”
With the promise of an end to the crisis in sight, improved consumer confidence, record exports and the promise of 1.1% growth in 2014, Peeters said, the government was ready to proceed to the achievement of its mission of becoming one of the top five strongest economies in the EU.
