The time of consciously standing by and doing nothing about our security
must also come to an end in Brussels.
‘All independent specialists are saying that the six police zones must be combined into one single
zone if we are to be effective in our fight against crime. However, the mayors are blocking this
move. For them, it is not about the proximity of the police to citizens, but about the proximity of
the police to mayors and their authority’ says Johan Van den Driessche, N-VA party leader at the
Brussels Regional Parliament. ‘Civic integration in Brussels is an inefficient, Walloon-inspired affair
for which Brussels has refused to draw on the successful Flemish civic integration programme’,
adds Liesbet Dhaene, MP of the Brussels N-VA. ‘With the result that newcomers in Brussels are still
not obliged to follow a civic integration programme.’
A debate took place today in the Brussels Regional Parliament about combatting violent
radicalisation and terrorism following the recent attacks in Paris.
The N-VA subscribes to an inclusive society, but whoever does not subscribe to the values of the
enlightenment cannot form part of this society.
The N-VA believes that the former governments’ culture of denial, censorship caused by political
correctness, lax policies on security and civic integration, the inefficient organisation of the local
police services and immigration and regularisation without civic integration are the principle causes
of the downward spiral we are currently experiencing. Already 10 years ago, journalist Hind Fraihi,
after a spell undercover, indicated that Molenbeek was a breeding ground for Muslim terrorist
activities, but this was received with derision, including by the mayor at the time. This culture of
denial means that even today it is very complicated to have a debate in this Parliament about the
unconditional acceptance of the values of the enlightenment.
The structure of Brussels is too complex and inefficient. ‘When the Minister President states that
complexity is part of the DNA of Brussels, this translates as consciously Doing Nothing About it’, adds
Johan Van den Driessche. The N-VA is demanding that, following the recent events in Paris, we
change this DNA and finally adopt an effective security policy. The time of consciously doing nothing,
of laxness and rights without obligations, must come to an end, and that means for Brussels as well.
The civic integration policy in Brussels is not just inefficient, but above all a Walloon-inspired affair.
Not only did Brussels not react until Wallonia had made civic integration mandatory in 2013, but it also
based itself on the limited Walloon programme. Flanders now has more than 10 years’ experience with
a civic integration programme that gives pride of place to the norms and values of our society. Liesbet
Dhaene, MP for the Brussels N-VA: ‘Flemish ministers Gatz and Homans are asking that Brussels jointly
- i.e. together with the French Community Commission and with Flanders - works out the terms of the
Brussels civic integration programme. But does Brussels want to collaborate of Flanders? That remains
to be seen …’
Johan Van den Driessche: ‘I wish Mrs Schepmans, the current mayor of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, much
determination and courage. May she be the symbol of the message that the time of denial and
laxness is a thing of the past.’