Changes to police, bilingualism, drug policy: What federal coalition deal means for Brussels

Belgium's federal government finally reached a coalition agreement over the weekend with a 200-page plan that entails several changes affecting Brussels residents, including a potential merger of police zones, changes to language policy and a zero-tolerance approach to drug abuse in public transport stations.

The agreement comes from political parties N-VA, Vooruit, CD&V, MR and Les Engagés and notably settles the debate regarding the merger of police zones.

“In recent years, it has once again become clear that security policy in Brussels is too fragmented – this ensures that criminal phenomena and nuisances are not tackled in the most efficient way possible,” the report said.

“There is a clear need for more unity of vision and leadership when it comes to police and security policy in the capital. Given the territorial interconnectedness of the Brussels region in terms of urbanisation and safety, there is a need for an unambiguous safety policy. We are therefore merging the six Brussels police zones into one.”

The merger was one of the more hotly contested issues, with all 19 Brussels mayors firmly opposed.

“We are in the process of unravelling, for ideological reasons on the part of some, something that actually works well,” reacted Woluwe-Saint-Pierre mayor Benoit Cerexhe (Les Engagés).

Real new powers for the federated states are not in the agreement, but the parties said they aim to strengthen the consultative committee, where the federal level interacts with the communities and regions.

The coalition agreement also acknowledges difficulties for Dutch-speaking residents seeking treatment at Brussels hospitals, promising to “ensure compliance” with language legislation that mandates the availability of services in Dutch.

Security in public transit stations, notably Brussels-Midi, was also addressed. Police presence will be increased and Belgian railway operator SNCB will take preventative measures including public cleanliness actions, ticket checks in stations and a possible expansion of the camera network, along with a zero-tolerance policy for drug use in stations.

The plan also noted an “increase in drug-related violence in the capital and the airport area, as well as the structural capacity problems of local security services”, calling for additional federal support to fight organised crime and terrorism.

A “new plan will include strengthening the relevant local police zones, in order to keep a close watch on radicalised individuals and to act forcefully against arms and human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal economy, etc,” the report said.

The new federal government also wants to substantially and structurally reduce the asylum influx and “stop illegal migration”.

“To this end, the margins for tightening within European asylum and reception regulations will be exhausted to the maximum,” the report reads.

“The government wants a package of crisis response measures to address the reception shortage as soon as possible, up to containment of inflows and reception. We will halt any resettlement as long as the asylum crisis lasts and as long as the backlog has not been cleared and the reception network has not been completed.”

A compulsory distribution plan of asylum seekers across the territory was also removed from the legislation by the government.

Other changes include a two-year time limit for unemployment benefits (with exceptions for those over the age of 55), a ban on smoking on café terraces and the option for regions to request that their regional holidays also become federal holidays.

The judicial backlog was also acknowledged with a promise to increase resources to clear it.