flandersfocus on THE DUTCH SPEAKING PART OF press review weekly, does not appear in July • number 28 • 8 July – 14 July 2006

Six groups still in running INTRODUCTION This year too, many commenta- tors are seizing on the Flemish for Indaver Community's feast day to gauge the strength of the belief in Flemish independence. Sepa- The sale of a majority interest in the PASCAL DENDOOVEN • • ratism, concludes (8 Flemish waste company Indaver has 12 JULY July), has long since ceased to entered a new phase, report De Stan- be a term of abuse in . According to a survey, admittedly carried out by the daard and De Tijd (12 July). At the With Veolia Environnement there is a radical Flemish-minded paper ‘Doorbraak’, 22% of beginning of this year the Flemish Gov- second French group in the running. Flemings questioned were sympathetic towards the idea of a total split of Belgium, but 55.5% were ernment put its majority interest (via This group is one of the largest in the flatly against it. That 22% is less than the two par- the Flemish Environmental Holding environmental sector. On the Belgian ties that include Flemish independence in their man- VMH) of 54.2% up for sale, but still side there is a financial consortium ifesto have (N-VA and Vlaams Belang), as together they account for around 30%. The paper has to ac- wants to retain a blocking minority of based around Ackermans & van knowledge that separatists are no longer a marginal 25%. Indaver has a turnover of 210 mil- Haaren, KBC Private Equity and the group. Undoubtedly the failed splitting of - lion euros and last year increased its net British venture capital group 3i. The Halle-Vilvoorde and the corruption scandals in the Walloon PS boosted their support considerably. profits to 16.6 million euros. Twelve British Shanks is also going through. The idea of a split was also given a new boost re- companies have announced themselves The same applies to the Rotterdam- cently by the cost-benefit analysis with figures pro- duced by the Warande group, a club of mainly to Bank Degroof, the business bank based AVR, which is owned by venture Flemish-minded former CEO's and managers. The handling the sale. Of these twelve, six capital groups KKR and CVC Capital. club wants to split Belgium because it claims this is can now continue to the next round. Finally there is the Dutch energy and in the interests of both Flanders and . Their analysis has been well-received in Flemish business Some of these groups are bidding via a environment group Delta. These six circles, claims Chairman Remi Vermeiren, former consortium. For example, the French groups will shortly have access to sen- Chairman of Flanders’ biggest bank, KBC, in De Tijd environmental group Sita, a subsidiary sitive information which should allow (11 July) The group has not yet drawn up a step-by- step plan as to how such independence should be of the Suez group, is bidding jointly them to issue a binding bid. That achieved. That will only happen if a sustainable ma- with the Municipal Holding, Arco, the should not happen before August. jority expressly supports the principle of Flemish in- dependence, says Vermeiren. financial arm of the Christian Workers’ The parties that are bidding are ex- But let's just say it actually happens, what exactly Movement, Dexia and the regional tremely motivated, which means the will have to be sorted out, De Morgen wonders. Fi- investment company GIMV ( FF). corporate value of Indaver could rise nancial transfers, to start with. Wallonia generates insufficient tax revenue to finance its high unem- from 250 million to 300 million euros. ployment and other expenditure. That is made up CONTENTS That in turn means that the VMH by transfers from Flanders. If these are abolished, could pocket at least 60 million euros. Wallonia will lose one fifth of its benefits in a flash. Flanders will inevitably have to pay a high price as a Economy and Politics Indaver has developed into a player result, claims De Morgen. Then there is the national A business plan for Flanders 2 with interests in Portugal, Italy, Ire- debt of 280 billion euros. A scale of apportionment would also have to be found for this. Would finan- All out for all talents 2 land, Poland and the Czech Republic. cial clout be the criterion, or population levels? For A customer-friendly civil service 2 The group is one of the leaders in its Wallonia that makes quite a difference: 12% com- Entrepreneurship: a change in attitude 3 field, especially in the processing of in- pared to 35%. Some Flemish models want Wallonia to accept 60% because they believe the region is re- Flanders: a logistical center 3 dustrial waste. sponsible for most of the debt. In short, Belgium Entrepreneurs and trade unions are It is likely to be well into autumn be- costs Flanders money, but no one knows how much positive towards Flanders’ business plan 3 fore we know who holds the strongest a partition of property will cost Flanders, says CD&V member Eric Van Rompuy, summarising the De Batselier calls for contract between cards to take a controlling interest. Po- dilemma in De Morgen. Flanders and French Community 4 tentially the Flemish Region will not And say they find a way out of it, there is still the problem of Brussels. According to Flemish national- Dredging company De Nul wins only have to choose between a finan- ists, Brussels must remain the capital of Flanders. 1 billion contract in Dubai 4 cial and an industrial project but also The Warande group is calling for a Brussels DC after consider how it wants Indaver to grow the American model. According to Vermeiren, both Flanders and Brussels have an interest in such a situ- Agriculture and social policy in Europe henceforth. ation, in which Flanders supports the independent Map3 tightens up manure policy 5 www.indaver.be Brussels. Blood must promote integration 6 De Morgen is more sceptical: in such a city-state the 120,000 Flemings would inevitably lose their privi- hospitals to cooperate 6 leged position and become one of the many minori- ties. They would be implacably sacrificed for Flemish independence, the paper claims. Culture next press review in week 34 Vlaams Belang against 0110 Festival 7 Museum on the River receives 21 million 7 (18-24 August) Frank Vandecaveye | editor in chief commemorates Frank Brangwyn 7 focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 2 ECONOMY AND POLITICS

11 JULY BUSINESS PLAN FOR FLANDERS ‘All out for all A business plan for Flanders talents’: knowledge for everyone the plan is designed to secure the welfare of the region and again make Flanders one of the top regions in Europe

Investing in talents concerns the most FF EDITOR It is difficult to call ‘Flanders in Ac- important raw material in Flanders: its tion’ a ‘different noise’, claim De Stan- knowledge. Education is good here, but On 10 July in Antwerp Zoo, Minister- daard (10 July) and De Morgen (11 still has one or two difficulties that ur- President Yves Leterme (CD&V) and July). Rather, it is a more concrete gently need sorting out. In secondary his government team presented ‘Flan- manifestation of the socio-economic education that is the gulf between ders in Action’, a business plan de- section of the coalition agreement. General Secondary Education (ASO) signed to secure the welfare of the re- Leterme echoes that, but emphasises and the more practically and techni- gion and again make Flanders one of that the main aim of the plan is to cally oriented Technical Secondary Ed- the top regions in Europe alongside spread a cohesive vision (De Stan- ucation (TSO) and Vocational Sec- such regions as Catalonia and Beieren. daard, 10 July). He also stresses the ondary Education (BSO). The waterfall continuity between his plan and what system, in which young people who The plan puts great emphasis on the has already been achieved. Leterme fail end up in ever-‘lower’ levels, is an- economy and provides a line of action and his government have deliberately other. Groups that all too often fall by for the next ten to fifteen years. omitted the Community demands for the wayside, such as foreigners, also The four key tasks in the plan focus on more regional powers. The next Com- get special attention. And finally edu- education and training (‘Go all out for munity round will be in 2007 after the cation has to dovetail more effectively the development of all talents’), entre- federal elections. But the call for more with the job market (FF). preneurship and innovation (‘Work on powers for Flanders must not be an al- creativity. Innovation as culture. More ibi for passivity and resignation today. DE STANDAARD • 10 JULY entrepreneurship’), logistics (‘Make The ‘Flanders in Action’ project itself better use of our central location’) and is a dull and lacklustre text that would During their secondary education a decisive and customer-friendly gov- be better off being looked at by an edi- young people will all have lessons on ernment. tor-in-chief, says De Morgen. Nor is it the shop floor. There will be more Leterme’s team has come up with 34 attractive or inspiring. ‘Could we work placement and those who wish projects to accomplish these four key please have a popular version soon?’ is can work up to 28 hours a week with tasks. By September budgets will also how the ends its an apprenticeship contract. At the be released for each of these projects in article. De Standaard makes an effort same time people in work must have a multi-year budget, the Minister-Pres- to translate it into everyday language. greater access to training. More par- ident promised. After all, from 2007 ents, foreigners and disabled people there will again be more leeway in the www.yvesleterme.be must be employed and it must be eas- Flemish budget. ier to combine a job with family life. The first part of the business plan is imbued with the favourite topics of FLEMISH CIVIL SERVICE SP.A Vice-Minister-President Frank Vandenbroucke (SP.A): more cross-fer- A customer-friendly and efficient government tilisation between education and work. apparatus Even the upgrading of technical educa- tion is an old pet subject. The business plan also clearly states FF EDITOR that Flanders does not have the capac- player. With its tenders and purchases ity - read: money - to continue to offer The final section of ‘Flanders in Ac- it accounts for 10% of GDP. dual education at a high level. The tion’ is devoted to the Flemish Govern- With its government contracts it can fragmentation of the educational land- ment itself. Providing a modern gov- also act as a lever, for example by pro- scape has long been a thorn in Vanden- ernment service means the public as a moting certain new technologies. broucke's side. customer of the government knowing its rights and where to go to complain. www.flanders.be www.ministerfrankvanden- Customer-friendliness and a fast ser- broucke.be vice by the administration are there- fore vital. This administration must also be more cost-effective, says the plan. In other words, more benefits must be gener- ated at less expense. Alternative financing structures such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) must be used more. The Flemish Gov- ernment is after all a major economic

focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 ECONOMY AND POLITICS 3

BUSINESS PLAN FOR FLANDERS BUSINESS PLAN FOR FLANDERS

Entrepreneurship in Flan- Entrepreneurs and trade unions quite ders: a change in attitude positive towards business plan reativity Innovation Entrepreneur- ics’. And yet the Flemish Government Cship’ is aimed at a change in atti- regularly comes up against the limits of tude by which economic modernisa- its powers in its economic policy (FF). n 10 July trade unions, employers tion becomes part of the Flemings' Oand entrepreneurs threw in their make-up, as it were. An survey of the DE STANDAARD • 10 JULY lot with some reservations with the existing initiatives and those yet to be Flemish Government’s socio-economic started. The Flemish Government is The business plan can do nothing future plan. Apart from a displeased repeating its intention as set out in the other than report that discussions Agoria, the umbrella organisation for coalition agreement to convince more must be held at the various policy lev- the technological industry, they sup- people to start a business. The instru- els. The fact that the federal economic port the fundamentals of ‘Flanders in ments for achieving that, including the powers - energy, consumer affairs, mid- Action’ (FF). win-win loan, the Flemish Entrepre- dle classes - are still scattered among neurship Agency (Vlaams Agentschap different ministers and state secre- BART HAECK • DE TIJD • 11 JULY Ondernemen) and the Flanders' Future taries does not make the task any eas- campaign are already in place. Invest- ier. Neither does it for entrepreneurs. ‘This project goes beyond complaining ing abroad will also be made easier for Both the Federal and Flemish Govern- and moaning,’ said Ilse Dielen, Na- SMEs via the Flanders International ments are working hard on administra- tional Secretary of the ACV trade Fund (Fonds Vlaanderen-Internation- tive simplification. But for the time be- union, yesterday in Antwerp, where aal). The Flemish Government wants ing offering a ‘uniform thematic the Flemish Government presented to boost the capacity of SMEs to inno- navigational structure and a pointer to- ‘Flanders in Action’. ‘Instead of saying vate. For this, there will be an SME wards each other's information’ re- that we don’t have the power to do this innovation action plan. Information mains nothing more than an ‘ambi- or that, for once we’re saying what we and communications technology is to tion’, according to the business plan. can do. That's brilliant.’ get a multi-year plan. The Flemish Finally, the Flemish Government also There were more comments about the Government has also set up the has only limited fiscal powers and has content of the Flemish business plan. Odysseus and Methusalem pro- to take account of European regula- Agoria, the sector organisation of the grammes to entice outstanding Flemish tions, which impose strict conditions technology industry, is unhappy that researchers back from abroad and pro- and restrictions on government sup- industry hardly figures at all. "Even the vide better support for them here port for businesses. chapter on tourism is longer," said Wil- (Brainport Flanders). Finally, the quali- son De Pril, Director of Agoria Flan- ty and expertise of health-care in our ders, with displeasure. hospitals will receive special attention What should now happen with the and there is a section on ‘Responsible 175-page-thick ‘Flanders in Action’? Entrepreneurship’ and ‘Social Econom- Something, at any rate, and Agoria finds that in itself a missed chance. ‘I had hoped for a document with which Flanders: a logistical center we could say to businesses: ‘this is why you should invest in Flanders’. But I daren’t send this document to in- n the third section, ‘Sustainable gate- talisation of the Zaventem region is ternational headquarters,’ said Wilson Iway to Europe’, Flanders must fur- paramount. For the ports the focus is on De Pril. ther develop its central logistical func- a Flanders Port Area and collaboration The Flemish Government is hoping tion within Europe. After all, Flanders with the Dutch ports (FF). that trade unions, employers, educa- currently houses around 400 European tional umbrella organisations and Distribution Centres, employing DE STANDAARD • 10 JULY other social organisations will develop 25,000 people. Ideally this further logis- ‘Flanders in Acton’ further. The em- tical expansion will happen sustain- The ports must create an international ployers' organisation Voka is allotting ably, i.e. without too much damage to image for themselves as a Flanders eight to ten people to the task. ‘The the environment. Transport must Port Area. At the same time Flanders is most important word in this business therefore be moved as much as possible even suggesting joining forces with the plan is “together”,’ said Philippe from roads onto inland waterways, rail- Dutch ports. According to the Flemish Muyters, Managing Director of Voka ways and pipelines, while not forget- Government, that is necessary because yesterday. ‘We must now invest to- ting the missing links in the transport the flows of goods are becoming in- gether in logistics, in innovation, in network. The gateway function must creasingly concentrated on priority sea talents, in international entrepreneur- attract even more foreign investment, routes that serve a limited number of ship.’ with the emphasis on Asian countries ports. Flanders points out that Europe www.voka.be such as Taiwan, Korea, China, India, is encouraging the development of www.agoria.be but also Australia and New Zealand. trans-European maritime highways, www.acw.be The ports and the airport are the logisti- whereby at least two ports in two dif- cal turntables. For the airport the revi- ferent Member States are involved.

focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 4 POLITICS AND ECONOMY

11 JULY The reaction of senior Walloon politi- cians in Brussels City Hall was dismis- De Batselier calls for con- sive. Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo believes that Flanders must tract between Flanders and conduct community dialogue via the Federal Government. French Community MR Chairman Didier Reynders feel- ings were split. ‘I do want to work to- gether at federal level, but if the aim is to administer Brussels jointly, that's n 11 July Norbert De Batselier between Flanders and the Francophone not an option for me. Flemings and O(SP.A) gave his last will and testa- Community, he believes (FF). Francophones run their regions well in ment as Chairman of the Flemish Par- Brussels. Others should not get in- liament for the twelfth and last time in WIM WINCKELMANS • volved.’ Brussels City Hall. The outgoing Par- 12 JULY The CDH (French speaking Christian liamentary Chairman took the oppor- Democrats) also interpreted De Batse- tunity to warn against an overly one- This state reform must not disrupt our lier's speech this way. ‘Brussels and sided emphasis on the economy in the solidarity with Wallonia. ‘We must not Belgium are not for sale,’ reacted the Flemish Government's business plan look at things from an anti-Walloon party. ‘We won’t be caught out by the (see next article) and stressed the viewpoint,’ says De Batselier. ‘The sol- contract De Batselier is proposing. The importance of sustainability. He also idarity between North and South in contract between the communities is warned against excluding foreigners Belgium must be preserved. We there- the Federal State and the constitution. from the job market, which encourages fore have to enter into a contract be- There can be no question of adding an- social problems. tween the two main communities. other contract that has difficulty con- And while Minister-President Leterme Such a contract, with reciprocal rights cealing its confederalist inspiration.’ (CD&V) hardly mentioned the new and duties, can make a lot of things The CD&V did, however, back De Bat- state reform, De Batselier did so, and in clear.’ selier. Flemish Minister-President detail. The current policy is too frag- The outgoing Parliamentary Chairman Yves Leterme is also applauding. He mented between regional and federal also warns against isolationism. ‘It is claims to support ‘a transparent divi- powers, claims the Parliamentary an illusion that cutting yourself off sion of powers between the Federal Chairman. A new state reform must from an evil outside world will lead to Government and the regions’. transfer job market policy, health-care security and prosperity. The world is policy and taxation to Flanders. The increasingly becoming one big whole, www.vlaamsparlement.be best way to regulate that is in a contract in which we all have to learn to get along with each other.’

DREDGING

lands. The first of the seven islands has Dredging company De Nul to be ready in eighteen months. De Nul is very busy in the Gulf region wins 1 billion euro contract around Dubai. In November the dredg- ing company won another contract there for 500 million euros to create a in Dubai new container port in Jebel Ali. The company from Aalst is also in charge of the expansion of the LNG he Flemish dredging group Jan De There 1,900 villas and apartments, fifty port Ras Laffan in Qatar, a 2 billion TNul has won the contract to create hotels and six harbours will be built dollar project which it is implementing seven new man-made islands with an (FF). jointly with the Dutch company area of 2,300 ha off the coast of Dubai. Boskalis. The project will run for six years and JOHAN VAN GEYTE • GAZET VAN ANTWERPEN De Nul employs 3,400 people world- cost 1 billion euros. Dubai is one of the • 12 JULY wide, 1,000 of them in Dubai. The seven Arab Emirates. Due to the sharp group's annual turnover is around 800 rise in oil prices there is a glut of money The contract that De Nul won is part million euros. for megalomaniac projects such as Burj of Waterfront, a project of seven is- Dubai, the tallest skyscraper in the lands in the shape of a scorpion's tail www.jandenul.be world, or Jebel Ali International Air- around Palm Jebel Ali, with a total area port, which will be the world's biggest of 2,300 ha. The islands are 500 metres airport. Finally a harbour will also be apart and stretch 10 kilometres into developed and a series of man-made the sea. To raise the new group of is- islands created to house luxury hotels, lands De Nul will dredge 325 million shopping centres and administrative m∆ of sand. It will do this with large complexes. One of these is Palm Jebel trailing suction hopper dredgers, 20 Ali, an island in the shape of a palm tree miles off the coast. Some 14 million that must be finished by the end of 2007 m∆ of rocks will then be transported and on which De Nul is still working. and put into position to protect the is-

focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 AGRICULTURE AND SOCIAL POLICY 5

MANURE POLICY now go before Parliament in the hope that it will result in a new manure de- Map3 tightens up Flemish cree. The introduction is scheduled for the beginning of 2007, a year later than manure policy planned. Minister Peeters yesterday received Minister Kris Peeters (CD&V) and Agriculture Minister Yves Leterme (CD&V) the farmers' organisations and envi- believe this plan will enable them to achieve the European standards of the ronmental organisations separately to Nitrates Directive. unveil MAP3. The Farmers’ Union feels the plan is ‘stricter than ex- pected’. ‘For us, scaling down livestock n 7 July the Flemish Government Years ago all hope was placed on ma- is the last solution. We believe a lot Oapproved a new version of the nure processing, but this does not al- can happen with manure processing Third Manure Action Plan (MAP3). ways repay expectations. Recently, and other fertilisation and feed meth- Environment Minister Kris Peeters however, the rules for setting up pro- ods," added spokeswoman Anne-Marie (CD&V) and Agriculture Minister Yves cessing plants in rural areas were re- Vangeenberghe. Leterme (CD&V) believe this plan will laxed. The fact that the Flemish Gov- Although the 100% demarcation enable them to achieve the European ernment means to adopt a stricter means the age-old demand of the envi- standards of the Nitrates Directive. Fif- approach to the problem was also evi- ronmental movement is now being ac- teen years after this Directive, Flanders dent last month in the decision to is- ceded to, BBL and Natuurpunt are re- still has far too many nitrates in its sue extra fines as of next year for farm- acting with remarkable caution. They watercourses and groundwater as a con- ers who over-fertilise their fields and merely called it ‘a potential step for- sequence of over-fertilisation. The pastures. Inspections are also being wards’. ‘The proposals do not yet guar- maximum standard of 50 mg of nitrates tightened. antee that the desired quality of sur- per litre of water is currently exceeded The hope of farmers now rests on the face and ground water will be by 41% of the measuring points. But relaxations Europe can grant for spe- achieved.’ They fear that hidden ma- now for the first time the Flemish Gov- cific zones. But first the European nure surpluses will remain because as ernment appears to genuinely want to Commission still has to give the go- yet there are no satisfactory solutions apply the European Directive correctly. ahead for the new Manure Action Plan. for disposing of them. It first had to be denounced at European That will only happen once it has been level last year to bring this about. At the introduced. The text of MAP3 will www.ministerkrispeeters.be time the European Commission instructed Peeters and Leterme to pol- ish up their far too flexible first version Size of Flemish agricultural sector of MAP3. Flanders is therefore now 100,000 completely demarcated as a vulnerable

region for manure pollution. The employed persons strictest fertilisation standard of 170 kg 80,000 of nitrogen per hectare per year now applies everywhere. As a result, farmers 60,000 must spread less manure, manure sur- pluses are increasing and, for example, 40,000 the further scaling down of pig stocks is number of farms becoming unavoidable. Meanwhile the 20,000 Farmers' Union (Boerenbond) points out that scaling down livestock must not be an end in itself and that the num- 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 ber of animals has already fallen tijd graphics - source: agricultural report 2005 sharply (FF).

SYBILLE DECOO • DE MORGEN • 8 JULY Importance of industrial sectors in Flanders

SECTOR employment added value in The 100% demarcation will mean 40 million euros million kg of nitrogen each year that can no longer be spread on the fields. technology and ict 222,426 10,700 Peeters did not want to say in so many total agriculture-food chain 130,950 5,130 words that this manure surplus will of which - agricultural sector 66,950 1,330 have to be disposed of making further - food (wthout retail sector) 64,00 3,800 cuts in pig stocks, something of which chemical industry 63,500 9,000 farmers are scared to death. But that textile 32,000 1,500 may well prove unavoidable. ‘There wood- and furniture industry 26,681 n,b, aren't many solutions. This is the last graphic industry 11,450 560 chance for manure processing. Let’s fashion industry 13,600 470 hope the sector can show it’s up to it. If steel industry 7,000 1,300 not then livestock will have to be glass industry 3,750 300 scaled down further,’ he said to De paper- and cardboard industry 2,722 - Morgen. tijd graphics - source: industry vlaanderen - agricultural report focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 6 SOCIAL POLICY AND CULTURE

CULTURE AND POLITICS INTEGRATION Blood of Muslims for Vlaams Belang steps up Red Cross must pro- fight against 0110 Festival mote integration

The National Lottery will provide financial backing for the 0110 Festival FF EDITOR

On 7 July, during the Friday service in he National Lottery has announced writes that artists are better off staying their mosques, various Imams called Tthat it will provide financial back- out of politics. ‘They are not at home in on people to give blood or report as vol- ing for the 0110 Festival for Tolerance. that biotope,’ says the author of the let- unteers to the Red Cross. It is a civic There is nothing remotely unusual ter. Can you imagine that? duty and good for integration, says about the Lottery sponsoring a festival. Singers, painters and other artists Antwerp Imam Nourredine Taouil. It also sponsors the summer festivals should keep quiet where politics is con- The idea comes from the Antwerp lib- Sfinks, Graspop and Dranouter. For the cerned? Of whom and of what disas- eral foreigner and VLD member Lottery the festival is in no way a polit- trous period does this remind you? For Hicham El Mzairh. In Gazet van ical event, claims a spokeswoman. me at any rate a chap with a little Antwerpen (11 July) he reproaches the That a political smear campaign has moustache, around 70 years ago. mosques for focusing too little on soci- grown up around it is down to a single Look, we are not fans of 0110 either. ety, while blaming the Red Cross for particular party which views the Festi- Much too close to the local elections, failing to reach foreigners. val as a direct attack on itself. The which could well mean the concerts Many Moslems do not read Flemish Vlaams Belang actually feels targeted will have the reverse effect. They will newspapers or rarely watch Flemish and is stepping up its campaign against make a number of people not more, but television, but do go to the mosque. A the Festival. Last week, in an open let- less tolerant. There will be even more of campaign in the media is therefore un- ter to all the Flemish artists taking part an us-against-them battle on 8 Octo- likely to reach them. A further advan- in the Festival, Antwerp heavyweight ber. But good, that is where our opin- tage of an appeal in the mosque is that and mayoral candidate Filip Dewinter ions differ from those of Barman, Tura it will dispel the mistaken idea that Is- pointed out that they risk losing fans and the others. And that is the beauty lam forbids the giving of blood. In any who vote for the Vlaams Belang if they of it, that we can think differently and event the Red Cross is not averse to stand by their decision to take part in can say so in public. the addition of fresh blood. The organi- the Festival. However, Dewinter's let- Clearly not for politicians like Vanden sation has begun talks with the Turk- ter did not make any artists change Eynde. He is trying all he can to silence ish and Moroccan communities. their mind. Shortly afterwards the the dissenters. ‘You still have time to Ghent VB representatives Francis Van- think about it,’ he adds threateningly www.rodekruis.be den Eynde and Tanguy Veys went a step to Lotti. What will happen if his party further in their campaign of discourage- ever comes to power? ment. In an open letter in some news- papers Vanden Eynde throws the Flem- www.0110.be ish-nationalist past of the father of Helmut Lotti into the spotlight. According to Vanden Eynde, Lotti is HEALTH CARE POLICY yielding to the ‘left-wing terror’ in the artistic world. He would be better not Hospitals to cooperate in Antwerp to let himself be manipulated and adopt a more reserved approach, says Vanden Eynde. His party colleague Tanguy EDITOR FF The first step was taken when all hos- Veys is calling on VB sympathisers to pitals in the OCMW umbrella organi- bombard the artists with e-mails. He is Twenty Antwerp hospitals which have sation jointly set up the Antwerp Hos- also listing the e-mail addresses of the a total of 5,083 beds and employ 13,810 pitals Network (ZNA). A second step main artists on his website (FF). people have signed a cooperation was the separation of Antwerp Univer- agreement, reports the Gazet van sity Hospital (UZA) from Antwerp Opinion Antwerpen (11 July). The agreement University. More discussion and coop- marks a break with trends in the eration gradually emerged between the PAUL GEUDENS • GAZET VAN ANTWERPEN health-care sector. Instead of fragmen- ZNA, UZA and the Christian hospitals 8 JULY tation, overlapping and competition on various disciplines such as pul- there is a move towards cooperation monary disease, fertility, oncology and I find the emotional blackmail used by and synergy. This will lead to the cre- radiotherapy, which ultimately re- the Vlaams Belang’s Vanden Eynde in ation of the largest university chil- sulted in this agreement, signed in the his letter tiresome: ‘I can still remem- dren's hospital in Flanders, and there is presence of Mayor Patrick Janssens ber how I put up election posters with to be one large hospital for psychiatric (SP.A), Provincial Governor Camille your father.’ Could it be any more cloy- complaints and one large rehabilita- Paulus (VLD), Flemish Welfare Minis- ing? What on earth has Lotti's Dad got tion centre. According to the signato- ter Inge Vervotte (CD&V) and Federal to do with the concerts on 1 October? ries, this means an end to destructive Social Affairs Minister Rudy Demotte And it gets worse. Completely rancid competition and the wasting of people (PS). and actually dangerous. Vanden Eynde and resources.

focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 CULTURE 7

MUSEUM houses that were so typical of Antwerp's old port district. The choice Antwerp’s Museum on the of the Eilandje as a location is mainly due to its position: a pivot between River’ gets 21 million from city and port. The museum will tell the story of the city, its inhabitants, Flemish Government the river and the port.

www.museumaandestroom.be FF EDITOR City Council. The ministers are, how- ever, expecting a sound business plan The Flemish Government has con- which must show that the MAS pro- firmed that it is freeing up 21 million ject can be fully realised with the con- euros for the prestigious Museum aan tribution of the Flemish Government, de Stroom (MAS - Museum on the the city and other financers. If the pro- River) on Antwerp’s Eilandje, reports ject turns out more expensive than Gazet van Antwerpen (8 July). The city planned, the Flemish Government will of Antwerp does not need to worry not increase its contribution any fur- about prefinancing. Budget Minister ther, they warn. The Museum aan de Dirk Van Mechelen (VLD) and Culture Stroom was designed by Dutch archi- Minister Bert Anciaux (Spirit) will ex- tects Neutelings-Riedijk. Their design plain the planning in a letter to the portrays the MAS as a harbourshed (de- pot) and refers visibly to the old ware-

EXHIBITION trends and experimented with them, Bruges commemorates but you must not look to him for a modernising vision. His chief models Frank Brangwyn were the impressionists and post-im- pressionists. The Brangwyn exhibition illustrates that art is always richer than the Brangwyn did not shy away from any fashion of the day will have us believe subject. He painted both exotic tableaux with voluptuous dancers and religious scenes for churches. On his designer is presented. There you can many travels he continually produced rank Brangwyn (1867-1956) was a see, among other things, an interior he watercolours of landscapes, seascapes, FBritish artist who was born in designed for the British company Pol- rivers and bridges. Bruges. He spent the first seven years of lard. The austerity recalls the Oriental Despite all the accolades paid him dur- his life there before returning to Lon- examples Brangwyn must have seen at ing his long life, after his death Sir don with his family. Brangwyn's break- Bing. Functionality is to the fore. Frank Brangwyn faded into the back- through came in Paris, more specifical- To get to know Brangwyn the artist the ground. The man who in his youth was ly in the L’Art Nouveau art gallery of art visitor must switch to the Groeninge- in the vanguard of the art nouveau had dealer . From Bing Brang- museum. There a selection of his joined in with modernism. While the wyn learned that architecture, art and paintings, drawings and prints has architects and designers of the design are shown to their best advan- been brought together. You do not get a Bauhaus changed the appearance of the tage if they are geared to one another. complete picture of Brangwyn the world, and the cubists, abstracts and Artistic jack-of-all-trades Brangwyn artist: the fact is he was at his best in surrealists took art in a new direction, therefore did more than just paint and large decorative paintings, and these Brangwyn remained on the sidelines. It draw. He left behind more than 12,000 are difficult to transport. But at the end did not prevent him from using his works: as well as paintings and graphic you do have an idea of his qualities and great skill to produce a huge oeuvre. art these also included furniture, limitations. The Brangwyn exhibition illustrates posters, rugs, jewellery and stained- To start with the qualities: Brangwyn that art is always richer than the fash- glass windows. Mostly in a style which was a devilishly good graphic artist. ion of the day will have us believe. But clearly bore close resemblance to art His prints of buildings are particularly also that hard work is not enough to nouveau. In 1936 Brangwyn donated an impressive. This son of an architect survive. important collection to the city of his had an innate feeling for space and UNTIL 17 SEPTEMBER: ‘BRANGWYN’S WORLD. birth. Fifty years after his death Bruges knew how to accurately evoke the ef- THE SEARCH FOR MODERNISM IN ART AND DE- is commemorating him with a two-part fect of large constructions on their en- SIGN.’, EXHIBITION GROENINGEMUSEUM AND exhibition in the Groeningemuseum vironment. Through the line of ap- ARENTSHUIS, BRUGES; INFO: 050/44 87 07 and the Arentshuis (FF). proach and the stark contrasts between light and shadow, his prints occasion- JAN VAN HOVE • DE STANDAARD • 12 JULY ally recall the visionary architecture of Piranesi. The exhibition in Bruges consists of The most striking thing about the two parts. You are better off starting in paintings and drawings is that Brang- the Arentshuis, where Brangwyn the wyn was familiar with the prevailing

focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28 8 CULTURE

exhibition, PMMK, ; Heyvaert and Liesbeth Abbenes; info: info: www.2006beaufort.be www.smak.be 09/221.17.03 Diary www.pmmk.be 070/22.50.05 • Until December: The Alonso • Until 3 September: Homo Faber, Jan collection: glass work, Design Museum, Fabre and the ancient Masters, KMSKA, Ghent MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE Antwerp; info: www.kmska.be • Until 27 August: Arnulf Rainer and art • 13 to 23 July: Blue Note Festival, Ghent 03/238.78.09 by the mentally ill, exhibition, Museum with Wayne Shorter, Cesaria Evora, • Until 15 August: Homo Faber, Jan Fab- Dr. Guislain, Ghent and Museum Maceo Parker, Madeleine Peyroux, Dian- re, the early work, Muhka, Antwerp; Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle; www.muse- na Reeves, Randy Newman, John Zorn, info: www.muhka.be umdrguislain.be and www.museumdd.be Ghent; • Until 3 September: Bruegel 06, summer 09/282.51.23 info: www.bluenoterecordfestival.com festival with exhibitions and events in • Until 29 October: Dutch Masters, col- 0900 00 600 connection with the 16th century lections of paintings from the 17the cen- • Until 15 August: Ecran Total 2006, painter; Bruegel printed and Bruegel tury, Museum Mayer Van den Bergh, Film during the summer, Arenberg, Brus- imaginary, Royal Library, Brussels; info: Antwerp; info: 03/232.42.37 www.muse- sels; info: www.arenberg.be www.bruegel06.be 02/454.87.54 um.antwerpen.be • 15 to 24 July: De Gentse Feesten with • Until 30 July: Photo exhibition: Brux- • Until 27 August: Antwerp in the comic four festivals: Blue Note Jazz Festival, elles--Brussel, Hallepoort, Brus- strips, Permeke Library, Antwerp; info: International Street theatre Festival sels 03/260.38.00 (www.istf.be with Cirq’ulation Locale, • Until 3 September: Long Live • Until 27 August: Art from Tibet, Royal Osmosies Cie, Princesses Peluches, Sien- Sculpture, open air exhibition, Museum of Art and History, Cinquante- ta La Cabeza, Tango Sumo, Claire – De Middelheim, Antwerp; info: www.mid- naire, Brussels; Paseo and many other companies), Pup- delheimmuseum.antwerp info: 02/741.72.11 petbuskersfestival (puppet theatre festi- • Until 10 September: Family affairs: • Until 19 November: The Last Witness - val, www.eftcgent.be) and 10 Days Off brothers and sisters in art, exhibition the war landscape, In Flanders Fields (indoor, electronic music festival in with work by Jan and Pieter Brueghel, Museum, Ypres; De Vooruit, www.10daysoff.be) Johannes, Ambrosius and Abraham Boss- info: 057/239.220 • 15 to 24 July: Polé Polé Festival: chaert, Antoine Pevsner and Naum • Until 10 September: Freestate, group African and Latin music in the city cen- Gabo, Giorgio De Chirico and Alberto exhibition of young Belgian artists in the tre of Ghent with The Jamaican All Savinio, Marcel and Suzanne Duchamp, old military hospital of Ostend; info: Stars, Tidal Waves (South Africa), New Alberto and Diego Giacometti, Koen and www.freestate.be York Ska Ensemble, Mojito del Son Frank Theys and others, Bozar, Brussels; • Until 8 October: Zoo,exhibition in De (Cuba), Costo Rico (Spain); www.pole- info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 Elektriciteitscentrale, the brand new pole.be • Until 15 July: ‘Wake’, exhibition by European Centre for Contemporary Arts, www.rock-zottegem.be Yoko Ono, Gallery M3, Vlaamse Kaai, Brussels; info: 02-279.64.35. • 23 to 27 July: Kneistfestival, Knokke Antwerp; info: www.mudimadrie.be • Until 17 September: ‘Brangwyn’s Heist with Gorki, Yevgueni, Action in 03/237.48.84 world. The search for modernism in art DC and many other bands, Kisstory; info: • Until 31 August: an Unmade Sculpture and design.’, exhibition Groeningemuse- http://www.kneistival.be, 050/ 630 430 by Marie-France and Patricia Martin, um and Arentshuis, Bruges; info: 050/44 • 27 to 29 July: Sfinksfestival Boeckhout exhibition, Bozar, Brussels; info: 87 07 with M’Barka Ben Taleb, Banda Eddie, www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 • Until 31 October: exhibition ‘Pablo Dulsori, Sirkusrindu, Takamba Super • Until 27 August: Click-Doubleclick, Atchugarry’, Garden of the Groeninge Khoumeïssa, Ensemble Khan Bogd, the documentary factor, photo- Museum & *Forum+, Bruges; info: Wyza, Martin lubenov Orkestro, kakatsi- exhibition on the occasion of the 050/44 87. 07 ti, Samba de Coco Raizes, Dulsori, Summer of Photography - a triangular • Until 10 September: Museum of Pho- Cabana Full Dub Sound, Cabana Bongo festival involving Antwerp, Brussels, and tography, Antwerp: Marc Lagrange. Pho- Lounge, Kurtish Brass Band, Takamba Charleroi, Bozar, Brussels; tograhs 1990-2005, Tim Dirven, Yester- Super Khourmeissa, Yerba Buena, Maria info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 day’s People Jonas info: http://www.sfinks.be • Until 27 August: A4: Karine Marenne • Until 3 September: International Car- +32/ 3 4556944 and Roberta Miss, Installations, draw- toon Festival, Knokke-Heist, Lagunahal, ings, videos, sound interventions, Bozar Duinbergen; info: 050/630.430 EXPO Brussels; • Until 1 October: Ethnographic Muse- info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 um Antwerp: Morocco, living legacy; • Until 2008: Art at the Frontline 1914- • Until 27 August: In the Picture. info: 03/220.86.00 1918, Royal Army and Military History Photojournalism in de Morgen, • Until 24 September: Borek Sipek, Museum, Brussels; exhibition, Bozar Brussels; Design Museum, Ghent; info: info: 02 737 78 33 www.klm-mra.be info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 09/267.99.99 • Until 1 October: Beaufort Outside: • Until 9, 17 and 2 July: Exhibitions at ■ open air exhibition along the Flemish SMAK, Ghent: Willem Oorebeek, René coast; info: www.2006beaufort.be • Until 3 September: Beaufort Inside,

Editor in chief: Frank Vandecaveye • Translation: Eurologos • Advisory panel: Luc Demeester (Lannoo), Rik Van • Printing: Drukkerij Lannoo nv, Tielt Cauwelaert (director Knack), Wim Coessens (Man- • Responsible editor: aging director, De Morgen), Frans Crols (Director, Luc Demeester, Marke Trends), Karl Musschoot and Christine Brugelmans Focus on Flanders provides a weekly • 48 issues (Communication Officer, ), overview of articles from the Flemish press • Subscription rate printed edition + 2 e-mail Mark Deweerdt (Journalist, De Tijd), Michael editions + password to search the archive and appears in English, French and German. Stabenow (Correspondent, Frankfurter Allgemeine (www.focusonflanders.be): 233 euro Zeitung), Luc Standaert (Journalist, Belang van This newsletter is published by Uitgeverij • Either transfer the sum to account no.: Limburg), Jan Van Doren (Deputy Director, VOKA- Lannoo nv, Kasteelstraat 97, 8700 Tielt 472-1010001-19 with the KBC in Roeselare VEV), Bernard Bulcke (De Standaard) Or give us the number and expiry date of your cred- • With thanks to: Concentra nv, De Vlijt nv, de and can also be obtained by e-mail. The it card (Visa/Eurocard): Vlaamse Uitgeversmaatschappij nv, De Persgroep website www.focusonflanders.be contains Telephone: 051/42.42.99 nv, Uitgeversbedrijf Tijd nv and Media an electronic archive of published articles Fax: 051/40.11.52 Group nv and their editorial teams for supplying E-mail: [email protected] the articles.

focus on FLANDERS • 8 July- 14 July 2006 • Number 28