Focus on the DUTCH SPEAKING PART of BELGIUM Press Review Weekly, Does Not Appear in July • Number 9 • 25 February – 3 March 2006

flandersfocus on THE DUTCH SPEAKING PART OF BELGIUM press review weekly, does not appear in July • number 9 • 25 February – 3 March 2006

KBC on the takeover trail INTRODUCTION ith the German company WE.ON’s bid for the Span- in Central Europe ish electricity producer Endesa and the announcement by the Italian company Enel that it would make an offer for the he major providers of combined And KBC also has concrete plans for French group Suez, a concen- tration wave appears to be T banking and insurance services, expansion in Serbia, Croatia and Roma- under way in the European energy sector. In a Fortis and KBC, have had an excellent nia. Here the Slovenian subsidiary NLB, defensive reflex, both Endesa and Suez have sought their salvation in national mergers. In Spain year. The Dutch/Belgian group Fortis, in which KBC has a 34% stake, is play- Endesa is joining forces with Gas Natural, and in which published its annual results ear- ing the role of bridgehead. KBC is also France Suez is doing the same with Gaz de France ly because a briefcase containing the aiming for a larger stake in NLB and – with the French government’s active support. After fierce criticism of the protectionist manoeu- results was stolen, increased its profit by wants to gain majority control of the vres, EC president Barroso wagged a warning fin- 32% to EUR 3.9 billion. KBC, the Flem- bank, be it in one or several steps. It is ger and promised that the competition rules would be complied with to the letter. ish fellow banker-cum-insurer, recorded having talks with the Slovenian govern- The Suez-GdF merger does indeed threaten com- a record profit last year of EUR 2.25 bil- ment on the matter (FF). petition in our country. Electrabel, the largest Bel- gian electricity producer became a wholly-owned lion. That is 39% up on the previous subsidiary of Suez last year, whilst the second, year. For that matter, Central Europe is MICHAEL SEPHIHA • DE TIJD • 3 MARCH much smaller producer, SPE, is half owned by Gaz increasingly becoming a second home de France. The new combination attains a market share of 90% of sold electricity, whilst on the gas market for KBC. In the Czech Republic In Serbia the Belgian group is targeting market Suez subsidiary Distrigas and Gaz de France and Hungary KBC is the second largest the pubic-sector insurer DDOR. The together account for 97%. That prompted de Tijd (2 March) to conclude that the Belgian govern- bank, and in Slovenia its subsidiary NLB privatisation of the second largest Ser- ment would have done better opting for the Enel is in fact the country’s largest bank. It bian insurance group was started at the camp, since the Enel-Suez combination had left more room for competition. also has a not insignificant market end of last year. The DDOR’s network Gerard Mestrallet, Suez CEO and new number one share in Poland and Slovakia. Last year has 94 branches. The Slovenian Nova in the Suez-GdF merger company, did his very best the Central European establishments Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) already con- to get the Belgian government on his side. He promised that the ‘pax electrica’ would not be already provided for 20% of the profit, trols the Continental Banka there. In touched. In this, Suez promised last year that it and next year that should rise to 25%. Montenegro NLB owns Euromarket would sell the unused Electrabel power stations, and would put a substantial volume of electricity Bank. And in neighbouring Bosnia it for sale on a Belgian stock exchange. He also let it CONTENTS already owns Tuzlanska Banka, CSB be understood that he could live with a reduction in Gaz de France’s Belgian gas interests. Many Bank, Razvojna Banka and LHB Bank or insiders assume that the merger will not withstand Justice Banja Luka. the competition rules on that market. Fehriye Erdal found guilty of terrorism 2 KBC also has takeover plans in Croatia, To placate the Belgian government even more, Mestrallet is now calling the merger an ‘opération Fehriye Erdal vanished 2 where the banker-cum-insurer has its franco-belge’. According to De Tijd (2 March) the sights set on Splitska Banka. ‘We have Belgians are in that respect being used as a fig leaf to camouflage the French chauvinism behind the Agriculture, social policy and economy submitted an indicative offer on the strategy. But even though decisions are taken in Tuybens reveals salaries of senior matter’, André Bergen, deputy chair- Paris, the enormous Belgian contribution to Suez cannot be ignored, points out Trends (2 March). managers of state enterprises 3 man of the board of directors of the KBC Seventy percent of Suez’s profits are of Belgian Bird flu: chicken breeders suffer losses 3 Group, confirmed for the first time. making: Electrabel, Tractebel (energy assets out- Belgian energy market after the merger However, due to an old financial dis- side Europe), Distrigas (natural gas trading) and Fluxys (natural gas transmission). It is this Belgian Suez-GdF 4 pute between Slovenia and Croatia, energy pillar that succeeded in reviving fortunes at Suez-GdF will have to downsize 5 KBC is not welcome in the country. But Suez, which was making a loss in 2002 and 2003. According to Trends, the merger is a normal mar- Belgium keeps borders closed for that is not stopping the group from tak- ket development. Mestrallet has a point when he employees from Eastern Europe 5 ing part in the bidding process. stresses the synergy between gas and electricity in his industrial project. Gas-fired power stations are Inbev management and trade unions In Romania KBC is not planning any playing an ever greater role in that. On markets heading for confrontation 6 acquisitions, but is working on setting where gas is expensive, Suez-GdF can sell gas, and up its own banking subsidiary. This on other markets gas is used to produce electricity, that can be sold as well. Politics and public health should be up and running this year. Last But the main motive for Suez opting for a merger Leterme’s popularity peaks in poll 6 year the Belgian group did not take part is its vulnerability. With its lucrative (Belgian) energy division, it is an attractive prey for a takeover. New criteria for recognition as GP 7 in the bidding for BCR, the largest bank Three quarters of its shares are listed and it has a in the country, because the price tag weak financial balance sheet with substantial cash Culture was too high. assets and numerous liabilities. People from Antwerp turned Frankfurt www.kbc.com Frank Vandecaveye | editor in chief into a financial centre 7 table page 3 ■ focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 2 JUSTICE

TERRORISM

Fehriye Erdal and DHKP-C Anyone knowingly and voluntarily forming part of an organisation that at- tempts to achieve its aims through vio- found guilty of terrorism lence is punishable. Even if that person has not committed any crime in Bel- gium. The judges in Bruges point to the ive years ago the police found a the ringleaders, Dursun Karatas, has fact that the DHKP-C militants are ‘fa- F stash of arms, false identity papers been sentenced to five years (FF). natical’ and ‘permanently dangerous’. and detonation mechanisms for explo- Their presence on Belgian soil cannot sives in an apartment in the Flemish FILIP VERHOEST • DE STANDAARD • 1 MARCH be tolerated. There were tight security coastal town of Duinbergen. The apart- measures in force around the court ment turned out to be the safe house for EThe other DHKP-C members who building in Bruges. The many DHKP-C the Turkish Popular Liberation Army were caught in 1999 in an apartment in sympathisers who had turned up (DHKP-C), a Marxist-Leninist Turkish Duinbergen, near Knokke, were each chanted slogans for ‘freedom of expres- movement that swears by the armed sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, sion and association’. struggle against the Turkish State. like Erdal. The public prosecutor had After this judgement it is expected that DHKP-C members who were being pur- called for ten years for the ringleaders, the Belgian judiciary will close the sued in Germany were able to use the and five for Erdal. Four of the accused DHKP-C information office in Brus- hiding place. Because the movement were acquitted, since they did not sels. At a press conference in June 2004 has already carried out several attacks knowingly take part in the Turkish a spokesman for the movement justi- in its homeland and executed a number Popular Liberation Army’s activities. fied a bomb attack on a bus in Istanbul of ‘traitors’, that country is still It is the second time that a Belgian which went wrong, and in which three demanding the extradition of all court has applied the anti-terrorism people died. According to the judge, DHKP-C members. Belgium is not law of 1 January 2004 to an extremist that is ‘intolerable’. The court ordered acceding to that for the time being, but group. This had previously happened the immediate detention of six of the brought charges against the members of before the tribunale correctionnel seven who were convicted, including the Turkish group in the criminal (criminal court) in Brussels, with the Erdal. She was not present at the sit- court. Fehriye Erdal, the symbol of the Groupe Islamique Combattant Maro- ting, but will be taken to prison from DHKP-C’s fight, was sentenced to four cain (GICM). her undercover address. Some of the years’ imprisonment. The leader of the The reasoning that the judges in the convicted persons have already said group, Musa Asoglu, was given a six- criminal court in Brussels and Bruges that they will appeal. year prison sentence, whilst another of have followed is the same in each case. ■

tify the Ministry of the Interior if she Fehriye Erdal vanished left her place of residence. According to a government source, she had done this in exemplary fashion for six years. fter the Turk Fehriye Erdal was der. Turkey had asked for Erdal’s extra- Never had there been any incidents, A sentenced on 28 February to four dition for the third time, because she the government source said - until the years’ imprisonment, the Belgian has to stand trial for her involvement in evening of Monday 27 February. National Security Department made a triple murder in Istanbul. The Then the National Security Depart- the very unpleasant discovery that the chances of her being extradited, howev- ment discovered that the DHKP-C DHKP-C militant was not at the safe er, are slim, since what is involved is a militant had fled. Nonetheless, Erdal house assigned to her by the Ministry of political crime, says De Standaard. For had been under heightened surveil- the Interior. Erdal, who did not appear Turkey and also other countries, we are lance by the National Security Depart- in court, seems to have vanished. The the country that not only offers terror- ment since 19 February, in the run-up Interior and Justice Ministers Dewael ists protection, but also lets them go, to the court’s judgement. But even (VLD) and Onkelinx (PS) announced opines Het Laatste Nieuws. The Flem- though the National Security Depart- that on Monday evening she left the ish opposition party CD&V thinks that ment had been keeping an eye on Erdal house, and from that point on the ministers Dewael (VLD) and Onke- for some time, it was not able to arrest National Security Department has lost linckx (PS) have blundered over Erdal’s her, even if she fled abroad, according her trail. Since Erdal was not under disappearance, and wants to demand an to a spokesman for the Ministry of Jus- arrest, only a court issuing an order for explanation on the matter in Parlia- tice. There was no possibility of the her detention could prevent her from ment (FF). National Security Department detain- fleeing abroad. An international war- ing her before the conviction in Bruges. rant for her arrest has now been issued. FILIP VERHOEST • DE STANDAARD • 2 MARCH On Tuesday evening, after the court’s The result is that Belgium has once order for her immediate detention, again been made to look a fool on the Erdal asked for political asylum in house searches were carried out in international stage, comment a number 2000. As a result of this, the then Inte- known DHKP-C addresses in Brussels, of Flemish newspapers such as Het rior Minister could force her, on the but to no avail. An international war- Belang Van Limburg, De Standaard grounds of the aliens law, to reside in a rant for Erdal’s arrest has now been is- and Het Laatste Nieuws. The Turkish particular place for the period that the sued. She may have received help from press, in particular, is not charitable asylum application was being exam- the DHKP-C networks to escape. about the Belgian government’s blun- ined. She promised that she would no- ■

focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE 3

STATE ENTERPRISES BIRD FLU Tuybens reveals the salaries Chicken breeders of senior managers of state already suffer losses

enterprises FF EDITOR

He believes state enterprises should set an example in the field of sustainable and socially responsible enterprise Anyone owning chickens or other poultry is obliged, as of 1 March, to pen them up or screen them off. The n 28 February State Secretary for local police is assumed to monitor O State Enterprises Bruno Tuybens Opinion this. Anyone not screening off his birds (SP.A) revealed how much the senior will receive a warning and will have to managers of Belgium’s autonomous SERGE MAMPAEY • DE TIJD • 1 MARCH put his house in order within 24 hours. state enterprises earned. Belgacom If that does not happen, the police will CEO Didier Bellens comes out on top, At last the government is setting a good draw up a report and confiscate the an- with EUR 2.04 million and EUR example. By publishing the salaries, imals. The Federal Food Agency 395,000 in share options, whilst Johny Tuybens wants to open the social (FAVV) is asking the municipalities to Thijs of de Post takes home a gross debate on the pay of senior managers, draw up a register of all people owning salary of EUR 800,000, and the senior and create the necessary transparency. poultry for hobby purposes. The regis- managers of the NMBS (Belgian Rail- The excesses at loom manufacturer ter should make it easier to implement ways), Jannie Haek, Mark Deschee- Picanol show that companies in which measures in the event of an outbreak maeker and Luc Lallemand, earn EUR the public is involved are better at lay- of the disease. The FAVV is not about 475,000, 490,000 and 410,000 respec- ing their cards on the table as regards to make an exception for zoos that tively. Tuybens wants to reveal the the remuneration of their senior man- have vaccinated their birds. The main salaries of the other managers of state agement and directors. Excesses can aim of the penning-up measures is to enterprises in the near future. By way of then be avoided. State enterprises are prevent professional poultry farmers comparison, a member of the manage- the property of the state, and therefore from being affected. ment in a private company from the of each and every one of us. Listed com- In the meantime ‘frightened’ con- Bel-20 earns on average EUR 1 million, panies have thousands of small share- sumers are eating less and less according to a survey published in holders, and they have a right to know chicken. According to the retail federa- Trends. In comparison with these kinds how their money is being used. tion Fedis, there has already been a of figures, the salary of Prime Minister But company managers continue to 15% drop (Het Nieuwsblad, 2 March). Verhofstadt (EUR 207,000) pales into keep their remuneration cloaked in The falling demand has caused the insignificance. secrecy. The Lippens code on sound price that the 1,200 chicken breeders Tuybens justifies his initiative in De management calls on listed companies can obtain for their chickens has fallen Morgen. He believes state enterprises to publish their directors' and man- to below cost price, so that they are al- should set an example in the field of agers' pay, but it is not an obligation. ready making a loss now. For the con- sustainable and socially responsible And a bill for the publication of indi- sumer on the other hand, chicken has enterprise. Tuybens wants more open- vidual salaries has been put on the back not yet become cheaper. The surplus ness in state enterprises, since every burner due to a number of delaying slaughtered chickens are provisionally taxpayer is - in a manner of speaking - a manoeuvres. being stored in refrigerators. shareholder and every citizen a direct or Publication of the top salaries ought to www.favv.be indirect customer, according to the have been self-evident for a listed com- State Secretary. His initiative was met pany. Only in that way can enterprises with approving commentaries in Het create openness and remove distrust Belang van Limburg, De Standaard and among the public or their shareholders. De Tijd. The senior managers themselves are irritated at Tuybens’ move, ■ ■ because he did not consult them about it. The alliance to which Tuybens belongs (SP.-A-Spirit) wants the bill on publication of the salaries - the so- called Picanol law - to be approved in MARKET POSITION OF KBC GROUP IN BELGIUM, CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE Parliament on 7 March. The publica- non-life insurance tion could also hamper the current market share banking business life assurance (ranking) business business negotiations under way in the rail sec- 8% tor and the national talks on wage belgium 22% 15% 4% (6th) restraint. ACV chairman Cortebeeck hungary 11% (2nd) 4% (7th) poland 5% (8th) 3% (7th) 11% (2nd) regards it as unjust to urge employees czech republic 21% (2nd) 8% (4th) 4% (6th) to accept wage restraint, ‘whilst Bel- slovakia 6% (4th) 4% (9th) 4% (4th) gian company managers are earning an slovenia 41% (1st) 6% (5th) — average of EUR 800,000 a year’ (FF). source: KBC

focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 4 ECONOMY

MERGER in Belgium. The Belgian government Belgian energy market does not have to sit and wait re- signedly for the outcome. It can ask the European Commission itself to becomes even more French transfer the matter to the Belgian Competition Board. with merger Suez-GDF It is not yet clear which activities Suez would have to sell. According to a se- The government wants to press Suez for a quicker fulfilment of the ‘Bel- nior staff member of the government, gian’ guarantees it had given in October. Those guarantees were fixed in a it would in any case have to concern letter, when Suez made a full buyout bid for Electrabel more than SPE. SPE, the second largest electricity company in the country, is part owned by Gaz de France. SPE is he French energy groups Suez and However, according to the government, especially strong as a supplier of elec- T Gaz de France have announced it is clear that in the merger case, the tricity, with a share of some 20% in they will be merging. In this way Suez European competition authorities first Flanders and Wallonia. The question is avoids being taken over by the Italian have to do their work (FF). whether it would be a good thing for energy company Enel. The merger has Belgian energy policy if the gas trans- far-reaching consequences for the Bel- ISABEL ALBERS AND PASCAL SERTYN • mission company Fluxys remained in gian energy market. DE STANDAARD • 28 FEBRUARY the hands of the large French energy The presence of Suez on this market group. was already overwhelming, since Suez In order nonetheless to enable compe- Next week there will be a meeting be- subsidiary Electrabel is by far the tition, Suez/Gaz de France will imme- tween Suez and the senior members of largest electricity producer and still diately have to dispose of certain parts the Belgian government. A meeting be- supplies 64% of electricity to house- or shareholdings in Belgium, according tween the Prime Minister and the holds. In addition Suez is also the main to government sources. Officially the Minister-Presidents on this matter is shareholder in the two largest Belgian government is not (yet) putting for- also being called. The government gas companies Fluxys and Distrigaz. ward this standpoint. Prime Minister wants to press Suez for a quicker fulfil- However, the merger also brings the Guy Verhofstadt has even pronounced ment of the ‘Belgian’ guarantees it had electricity suppliers Luminus and City- qualified support for the project, with given in October. Those guarantees power into the merger company. Lumi- the request that Zeebrugge be assigned were fixed in a letter, called the ‘pax nus supplies electricity to 15% of a greater role in the giant’s gas distribu- electrica’, when Suez made a full buy- households, and Citypower 6%. Both tion. out bid for Electrabel, and relate, companies are subsidiaries of SPE, The government cannot yet come out among other things, to the sale of pro- which is controlled to the tune of 51% with this standpoint either. It is first duction sites. The government feels by the British company Centrica and waiting for the judgement of the (Euro- that a speeding-up of the measures Gaz de France and is also the second pean and Belgian) competition authori- would be a positive signal for the Bel- electricity producer in the country. The ties. If they are of the view that the cre- gian energy market. other electricity suppliers Nuon and ation of the new giant would lead to an Essent still sell some 13% of the elec- unlawful monopoly situation, they can tricity, but in fact buy that from elec- press more for a ‘slimmed-down’ Suez ■ tricity producer Electrabel. Flemish Energy Minister Kris Peeters says he is concerned about the Flemish energy THE LARGEST ENERGY CONCERNS IN EUROPE market. He is asking the competition THE LARGEST GROUPS ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE (27 FEB IN BILLION EURO) authorities, such as the CREG, to keep electricité de france 83.86 a close eye on the matter. Prime Minis- e.on (d) 66.03 ter Verhofstadt is demanding that Suez enel (i) 43.48 continue to meet all the commitments rwe (d) 41.48 it entered into when it obtained full endesa (sp) 29.73 28.50 control over Electrabel, and to do so gaz de france iberdrola 24.52 without any changes. electrabel (b) 23.10 Thus it is reportedly stipulated in the scottish power (gb) 17.60 ‘pax electrica’ that Electrabel must sell centrica (gb) 16.08 10% of its production capacity. Accord- 020406080100 ing to government sources, Electrabel ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION: CAPACITY (IN MEGAWATT) is indeed prepared to sell its two Flem- electricité de france 125,447 ish and one Walloon power stations vattenfall (sw) 47,061 with a joint capacity of 1,500 mega- e.on (d) 44,283 watts, provided it does not have to pay enel (i) 42,000 34,957 the planned levy of EUR 150 million on rwe (d) electrabel (b) 28,193 its unused power stations. But accord- iberdrola 25,200 ing to De Tijd (25 February) the Social- endesa (sp) 18,995 ists do not agree to the planned levy scottish power (gb) 15,720 edp (p) 11,373 from Minister Freya Vanden Bossche’s 0306090120 150 (SP.A) budget being removed. source: DE STANDAARD

focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 ECONOMY AND SOCIAL POLICY 5

MERGER JOB MARKET Merger Suez/Gaz de Belgium keeps borders France will have to donwnsize in Belgium closed for employees from

FF EDITOR Eastern Europe

The energy group that is to be created an exception is made for East Europeans who come here to fill a ‘bottle- out of the merger between Gaz de neck’ vacancy, for which no Belgian workers are found. France and Suez is prepared to dispose of some of its parts if it turns out that its position on the Belgian energy mar- elgium will will not be throwing its rendered liable if they work with ket has become too dominant. The B borders open to Polish and other malafide subcontractors. statement was made by Gerard Mes- East European workers on 1 May, as Employment Minister Peter Van trallet, chairman of the board of direc- Spain and Finland will be doing. First Velthoven (SP.A) wants to implement tors of the merger-group-to-be, at a four legal and juridical gaps have to be the measures as quickly as possible, press conference in Paris on 28 Febru- filled. The first condition is that foreign and once that has happened, the bor- ary. The merger project is to be submit- workers who come here to work tem- ders can be opened fully. But in the ted to the European Commission for porarily are electronically registered meantime a back door has already been approval in April. Mestrallet also reit- with the National Social Security left wider open. The procedure for erated his intention to comply with all Office (RSZ). A second requirement is making jobs for which too few Belgians agreements (the so-called ‘pax elec- that the main contractor be severally come forward open to foreigners is trica’) with the Belgian government, responsible for compliance with the made more flexible. The regions which were made last year when the wage and employment conditions of should draw up lists with the vacan- Belgian electricity producer Electrabel foreign employees at his disposal. cies that are difficult to fill. By 1 June was taken over in full. Thirdly the federal and regional labour there will then be regulation under The same day Giulio Tremonti, the inspectorate should cooperate more which East European can obtain a Italian Finance Minister, flew to Brus- effectively. And finally foreign workers work permit in five days. sels, to raise the issue of the French and trade unions must be able to take The regulation is partly inspired by the manoeuvre with Neelie Kroes, EU cases to the Belgian courts. Nonethe- High Council for Employment which Competition Commissioner. The Ital- less an exception is made for East Euro- has just prepared an opinion on the ian government is calling the merger peans who come here to fill a ‘bottle- opening of borders. Deputy Chairman an unacceptably protectionist attempt neck’ vacancy, for which no Belgian Jan Smets of the High Council sees to obstruct the takeover by the Italian workers are found. The list of ‘bottle- that the number of work permits, self- company Enel. neck’ professions must be ready by June employed persons and seconded em- In Flanders, too, the merger is being (FF). ployees (secondment offers services closely monitored by the Flemish Reg- companies the possibility of seconding ulatory Body for the Electricity and WIM WINCKELMANS • HET NIEUWSBLAD • employees to another EU country to Gas Market (VREG). This body warned 25 FEBRUARY work there temporarily in the frame- that the merger would lead to competi- work of the free movement of services, tion on the Belgian energy market be- By 2009 our border will be open to res- ed.) has already increased in recent ing almost completely removed. The idents of the new EU Member States in years. ‘In Poland in particular there is liberalisation of the Flemish market, in any case, but up until then the ‘old already a labour reserve that can easily particular, has recently had a member states’ can still protect their be deployed here’, says Smets. favourable impact on gas and electric- borders. In the Belgian government The ball is now in the court of Flemish ity prices in the region, as is apparent there was disagreement over the issue. Employment Minister Frank Vanden- from a comparison with Wallonia. An The Socialists wanted to protect the broucke (SP.A) who has to decide for average Flemish family pays 13% less labour market for a while longer - until which ‘bottleneck’ professions the for its electricity and as much as 24% cases of abuse could be adequately door can be opened. Traditionally this less for its gas consumption, than a combated -, whilst the Liberals were in involves vacancies for construction Walloon family. The merger threatens favour of the borders being opened workers and cleaners, mostly profes- to nullify this salutary effect, accord- more quickly. After a week’s difficult sions for which many East Europeans ing to the VREG. negotiating, a compromise was are now being recruited. Vanden- www.vreg.be reached on Friday. Officially the bor- broucke supports the measure, but is ders are to remain closed to East Euro- not prepared to open up all ‘bottleneck’ peans. The Belgian government first professions just like that. ‘Only if we wants to take adequate measures know that the sectors in question are against cases of abuse involving illegal already making a maximum effort in aliens. Thus the electronic registration the field of employee training and for- of foreign employees will be intro- mation and only if we see that they are duced, the inspectorate departments still experiencing staff shortages, will will be working in closer cooperation, the sector come into consideration’. and the trade unions should be able to www.petervanvelthoven.be go to court if cases of abuse come to ■ their attention. Contractors are also ■

focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 6 ECONOMY AND POLITICS

BREWERIES OPINION POLL Leterme’s popularity InBev management and peaks

trade unions heading for FF EDITOR

confrontation In the latest February poll by VRT/De Standaard the CD&V/N-VA alliance, The Walloon Economic Affairs Minister Jean-Claude Marcourt (PS) with 29.1%, remains the largest politi- reproached InBev for announcing the shedding of 200 jobs on the same day cal formation in Flanders. The alliance that it announced profits of EUR 1 billion thereby fares 2.5% better than its result in the Flemish elections of 2004. The SP.A-Spirit alliance (20.4%, + estructuring in the Belgo-Brazilian and 188 jobs, respectively. 0.5%) and Groen! (8.7%, + 1.4%) also R brewing company InBev is to lead It is not known how much the InBev make up ground in respect of the 2004 to 109 jobs being axed at the InBev reorganisation should bring in. The elections. The Vlaams Belang (22.5%, - plant at Jupille, and 25 in the Leuven group did announce that it would be 1.8) and the VLD (18.9, -1.1%) fall headquarters, as well as a further fifty using the savings to invest in its brand back. However, the VLD is not dissat- or so jobs in depots. Simultaneously a names, new products and marketing. isfied, for it appears slowly but surely number of the group’s computer ser- Including the contracting out of the IT to be recovering from a severe drop in vices are to be sourced out. The 50 IT infrastructure to IBM and BT in mid popularity resulting from internal staff who would lose their jobs as a 2005, this is the fourth round of re- party rows. result of that will reportedly be able to structuring carried out by InBev in less secure employment with the new ser- than a year in our country. InBev de- Yves Leterme (CD&V), Minister-Presi- vice provider. The Walloon Economic fends the interventions by referring to dent of the Flemish Government, re- Affairs Minister Jean-Claude Marcourt the difficult market conditions in mains by far the most popular politi- (PS) reproached InBev for announcing Western Europe. The competition is cian in Flanders with 51% of the votes. the shedding of 200 jobs on the same getting tougher and beer consumption Remarkably he is followed by two day that it announced profits of EUR 1 is under pressure. Last year the group’s politicians who in fact no longer play billion. He also lamented the fact that volumes in Western European fell by any role in national or Flemish poli- there had been no consultation with 1.3%. However, these poorer results tics: Steve Stevaert, provincial gover- the regional and federal authorities. It are more than compensated by strong nor in Limburg and Jean-Luc Dehaene, was the third reorganisation in the Bel- growth in Latin America, where the mayor of Vilvoorde. Freya Vanden gian InBev plants in the space of a year. group is active through the Brazilian Bossche, SP.A Budget Minister in the In October 2005 the brewer reorganised AmBev, and in Eastern and Central Eu- federal government, takes a dive from its head office in Leuven and axed 60 rope. third to eighth place since her blunder jobs there. A little later, in November, All in all, InBev sold almost 6% less on fuel oil. InBev closed the Hoegaarden brewery beer last year, representing a volume of www.standaard.be with the announcement of 232 job loss- 223.5 million hectolitres. Total sales es. Talks on that latter reorganisation rose by 7.2% to EUR 11.66 billion and were still under way with the trade net profit came out at EUR 1.02 bil- unions. But owing to the swift succes- lion. sion of the restructuring rounds, and www.inbev.com the poor communication, the InBev management appears to have lost all ■ ■ credit with the trade unions. There’s therefore considerable militan- cy among the employees (FF).

STEPHANIE DE SMEDT • DE TIJD • 25 FEBRUARY

‘To keep a lid on costs and to work more efficiently InBev announced on Scottish & Thursday a reorganisation of the sup- InBev Heineken Carlsberg porting services in Europe. The finan- Newcastle cial services of Belgium and a few headquarters belgium great-britain the netherlands denmark other European countries are cen- results (*) tralised in the Czech Republic. The ex- turnover 11,656 4,790 10,796 5,100 port services are being pooled in Hun- operational profit 2,439 441 1,283 472 gary, where wage costs are a good deal net profit 1,024 364 761 149 lower. Three hundred and sixty jobs market position nr1 nr6 nr4 nr are at risk due to the operation. In Bel- beck’s, brahma kronenbourg heineken carlsberg gium 149 jobs are affected. In the main brands Czech Republic and Hungary the new stella artois fosters, baltika amstel tuborg, baltika centres will reportedly be creating 107 (*) in Million euro source: TIJD GRAPHICS

focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 PUBLIC HEALTH AND CULTURE 7

PRACTISING DOCTORS accreditation - and to be able to charge the higher fees that go with that -, New criteria for recognition 1,250 patients per year is the requisite. The register of GPs that the decree aims to arrive at is also important with as GP a view to a possible change in pay- ment, under which doctors would no longer only be paid per service ren- fficially Belgium has 17,500 GPs, is no longer eligible for reimbursement dered, but would also, in part, be able O but the sector says that only 8,000 of medical cost (FF). to count on a lump-sum fee for their to 9,000 GPs are actually practising. practice. The conditions for recogni- The official figures include everyone GUY FRANSEN/GUY TEGENBOS • tion explicitly state that a recognised who at some point has been recognised DE STANDAARD • 28 FEBRUARY GP has to take part in the duty ser- as a general practitioner, even if he or vices, and that in his/her absence, pa- she is no longer a practising doctor. The After lengthy negotiations the ministe- tients should be able to consult a fel- federal government therefore wants to rial decree was published on 27 Febru- low doctor who is aware of their case know exactly how many GPs there are ary in the Belgian Official Journal. The history. The Ministry of Public Health in Belgium so that it can pursue an effi- Ministry of Public Health wants to use expects GPs to establish and keep cient health policy. In order to be able it to do away with GPs who still see medical records in an appropriate man- to register and expurgate the number of members of the family and friends, or ner, precisely so as to be able to moni- GPs, from now on doctors will only doctors in sports medicine and phar- tor patients' clinical picture. receive recognition for a period of five macologists who have completed the years. In that period they must have training to qualify as a GP but are no treated 500 patients per year, either in longer practising doctors. The GPs house calls of consultations. Anyone themselves do not regard 500 patients losing his or her recognition as a doctor as a high figure, since in order to gain ■

EXHIBITION Frankfurt’s fairs. During the autumn How people from Antwerp fair of 1585, 82 traders - mainly from Antwerp - were given permission to determine the rate of exchange of the turned Frankfurt into a various coins, a protection against profiteers who attempted to make sub- financial centre stantial gains by changing money. The traders held their meetings in front of the Römer, Frankfurt’s town hall. In he exhibition ‘Antwerp-Frankfurt. to a first wave of migration. A little 1605 this meeting was for the first T Migration and innovation around later, in 1585, Alexander Farnese gave time referred to as ‘the stock ex- 1600’ in the Hessenhuis in Antwerp the people of Antwerp a choice: con- change’. shows how Frankfurt enjoyed an eco- vert to the Catholic faith, or leave the The exhibition in the Hessenhuis tries nomic and cultural revival in the 16th city within four years. This resulted in to sketch a picture of this turbulent pe- century thanks to the migration of the departure of a second wave of mi- riod (Frankfurt, too, proved not to be so Protestants from Antwerp. They left grants, chiefly traders and craftsmen. tolerant towards Protestants), on the the Low Countries to escape repres- Some of them went to Frankfurt, basis of texts of edicts and proclama- sion. For example, it was Antwerp which was quite tolerant towards tions, prints, coins and paintings. traders who laid the foundations in Protestantism at the time. The people The other rooms mainly show what in- 1585 for the Frankfurt stock exchange, from Antwerp provided for an eco- fluence the people of Antwerp had. the leading financial centre in Ger- nomic and cultural revival, and made They introduced new weaving tech- many. The exhibition in the Hessen- Frankfurt an important financial cen- niques and dye processes for fabrics, huis has already been on show in Frank- tre’. and turned Frankfurt into a centre for furt, and is one of 16 exhibitions Around 1550 Frankfurt was already precious stones and jewels. They also scheduled for 2006, aimed at highlight- well known for its book fair and an- had considerable influence on painting ing Antwerp’s ties with the rest of the nual fair, but at that time things had and the printing of books. So we are world (FF). gradually started to go downhill for the shown jewels and textiles, as well as city. Between 1550 and 1606 Frankfurt graphic design and books. No religious SASKIA VEREENOOGHE • DE TIJD • 1 MAART hardly produced any coins itself. The scenes are to be found among the local coins lost their value quickly and paintings from this era, since Protes- The story behind the exhibition is an the inhabitants almost only used for- tantism did not allow this. There are interesting one. ‘In the second half of eign coins. The Filipsdaalder, in partic- still lifes, portraits and landscapes. the 16th century, Protestantism spread ular, which was struck in the Low http://museum.antwerpen.be/etno- in the Low Countries, but the Catholic Countries, was extremely popular. In grafisch_museum King Philip II of Spain regarded that as addition to the traditional trade in inadmissible. He sent the Duke of goods, money transactions gradually Alba to the Low Countries’, recounts began to gain in importance. project manager Sofie De Ruysser. ‘His The exhibition tells us that new trad- strict policy against the Protestants led ing techniques also had an impact on ■

focus on FLANDERS • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9 8 CULTURE

info: www.bijloke.be 0)9 233.68.78 • 13 March: Isabelle Faust violin and • 9 March: Hubert-Felix Thiefaine, AB, Alexander Melnikov piano with work by Diary Brussels; info: www.abconcerts.be Ludwig von Beethoven, Flagey, Brussels; 02/548.24.24 info: www.flagey.be 02/641.10.10 • 9, 10 and 11 March: Impressing the • 14 March: Concerto Köln and Andreas MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE Czar, Royal Flemish Ballet, Flanders Staier (piano) with JS Bach, WA Mozart • 24 February to 21 March: Martin Operahouse, Ghent; info: www.vlaamse- and Joseph Martin Kraus, Royal Conser- Arnold (Vienna, 1959) has established opera.be vatory, Brussels; info: www.bozar.be himself as one of the most brilliant of • 10 to 25 March: l’Incoronazione di 02/507.82.00 today’s experimental filmmakers; Bozar, Poppea by Monteverdi, conductor: René • 15 March: Frank Peter Zimmermann Brussels; www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 Jacobs, director: David Mc Vicar, Opera, (violin) and Christian Zacharias (piano) • 8 March: Haydn Sinfonietta Wien with De Munt, Brussels; info: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Royal Con- Manfred Huss, Alexei Lubimov and www.demunt.be 02/ 229 12 00 servatory, Brussels; info: www.bozar.be Ronald Brautigam with Carl Philipp • 10 March: Ictus Ensemble conducted 02/507.82.00 Emanuel Bach Concerto for 2 keyboards, by Georges-Elie Octors with Katalin • 15 March: Park Byon Chon and Ensem- Joseph Haydn Scherzando, Wolfgang Karolyi (mezzo-soprano) with composi- ble (Corea), Zuiderpershuis, Antwerp; Amadeus Mozart Concerto for 3 key- tions by Peter Eötvös, Bruno Mantovani info: www.zuiderpershuis.be boards and orchestra, Johann Christian and Franck Bedrossian, Kaaitheater, 03/248.01.00 Bach Symphony for double orchestra; Brussels; www.kaaitheater.be • 15 March: John Mac Laughlin (guitar), Concertgebouw, Bruges; info: www.con- • 10 March: Members of Marvelas, AB, Shakti, Bozar, Brussels; info: certgebouw.be, info: 070/33.33.02 Brussels; info: www.abconcerts.be www.vwspringsessions.be • 7 March: Monnaie Orchestra and Choir 02/548.24.24 conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi, • 10 March: Belgian National Orchestra Maxim Piers choir leader with Cristina conducted by Mikko Franck, Pinchas EXPO Gallardo-Domas soprano, Carlos Ventre Zukerman with Wolfgang Amadeus • Until 2008: Art at the Frontline 1914- tenor - Stefano Antonucci bass with Mozart, Max Bruch and Pyotr 1918, Royal Army and Military History Giacomo Puccini, Capriccio Sinfonico, Tchaikovsky, Bozar, Brussels; Museum, Brussels; Le villi, Concert, Bozar, Brussels; info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 info: 02 737 78 33 www.klm-mra.be www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 • 10 March: Vicente Amigo, Concertge- • Until 30 April: Pain, exhibition, • 7 March: Death Cab for Cutie, AB, bouw, Bruges; info: www.concertge- Museum Ghuislain, Ghent; Brussels; info: www.abconcerts.be bouw.be www.museumghuislain.be 02/548.24.24 • 11 March: Les Agréments, Choeur de • Until 12 March: The Construction of • 7 March: The Sedan Vault, AB, Brus- Chambre de Namur, Oratorio Messiah the other, exhibition, photographic por- sels; info: www.abconcerts.be by GF Haendel, arranged by WA Mozart, traits by Diane Arbus, Dirk Braeckman, 02/548.24.24 with Olga Pasichnyk, soprano, Concert- Eadweard Muybridge, Gaudenzio Mar- • 7 and 9 March: Musical theatre gebouw, Bruges; coni, Irving Penn, Marc Trivier, August Transparant and Centro de Experimenta- info: www.concertgebouw.be Sander, Bozar, Brussels; cion Teatro Colon, Jacob Lenz by Wolf- • 11 March: King’s Singers & Sarband, info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 gang Rihm, De Singel, Antwerp; info: Sacred brigdes, Psalms, De Singel, • Until the end of March: SMAK exhibi- www.desingel.be 03/248.28.28 Antwerp; info: www.desingel.be tions: Franky DC, Henk Visch, Stefan • 8 March: Tété Alhinho & co, Cabo 03/248.28.28 Dheedene and Phil Collins, SMAK, _Verdo, Zuiderpershuis, Antwerp; info: • 12 March: At the close of every day, Ghent; info: www.smak.be 09 221 17 03 www.zuiderpershuis.be 03/248.01.00 AB, Brussels; info: www.abconcerts.be • Until 23 April: Eugeen Joors, In Flan- • 8 March: The house of the hidden 02/548.24.24 ders Fields Museum, Ypres 057/239.220 music pieces, Dick Vander Harst, • 12 March: Cali AB, Brussels; • Until 24 June: Kijkdozen en denkmod- Amparo Cortes, Oxalys with Mozart and info: www.abconcerts.be 02/548.24.24 ellen (Showcases and models of thought), Camaron de la Isla; De Singel, Antwerp; • 12 March: Orchestre Philharmonique Jan Fabre, exhibition, Flemish info: www.desingel.be 03/248.28.28 de Liège et de la Communauté Wallonie- Parliament, Lokettenzaal, Brussels; • 8 March: The King’s Consort conducted Bruxelles conducted by John Axelrod, info: www.vlaamsparlement.be by Robert King with Claire Booth sopra- Daniel Hope violin with Joseph Haydn • Until 21 May: Theo Van Rysselberghe, no and James Gilchrist, tenor: Henry and Leonard Bernstein, Bozar, Brussels; exhibition, Bozar, Brussels; Purcell, Benjamin Britten and Georg info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 Friedrich Händel Bozar, Brussels; • 12, 14 and 16 March: Prova • Until 23 April: The Collection XIV, www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 d’Orchestre, Giorgio Battistelli, compos- exhibition, Muhka, Antwerp; • 9 March: Fred Firth and Marc Ribot er in residence, six musical scenes for info: www.muhka.be (guitar), De Singel, Antwerp; the end of the 20th century based on the • Until 30 April: Noli me tangere: Maria info: www.desingel.be 03/248.28.28 lyrical documentary by F Fellini. Magdalena in multiple, Library of theolo- • 8 March: Gewandhausorchester Koningin Elisabethzaal, Antwerp; gy, Louvain, www.theo.kuleuven.be Leipzig conducted by Riccardo Chailly info: www.vlaamseopera.be • Until 28 May: Yearning for Beauty, The and Nelson Freire (piano) with Johannes • 13 March: Eva Mei (soprano) and Vienna Werkstätte, exhibition Bozar, Brahms and Alban Berg, Bozar, Brussels; Alexander Schmalz (piano), recital with Brussels, info: www.bozar.be info: www.bozar.be 02/507.82.00 Fauré, Debussy, Mahler, Strauss, • Until 31 May: Antwerp-Frankfurt: • 9 March: Night of the voice with Schumann, Schubert and Verdi, De Migration and innovation around 1600, Dominique Vellard, Aruna Sayeeram Munt, Brussels; info: www.demunt.be exhibition, Hessenhuis, Antwerp; (India), Noureddine Tahiri with 02/229 12 00 info: http: //museum.antwerpen.be/etno- Gregorian Chant, songs from the Koran, grafisch_museum the Veda etc, De Bijloke, Ghent;

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), Jan Denaeyer (Information Officer, Focus on Flanders provides a weekly •48 issues Flemish Community), Mark Deweerdt (Journalist, overview of articles from the Flemish press • Subscription rate printed edition + 2 e-mail De Tijd), Michael Stabenow (Correspondent, editions + password to search the archive and appears in English, French and German. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), Luc Standaert (www.focusonflanders.be): 233 euro (Journalist, Belang van Limburg), Jan Van Doren This newsletter is published by Uitgeverij • Either transfer the sum to account no.: (Deputy Director, VOKA-VEV), Bernard Bulcke Lannoo nv, Kasteelstraat 97, 8700 Tielt 472-1010001-19 with the KBC in Roeselare (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 Roularta 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 • 25 February - 3 March 2006 • Number 9