DOCSLIB.ORG

Focus on the DUTCH SPEAKING PART of BELGIUM Press Review Weekly, Does Not Appear in July • Number 47 • 10 December – 16 December 2005

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Focus on the DUTCH SPEAKING PART of BELGIUM Press Review Weekly, Does Not Appear in July • Number 47 • 10 December – 16 December 2005 flandersfocus on THE DUTCH SPEAKING PART OF BELGIUM press review weekly, does not appear in July • number 47 • 10 December – 16 December 2005 Belgacom and France Telecom INTRODUCTION In election years, as we know, parties are more eager in their battle it out for Telindus desire to create a profile for themselves and are not easily tempted into making compro- mises, with the result that few hen France Telecom made a BERT BROENS • DE TIJD • 16 DECEMBER important decisions are taken. After the federal elections of W friendly counter-bid for network 2003 and the regional elections of 2004, 2005 there- company Telindus on Wednesday 15 For weeks the Belgacom camp was fore had to provide for a respite. The Federal Govern- December, most papers thought that a quoted as saying that EUR 13.50 was ment has taken advantage of this to push through its Generation Pact, a first cautious reform of the career- higher bid from Belgacom was unlikely fair. Behind the scenes it was even end arrangements and the social security system. For (see p. 2). With its bid price of EUR 15.8 whispered that that price was already the government, the reward appears to have been reaped. The bill was approved in Parliament in the per share, France Telecom was offering on the high side. Why Belgacom now night of 15/16 December. Trade unions and employ- 17% more than the EUR 13.50 offered wants to pay so much more is not im- ers now only have to agree on a few terms and con- ditions governing the regulations for early retirement. by Belgacom. The difference was too mediately clear. Bellens probably But the union opposition to the pact seems to have great, and most observers thought mainly wants to prevent France Télé- subsided. The generally militant socialist union an- that Belgacom CEO Didier Bellens com, the owner of Mobistar (the sec- nounced that it was abandoning general strikes. In the political parties the feverish autumn has mainly would concede defeat. However, on 15 ond largest mobile-phone operator af- caused some collateral damage within the socialist December the Belgacom board of direc- ter the Belgacom subsidiary Proximus) movement, where parties (SP.A and PS) and union have often locked horns. The coalition partner, the tors decided to make a counter-bid of from playing a more dominant role on Liberal VLD, has recorded a minor success with the EUR 16.60 per share. That is 1 cent the Belgian market. Generation Pact. And it was high time, too. In 2004 above the statutory minimum for a It is now a question of waiting and see- the party experienced a divisive internal battle on im- migrants’ voting rights and a little later saw its Prime counter-bid. The difference between ing how France Télécom reacts. The Minister Guy Verhofstadt fail in his attempt to keep the first and second Belgacom bids French group has three options: it can the courier company DHL in Zaventem. In the opinion polls the VLD took a nose dive. Now it appears to means that Telindus’ value has been withdraw its bid, let it run, or raise it. have regained its self-confidence and according to upped by a quarter. The new bid is valid According to Luk Van Eylen, some papers is already preparing for the municipal until 6 January (FF). spokesman for the stock exchange su- elections of 2006 and – the big test – the federal elec- tions of 2007. pervisory authority CBFA, the French The way things are looking at the moment, writes De bid does not automatically lapse be- Standaard (14 December), we are heading for a ti- CONTENTS tanic struggle between Verhofstadt and the Flemish cause of the new offer from Belgacom. Minister-President Yves Leterme (CD&V) for the prime ‘The Telindus board of directors has to ministership. Leterme is the man of New Realism and Economy, tax and social policy give its opinion on the two bids next his popularity is perhaps the main asset in the elec- toral campaign of the CD&V-N-VA alliance. He will in- France Télécom outbids Belgacom 2 week,’ he says. But if France Télécom evitably also be the target of campaigns orchestrated ABVV shifts action to index 2 withdraws, Telindus only has to exam- by his political opponents. This can be done, for ex- ample, so the paper says, by putting his leadership An airport for the Scheldt Delta 3 ine the still hostile bid from Belgacom. qualities to the test within his government. The fact KBC becomes sole owner of K&H Bank 3 A possible counter-bid would have to that VLD MPs ranted and raved so conspicuously in the fuss kicked up over the law on penalties for juve- Inbev close to takeover in China 3 be made by 4 January at the latest, and nile offenders, the speed limit for lorries and the ser- A Flemish tax cut 4 would have to be at least 5% higher. It vice cheques for child minding (pages 5 and 6) should Eur 150 million for job projects 4 won’t be coming from the British tele- be viewed in the light of this strategy, in the paper’s view. The VLD wants to create the impression that as com group BT. BT lodged a counter-bid leader of the Flemish Government, Leterme is not Agriculture and Mobility for Telindus, just like France Télécom, able to put the house in order in his government within a reasonable period. Just before it all got com- Leterme examines support for manure but the Belgian company opted for the pletely out of hand and the VLD were accused of rab- treatment 5 French offer. ‘For BT it’s over. They de- ble rousing (De Morgen 14 December), Guy Verhofs- Quarrel about speed limit for lorries 5 cided from the word go not to get in- tadt appeared on the scene, like a ministering angel, with a compromise. He can step in because in the volved in a bidding war,’ a source close three disputed matters a part of the competency lies Justice, social welfare and foreign policy to the British group was quoted as say- with the federal authorities. Leterme was able to limit the damage by pointing out that who scores is not Dispute about juvenile criminal law 6 ing. important, as long as there is good management. But Service cheques for child-minders 6 for Leterme the road to 2007 is still a long one, the Freya Vanden Bossche criticises Dutch Table page 4. paper concludes. In the meantime the situation that applied when the Flemish Government was formed is cabinet: insult or not? 7 still applicable today: the three parties currently in of- fice are condemned to get along, for there is no alter- native. Media and culture VRT receives media council report 7 ■ Frank Vandecaveye | editor in chief A play about eurocrats 7 focus on FLANDERS • 10 December - 16 December 2005 • Number 47 2 ECONOMY AND SOCIAL POLICY TELECOM & IT 15.80 per share. Belgacom would there- fore have to offer EUR 16.59 or more, a Telindus: France Télécom price that values Telindus at EUR 594 million. That is EUR 111 million more outbids Belgacom than what Belgacom was initially pre- the reference shareholders and the company's board of pared to stump up. directors support the bid Most observers assume that Belgacom is not prepared to make such an effort. n its battle for network specialist BERT BROENS • DE TIJD • Belgacom does not have a tradition of I Telindus, Belgacom is now facing a 15 DECEMBER costly takeovers, something that al- formidable opponent. France Télécom ready became apparent with the failed is offering EUR 15.80 per Telindus According to specialists, theoretically bid for the Czech telecom company share, 17% more than the EUR 13.50 Belgacom has three possibilities. Cesky Telecom. What is more, Telin- offered by Belgacom. It should come as The telecom group can for the time be- dus has in the meantime become a no surprise that it is the French telecom ing let its hostile bid, which took effect very troubled dossier. group, of all companies, that is making on 5 December, run through to 20 De- Belgacom set its prey and the political a counter-bid. The family of John cember and publish its result. The and economic public at large against it Cordier, the founder of Telindus, the Telindus shareholders who brought in by aggressively launching a hostile bid reference shareholders and the compa- their securities can withdraw them for another listed company. There ny's board of directors support the bid, again, but also sell them to Belgacom. were rumblings even in the company's whereas they had previously rejected However, the chance of the latter oc- own board of directors and in the fed- Belgacom's offer. Moreover Telindus curring is very slim, given the substan- eral government, which controls Bel- has historical links with France Télé- tial mark-up offered by France Télécom gacom. com. Together they secured the second on Belgacom's bidding price. The Bel- So it looks as though Belgacom will Belgian mobile telephony licence for gian group will then have no option but end up acknowledging defeat. If Belga- Mobistar in 1995. Today France Télé- to conclude that it has got nowhere com quits, Telindus will not automati- com holds 52% of Mobistar and Telin- near the intended 75% of Telindus, and cally fall into the hands of France Télé- dus 4.62%. France Télécom's bid thus that the bid has failed.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download English Version
    TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid Annual Report 2019. Table of Contents Printed in Madrid, Spain. 2020. This report is also an interactive document that, through the use of QR codes, allows readers to view videos, ANNUAL REPORT 2019 news and additional materials that support the information provided in this document. 4 Message from the President 6 Introduction 8 Next Generation Find QR Codes Access the Read QR Codes Follow link to Democracy in the report camera App with phone view content 24 Shared Societies Project 26 Preventing Violent Extremism 40 Outreach and Development World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid (WLA-CdM) is the largest worldwide assembly of political leaders 44 Communications working to strengthen democratic values, good governance and the well-being of citizens across the globe. As a non-profit, non-partisan, international organisation, its network is composed of more than 100 democratic 46 Finance and former Presidents and Prime Ministers from over 70 countries, together with a global body of advisors and expert practitioners, who offer their voice and agency on a pro bono basis, to today's political, civil society leaders and policymakers. WLA-CdM responds to a growing demand for trusted advice in addressing the Administration challenges involved in achieving democracy that delivers, building bridges, bringing down silos and promoting dialogue for the design of better policies for all. This alliance, providing the experience, access and convening power of its Members, represents an 48 About WLA-CdM independent effort towards sustainable development, inclusion and peace, not bound by the interest or pressures of institutions and governments.
    [Show full text]
  • Compte Rendu Intégral Integraal Verslag Avec Met Compte Rendu Analytique Traduit Vertaald Beknopt Verslag Des Interventions Van De Toespraken
    CRIV 51 COM 1216 CRIV 51 COM 1216 BELGISCHE KAMER VAN CHAMBRE DES REPRÉSENTANTS VOLKSVERTEGENWOORDIGERS DE BELGIQUE COMPTE RENDU INTÉGRAL INTEGRAAL VERSLAG AVEC MET COMPTE RENDU ANALYTIQUE TRADUIT VERTAALD BEKNOPT VERSLAG DES INTERVENTIONS VAN DE TOESPRAKEN COMMISSION DE LA JUSTICE COMMISSIE VOOR DE JUSTITIE mardi dinsdag 27-02-2007 27-02-2007 Après-midi Namiddag CHAMBRE-5E SESSION DE LA 51E LEGISLATURE 2006 2007 KAMER-5E ZITTING VAN DE 51E ZITTINGSPERIODE cdH centre démocrate Humaniste CD&V Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams ECOLO Ecologistes Confédérés pour l’organisation de luttes originales FN Front National MR Mouvement réformateur N-VA Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie PS Parti socialiste sp.a-spirit Socialistische Partij Anders – Sociaal progressief internationaal, regionalistisch integraal democratisch toekomstgericht Vlaams Belang Vlaams Belang VLD Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten Abréviations dans la numérotation des publications : Afkortingen bij de nummering van de publicaties : DOC 51 0000/000 Document parlementaire de la 51e législature, suivi du n° de DOC 51 0000/000 Parlementair stuk van de 51e zittingsperiode + basisnummer en base et du n° consécutif volgnummer QRVA Questions et Réponses écrites QRVA Schriftelijke Vragen en Antwoorden CRIV version provisoire du Compte Rendu Intégral (couverture verte) CRIV voorlopige versie van het Integraal Verslag (groene kaft) CRABV Compte Rendu Analytique (couverture bleue) CRABV Beknopt Verslag (blauwe kaft) CRIV Compte Rendu Intégral, avec, à gauche, le compte rendu inté- CRIV Integraal Verslag,
    [Show full text]
  • Caretaker Cabinets in Belgium
    This article from Politics of the Low Countries is published by Eleven international publishing and made available to anonieme bezoeker RESEARCH NOTE Caretaker Cabinets in Belgium A New Measurement and Typology Régis Dandoy & Lorenzo Terrière* Abstract Keywords: caretaker government, Belgium, cabinets, political crisis. Belgium is probably the world’s best known case of where caretaker gov‐ 1 Introduction ernments reside. Yet a clear scholarly definition and measurement of this Political scientists often use Belgium concept is missing. Based on a as an ideal case study for discussing detailed analysis of the Belgian fed‐ processes of government formation eral cabinets, this research note and of caretaker cabinets. Combined explores the main characteristics and with its complex multilevel institu‐ measures the length of the various tional architecture and its enduring caretaker periods. We find that Bel‐ regionalist tensions, these processes gium was governed for no less than have attracted much attention from 1,485 days by a caretaker govern‐ the international community. The var‐ ment between 2007 and 2020, which ious episodes of the lengthy federal equals more than four full calendar government formation even kept the years. This research note also pres‐ international media in suspense over ents a novel typology of caretaker the last decade. The fact that Belgium periods based on the institutional had a caretaker government through‐ and political practice within the Bel‐ out its successful EU presidency term gian legislative and executive in 2010 impressed many European branches. This typology can be used observers. to assess caretaker periods at other Caretaker periods mark the transi‐ levels of government as well as in tion between the termination of one other countries in order to improve government and the start of another.
    [Show full text]
  • Belgian National Report on Drugs 2013
    BELGIAN NATIONAL REPORT ON DRUGS 2013 NEW DEVELOPMENTS, TRENDS AND IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ON SELECTED ISSUES ELS PLETTINCKX | JÉRÔME ANTOINE | PETER BLANCKAERT | JOHAN C. H. VAN BUSSEL Belgian national report on drugs 2013 OD Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, October 2013, Brussels, Belgium IPH/EPI REPORTS N° 028 Depot number: D/2013/2505/46 Belgian national report on drugs 2013 Els Plettinckx Jérôme Antoine Peter Blanckaert Johan C.H. van Bussel EMCDDA Management Board Mr. Claude GILLARD, Legal adviser, Head of the Department of criminal law, Direction Générale de la législation du Service Public Fédéral Justice Dr. Philippe DEMOULIN, Deputy Director General f.f., Administration de la Communauté française de Belgique EMCDDA Scientific Committee Prof. Dr. Brice DE RUYVER, Full Professor, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), University of Ghent Ministers involved in the global and integrated drug policy in Belgium 2013 For the Federal government: Mr. Elio DI RUPO, Prime Minister. Mrs. Laurette ONKELINX, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs, in charge of Beleris and the Federal Cultural Institutions. Mme. Joelle MILQUET, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of the interior and Equal Opportunities. Mr. Didier REYNDERS, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and European Affairs. Mr. Steven VANACKERE, Vice-Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance and sustainable development, in charge of official affairs. Mr. Vincent VAN QUICKENBORNE, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Pensions. Mr. Johan VANDE LANOTTE, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Consumers and North Sea. Mrs. Sabine LARUELLE, Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Self-employed persons and Agriculture.
    [Show full text]
  • April 08 from the Editor
    From the Editor’s Desk In the Belgian legislative elections of 10 June 2007 the Flemish and Francophone Christian Democrats and Francophone and Flemish Liberals of Wallonie and Bruxelles received enough seats in the Chambre des représentants (81 of 150) to form a coalition government. However, the two parties were opposed on the question of reform of the Belgian federal in- stitutions demanded by the Flemish, who want more autonomy within the confederation that is Belgium. The different francophone parties were opposed to this. This desire for greater autonomy has many sources. First, Flanders has a much stronger economy than Walloon (the Flemish pay 67-68% of income taxes and account for 85% of all exports (National Public Radio, 11-8-07). This means that they must make very large finan- cial transfers to the French-speaking areas in order to keep them afloat (the French-speaking part of Belgium has an unemployment rate of 20%). There are also cultural and linguistic factors. From the very beginning French was the language of the elites including the Flemish themselves as well as the Walloons. In Flanders Dutch was spoken by the peasants and the Flemish proletariat. Most Flemish writers wrote in French. So many Flemish from the poorer social classes saw themselves as scorned and came to resent the hostility of the francophone bourgeoisie whom they saw as arrogant and imperialistic (Marianne, 17-23 November 2007: 68-73; article by Elie Barnavi). The Flemish feel particularly threatened in Bruxelles, which historically is part of Flanders, but where 85% of the inhabitants speak French.
    [Show full text]
  • A Nation and an Idea
    Chapter 2 A Nation and an Idea Scholars of international relations face a frustrating existence. Reducing the diplomatic behavior of entire nations to a model based on a set of measur- able variables sooner or later encounters the problem of accounting for that least measurable of national characteristics, that of identity. Identity has been often discussed and much studied but it is not particularly easy to reduce to a clear set of statements, because observational difficulties and biases easily intrude into any such qualitative descriptions of nations. In fact, historically the descriptions of national identity were fraught with generalizations which bordered on the mundane and were at times little more than race-based opin- ions attributing particular characteristics to entire national groups, with little or scientific backing. But these opinions were not necessarily valueless; at least they attempted, however inaccurately, to create a picture of the culture and way of thinking of a nation, and that goal should be maintained even if we look for better ways to achieve it. In studying the behavior of a particular nation in a particular time, we may base our analysis on the rational considerations of the moment, but we also need to consider the history of the particular issue, the history of the nation and how that has influenced its perspective on that crisis, and that nation’s identity, which creates the vision that its leaders and servants have of the crisis. References to that national identity in the past sometimes tended to gloss over how perspectives could also be shaped by class and other parameters, especially important here as the diplomats were mostly from a very different background than the “average” person of their home countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Ihf Report 2006 Human Rights in the Osce Region 76 Belgium
    74 BELGIUM* IHF FOCUS: anti-terrorism measures; freedom of expression, free media and infor- mation; freedom of religion and religious tolerance; national minorities; racism, in- tolerance and xenophobia; migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. The main human rights concerns in New anti-terrorism legislation adopted Belgium in 2005 were racial discrimination during the year broadened the powers of and intolerance and violations of the rights police and public prosecutors to engage in of asylum seekers and immigrants. surveillance and control, which gave rise to In May, Belgium signed Protocol No. 7 concern about violations of privacy rights to the Council of Europe Convention for and freedom of expression. the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), which ex- Anti-Terrorism Measures1 tends the list of protected rights to include On 28 October, the Council of Minis- the right of aliens to procedural guarantees ters submitted to the Chamber of Repre- in the event of expulsion from the territory sentatives a draft law that envisaged chan- of a state; the right of a person convicted ges to the criminal code and judicial code of a criminal offence to have the sentence concerning special forms of investigation reviewed by a higher tribunal; the right to in the fight against terrorism and organized compensation in the event of a miscar- crime.2 New legislation on this topic was riage of justice; the right not to be tried or necessary because the Court of Arbitration punished for an offence for which one has partially revoked existing legislation in a already been acquitted or convicted; as decision of 21 December 2004.
    [Show full text]
  • National Report for BELGIUM
    This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 290694. TENLAW: Tenancy Law and Housing Policy in Multi-level Europe National Report for BELGIUM Authors from Delft University of Technology: Marietta Haffner Section 1-4, 9 Hafida Bounjouh Section 5-8, 9 Team Leader: Hendrik Ploeger, Delft University of Technology National Supervisor: Maarten Dambre Peer reviewers: Maria Olinda Garcia Paddy Gray Petr Podrazil Montserrat Simó Solsana 1 National Report for Belgium Table of Contents 1 Housing situation 1.1 General features 1.2 Historical evolution of the national housing situation and housing policy 1.3 Current situation 1.4 Types of housing tenures 1.5 Other general aspects 2 Economic urban and social factors 2.1 Current situation of the housing market 2.2 Issues of price and affordability 2.3 Tenancy contracts and investment 2.4 Other economic factors 2.5 Effects of the current crisis 2.6 Urban aspects of the housing situation 2.7 Social aspects of the housing situation 3 Housing policies and related policies 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Governmental actors 3.3 Housing policies 3.4 Urban policies 3.5 Energy policies 3.6 Subsidization 3.7 Taxation 4 Regulatory types of rental and intermediate tenures 4.1 Classifications of different types of regulatory tenures 4.2 Regulatory types of tenures without a public task 4.3 Regulatory types of tenures with a public task 5 Origins and development of tenancy law 6 Tenancy regulation and
    [Show full text]
  • Le Classement Complet De Septembre 2013
    Médiamètre politique RTBF-Auxipress Septembre 2013 Ministres, secrétaires d’Etat et Présidents de parti Médiamètre politique RTBF-Auxipress Septembre 2013 Commentaires D’un point de vue médiatique, la rentrée de septembre semble remettre un peu d’ordre dans les rangs du monde politique. Après deux mois sans briller, Bart De Wever retrouve sa seconde place au sein du médiamètre politique. Septembre aura été pour lui le mois où, dès la rentrée, il aura dû remettre un peu d’ordre dans les déclarations de ses collaborateurs à propos du programme de la NV-A. Mais c’est aussi le mois où le Roi Phillippe et la reine Mathilde auront fait leur joyeuse entrée à Anvers, un événement très commenté. Le Premier ministre Elio Di Rupo garde en revanche tout le monde politique à belle distance et dépasse largement les 10% de taux d’occupation des médias. Didier Reynders recule sur la 3ème marche du podium après un mois d’août loin devant tout le monde, Kris Peeters réintègre le top 5 et Joëlle Milquet ferme la marche… …Juste devant l’homme du mois Jean-Pascal Labille. Le Ministre des entreprises publiques intègre en effet le top 10 de chaque media. Jean-Pascal Labille est un peu un cas particulier. Il a remplacé Paul Magnette début 2013 et continue d’affirmer qu’il ne sera pas candidat aux prochaines élections. En attendant, il est sollicité par l’actualité de son mandat et existe médiatiquement. Deux dossiers l’ont accaparé au mois de septembre: Le dossier des nominations à la SNCB mais surtout Belgacom empêtré dans des dossiers d’espionnage et de bonne ou mauvaise gouvernance selon l’angle sous lequel on observe la situation.
    [Show full text]
  • Projet De Loi Wetsontwerp
    DOC 52 2192/001 DOC 52 2192/001 BELGISCHE KAMER VAN CHAMBRE DES REPRÉSENTANTS VOLKSVERTEGENWOORDIGERS DE BELGIQUE 8 oktober 2009 8 octobre 2009 WETSONTWERP PROJET DE LOI tot bekrachtiging van het koninklijk besluit van portant confirmation de l’arrêté royal du 8 december 2008 betreffende de bijdrage in 8 décembre 2008 relatif à la contribution de werkings-, personeels- en oprichtingskosten aux frais de fonctionnement, de personnel et van de kansspelcommissie verschuldigd door d’installation de la Commission des jeux de de houders van de vergunningen klasse A, B, hasard due par les titulaires de licences de C en E voor het kalenderjaar 2009 classe A, B, C et E pour l’année civile 2009 Blz. Pages INHOUD SOMMAIRE 1. Samenvatting ......................................................... 1 1. Résumé ................................................................. 1 2. Memorie van toelichting ........................................ 3 2. Exposé des motifs ................................................. 3 3. Voorontwerp .......................................................... 5 3. Avant-projet ........................................................... 5 4. Advies van de Raad van State .............................. 6 4. Avis du Conseil d’État ............................................ 6 5. Wetsontwerp .......................................................... 7 5. Projet de loi ........................................................... 7 SAMENVATTING RÉSUMÉ Dit wetsontwerp beoogt de bekrachtiging van het Le présent projet de loi vise à confi rmer l’arrêté royal koninklijk besluit van 8 december 2008 tot vaststelling du 8 décembre 2008 fi xant la contribution aux frais de van de bijdrage in de werkings-, personeels- en oprich- fonctionnement, de personnel et d’installation de la tingkosten van de kansspelcommissie verschuldigd commission des jeux de hasard due par les titulaires de door de houders van de vergunningen klasse A, B, C licences de classe A, B, C et E pour l’année civile 2009. et E voor het kalenderjaar 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • Responsive Public Management
    Responsive Public Management IGPDE /Research Office Public Management Monitoring News - No. 42 - February 2012 Belgium The Di Rupo Government: State and public management reforms A new government and a focus on budgetary consolidation On 6 December 2011, after a year and a half of negotiations, a new Belgian coalition government was sworn in. It consists of twelve ministers1 and six ministers of State, under the leadership of the French-speaking Socialist Elio Di Rupo. The ministerial posts are divided between six political parties, including social democrats, Christian democrats and liberals from both the French- and Dutch-speaking communities. The government does not include the major winner in the June 2010 elections, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), because it withdrew from the talks. The civil service, which had previously been managed by a specific Federal Public Service (FPS)2, is now the responsibility of the Minister of State for the Civil Service and the Modernisation of Public Services (Hendrik Bogaert), attached to the Minister of Finance and Sustainable Development (Steven Vanackere). Administrative simplification is now the purview of Olivier Chastel, Minister for the Budget. Budgetary restraint is a pressing issue. In its proposed policy statement of 1 December 2011, the government made putting public finances back on a sound footing a top priority3. Even before the vote on the 2012 budget took place, an initial budget review was scheduled for the end of February4. This was triggered by a likely downward revision of growth forecasts and an ongoing Excessive Deficit Procedure initiated by the European Commission5, which requested that certain expenditures be suspended pending the corresponding budget adjustments.
    [Show full text]
  • Monthly Progress Update
    Monthly Progress Update Issue 09/2013 01 December – 31 December Part of the project “Assessment of climate change policies in the context of the EU Semester” 08 January 2014 Monthly Progress Update – December 2013 Table of Content Austria ................................................................................................... 5 Horizontal Measures .......................................................................................... 5 Belgium .................................................................................................. 6 Horizontal Measures .......................................................................................... 6 Renewable Energy ............................................................................................. 6 Waste ................................................................................................................... 7 Bulgaria ................................................................................................. 8 Energy Generation ............................................................................................. 8 Renewable Energy ............................................................................................. 8 Croatia ................................................................................................. 10 Energy Efficiency ............................................................................................. 10 Transport .........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]