Brussels' new drugs commissioner given three months to draw up strategy

Brussels' first regional drugs commissioner, Miran Scheers, will have three months from when she takes up the job to come up with a strategy for tackling the drug problem in the capital.

Scheers starts on 1 January 2027. Minister-president Boris Dilliès (MR) set out the timeline on Tuesday in the Brussels parliament's home affairs committee, where several MPs had questions about the new role.

Her strategy is meant to bring regional services, municipalities, police zones and the federal authorities into closer cooperation. 

It will also have to spell out what role welfare and health services should play, and how that fits with security measures.

Dilliès admitted he had doubts about the post at first. After consulting experts, though, he came round to the view that it fills a missing link. He has not yet met Scheers, but said he would do so soon.

"Prevention, support for drug users and harm reduction are indispensable," he told the committee.

At the same time, he stressed that addiction is a different problem from the criminal organisations behind drug trafficking and armed violence, and that the two need different responses. 

Care and harm reduction on one side, police and judicial action against criminal networks on the other, should complement each other.

Scheers will also evaluate the approach as it goes and suggest changes where needed. 

According to Bruzz, that includes a review of the current hotspot strategy.

Benjamin Dalle (CD&V), chair of the Flemish Community Commission, welcomed the clarification. "It's good that there is now a clear timeline," he said.

Dalle pointed to figures his side had requested earlier, which show that 63% of shootings in the first half of 2026 took place outside the recognised drug hotspots.

"Drug violence is moving, so our approach has to move with it," he said. "In the end, only one thing counts: less drug violence and safer neighbourhoods in Brussels."