INTERNATIONAL BRUSSELERS, RAISE YOUR VOICE AT THE REGIONAL PARLIAMENT!

1 in 3 people living in Brussels is a citizen of another country, but International Brusselers can’t vote in regional elections. In 2023, the Brussels Parliament will welcome a panel of International Brusselers to sit alongside politicians as we debate the challenges you face. Let’s bring your ideas to the heart of regional democracy!

Follow the adventure

INTERNATIONAL BRUSSELERS, RAISE YOUR VOICE AT THE REGIONAL PARLIAMENT!

Follow the adventure

THE MANIFESTO OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRUSSELER

With Brussels Voice, the international community is speaking up to suggest their own ideas for the future of the Region we all call home. Members of the regional Government are personally replying to the proposals in your manifesto within their respective areas of responsibility. Read on to explore the proposals, download your full manifesto, or find out what the Members of the regional Government think about your ideas!

Read the manifesto

All voices heard

How can we ensure that International Brusselers have a meaningful say in regional politics?

Accessible public services

How can we make it easier for new arrivals and non-Belgians to interact with public authorities and administration?

Modern mobility

How do we make getting around Brussels greener, more efficient and more accessible?

Welcoming public space

How can we make our streets, squares and parks a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone?

A place to live, a place for life

How can we make Brussels, and especially the European Quarter, a liveable, affordable and family-friendly place to call home?

A clean city

How should we manage waste and keep Brussels clean?

THE MANIFESTO OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRUSSELER

Read the manifesto

All voices heard

How can we ensure that International Brusselers have a meaningful say in regional politics?

Accessible public services

How can we make it easier for new arrivals and non-Belgians to interact with public authorities and administration?

Modern mobility

How do we make getting around Brussels greener, more efficient and more accessible?

Welcoming public space

How can we make our streets, squares and parks a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone?

A place to live, a place for life

How can we make Brussels, and especially the European Quarter, a liveable, affordable and family-friendly place to call home?

A clean city

How should we manage waste and keep Brussels clean?

All voices heard

Give us greater visibility in public debates and include our voice in the democratic process

The international community makes up a substantial part of Brussels’ population, and we want to be recognised as part of society. As International Brusselers, we do not seek a separate status, but we do ask for targeted support to ensure our voices are heard as clearly as those of our Belgian neighbours. In practice, this means the right to vote in regional elections and the opportunity to contribute to policy through meaningful participatory processes.

The right to vote

Give all internationals registered as living in Brussels the right to vote at the regional level. This should apply to all International Brusselers, not just EU citizens, and if we have the right to vote we should also have the right to be elected.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Rudi Vervoort
Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Urban Development and urban renewal, Tourism, the Promotion of the Image of Brussels and Bicultural issues of regional importance

Ans Persoons
Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Urbanism and heritage, European and international relations, Foreign trade and Fire fighting and emergency medical assistance

Response

We support this proposal, or parts of it,
but we cannot implement it.

Explanation

The Brussels Government (and the majority in Parliament) supports the proposal to give regional voting rights to all international citizens resident in Brussels. The principle is also set out in the governmental declaration.

However, the Constitution would have to be amended to make this possible, and this would require the agreement of two-thirds of the House of Representatives at federal level. A broader national agreement is therefore required.

In the meantime, and in response to the legitimate demand from international citizens to have a say, a number of initiatives and forms of consultation have been launched, in particular via the present “Brussels Voice” platform or the consultation moment organised within the Brussels Parliament (see also proposal 3).

International citizens resident in Brussels are already entitled to vote in local elections.

The duty to vote

Make it easy for us to exercise our existing rights to vote in European and communal elections: automatic enrollment on the electoral list when registering; training about the Belgian political system and about our rights and duties; easy access to information about elections in English.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Response

We support this proposal, or parts of it,
but we cannot implement it.

Explanation

Introducing compulsory voting requires amending the constitution. See also the previous question.

More and more efforts are being made to inform and motivate residents of foreign nationality to vote. For example, at the last local election in 2018, the Brussels Region sent a registration form to every foreign resident.

In addition, of course, municipalities also have their role to play in local elections. Several municipalities made additional efforts in 2018, for example Saint-Gilles sent letters in 26 languages to inform potential voters of their right and the procedure to register.

With some success. The participation in local elections of persons of foreign nationality went from 26,182 in 2012 to 37,232 in 2018. The region and municipalities will also make ongoing and additional efforts to motivate foreign residents to register and vote.

Regarding education about the Belgian political system and about their rights and duties, the Brussels Region has set up a compulsory and free welcome programme to inform and guide newcomers. This pathway is compulsory for non-EU+ nationals unless exempted upon their first registration in the foreigners’ register with a residence permit of more than three months. It consists of

EA welcome pathway, assessing their needs such as housing, income, healthcare, etc;
A training course on citizenship and society;
French or Dutch language courses if necessary https://bewelcome.brussels

A new regional assembly of residents

We want to establish a regional consultative assembly consisting of Belgians and non-Belgians randomly selected among all Brussels residents. Seats should be allocated proportionally to the demographics of the Region, and the assembly should have a formal advisory role in regional policy making.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

This Manifesto of the Brussels International is the final result of a participatory process in which 1,500 international Brussels residents were given the opportunity to have their say on the regional policies that affect their daily lives. This was an innovative democratic participation project that gave international Brusselers, non-Belgian residents without the right to vote in the regional elections, the chance to have their voices heard in policy nonetheless.

The manifesto was presented to members of the Brussels parliament in 2022. The Brussels government officially took note of the manifesto in spring 2023.

It is important that this dialogue continues. That is why the Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Institutions and the Brussels-Capital Parliament have taken the initiative to organise a panel in October 2023 in which Brussels internationals will work together with Brussels MPs on concrete recommendations for Brussels policy. Following a broad call for candidates, they will select a representative group of international Brussels residents to sit on this panel. Beforehand, the Commissioner’s Office will organise some workshops where these participants can determine, together with experts, the exact topics they want to cover. The recommendations of this manifesto will be an important source of inspiration. In preparing and organising this meeting, particular attention will be paid to diversity, neutrality and representativeness.

A new lobbying network

Create a network of existing socio-cultural organisations which represent International Brusselers. This network could be activated by the Region as a way to consult our community, and we could use it to make requests and proposals to regional authorities.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.
AND
We do not support this proposal
and we will not implement it.

Explanation

To some extent, there is already a coordination and point of contact with commissioner.brussels that is both a single point of contact for international organisations, but also operates as an Expat Welcome Desk.

It does not seem appropriate to organise this from the government ‘top down’ around existing socio-cultural associations.

To enable participation, a consultation committee as in policy proposal 3 seems a better, more transparent and more representative way to organise this.

Accessible public services

Make it easier for us to navigate administration and public services in Brussels

International Brusselers are by no means the only community which faces difficulties in accessing public services or completing administrative processes. However, we often struggle with public administration at all levels. The problem is especially acute during the vulnerable first few months in Belgium, where we have to register and find our feet.

Two main barriers particularly affect our community:

The linguistic barrier: International Brusselers often do not speak much French or Dutch, especially when we arrive, so we face difficulties interacting with public servants and understanding official documentation.
The bureaucratic barrier: with 19 communes and a complex governance system, the institutional and administrative architecture of Brussels is often confusing, opaque or even unwelcoming to non-Belgians. This leads to many distressing situations, but there is particular frustration with the huge divergence in processes for registering with the communes.

The proposals we have developed in this topic offer concrete solutions to help International Brusselers overcome these difficulties, with easy access to simplified services no matter what language we speak at home.

English, a new official language within Brussels’ administrations

Make English an official administrative language of the Region. This means translating all official documents in English and increasing the ability of public servants to speak the language.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Sven Gatz
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Finance, Budget, Civil service and the Promotion of multilingualism and the Image of Brussels

Response

We support this proposal, or parts of it,
but we cannot implement it.

Explanation

Brussels is becoming increasingly multilingual and English is the second most spoken language in Brussels. It is impossible to imagine the people of Brussels not using English. It is a language spoken by a lot of people settling in Brussels. If Brussels wants to be a hospitable region that warmly embraces newcomers, thorough thought needs to be given to the position of English as a welcoming language for newcomers in their first contacts with public services. Multilingualism is the cement of Brussels society. And we should continue to embrace this diversity

In a number of municipalities (e.g. Schaerbeek), it is already possible to obtain certain services in English.

However, to introduce English as a full-fledged official language, an amendment to the language law needs to be implemented. This is a competence of the federal government.

Free interpretation services

Provide professional interpretation services for public services. Those of us who do not speak English also need help to navigate Brussels’ administrations!

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Sven Gatz
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Finance, Budget, Civil service and the Promotion of multilingualism and the Image of Brussels

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

Such services are made available at accessible rates (and free for certain categories of the population and certain procedures), with the support of the Region, to help citizens in their procedures and contacts with public services:

Standardised registration procedures

Set out, in law, a standardised registration process to be implemented in all communes. An efficient way to define this process is to work bottom-up and involve all relevant stakeholders.

More accessible information

Create a regional welcome package or brochure directing International Brusselers towards useful services. This guide should be easily available and proactively shared in the places which we first encounter when arriving in Brussels (employers, universities, communes, etc).

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Rudi Verwoort
Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Urban Development and urban renewal, Tourism, the Promotion of the Image of Brussels and Bicultural issues of regional importance

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

The Expat Welcome Desk (EWD) offers tailored administrative support to anyone coming to Brussels to work in or around the European and international institutions. https://www.commissioner.brussels/en/i-am-an-expat/

It also serves as a portal with information on the various topics which concern newcomers and which should help them with their orientation, such as housing, social security, residence, etc….

In addition, a “settle down guide” was created which explains, step by step, all the actions one needs to take to settle in the Brussels Region.

Modern mobility

Help everyone move around the city with ease

International Brusselers are widely spread across the territory of Brussels, and many of us commute to work in focal points like the European Quarter. The Region is already working to transform urban mobility, and our proposals are largely in line with the overall vision. We want mobility that is more than a way to move around the Region, but also supports well-being, social inclusion and the environment.

Reduce the number of cars in the city

By taking restrictive measures, supporting public transport networks and improving cooperation with the other regions of the country, Brussels can meaningfully reduce the number of cars on the road. We have to consider the journeys of both residents and commuters, and we must ensure everyone can still get from A to B.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Elke Van den Brandt
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation in the area of mobility

This proposal is fully in line with the regional Mobility Plan ‘Good Move’, which aims, through more than 50 different actions, to improve the livability of Brussels by significantly reducing individual car use by 2030. Good Move’s ambition is to discourage the ownership and use of individual vehicles or commercial vehicles for own-account transport to avoid systematic car use and to keep public space free of long-term parking. In addition to the development and integration of travel modes and services alternative to the use of the private car (and developed under the other actions of the plan), it is necessary to create and activate various economic and fiscal instruments that modulate charging according to the use of the vehicle. This tax reform should enable better use of cars while ensuring that this does not have negative social consequences in particular for Brussels residents. Appropriate accompanying measures must be identified

More info and a summary of the plan can be found here: http://goodmove.brussels/

To comment briefly on the various sub-proposals…

Offer a subsidy to regular users of public transport and people who cycle or walk to work:

This is a federal competence (linked to salary benefits, contribution to public transport costs, bicycle allowances, etc.), but the Brussels-Capital Region also supports families who want to give up their car through the Brussell’Air premium: https://leefmilieu.brussels/burgers/diensten-en-aanvragen/premies-en-financiele-steun/brusselair-premie

Making company parking spaces rarer and more expensive (e.g. via a new tax on parking spaces):

The COBRACE/BWLKE (Brussels Code of Air, Climate and Energy Control) already regulates operating conditions for car parks in this way.

Ending the tax advantage for company cars:

This is a federal competence, but the Brussels Government has repeatedly asked the federal government to (gradually) end this system.

Introduce a city toll (e.g. a tax at the entrance to Brussels or per kilometre driven in the city):

Under study through the Smartmove project, see https://smartmove.brussels.

Offer a single ticket for all forms of public transport:

Recently introduced in 2021 across Brupass and BruPass XL zones, development of a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app underway by STIB, scheduled for launch in 2023.

Creation of a single information platform for connections:

Development of a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app by STIB, scheduled for launch in 2023. Data also available through STIB and in opendata.

Coordinate with Flanders and Wallonia to connect the cycle highways to the centre of Brussels:

Close interregional consultation on cycle routes was strengthened, through bilateral meetings depending on the project, but especially through the cycling-GEN steering group (with the three Regions, the province of Brabant-Flanders, Beliris, etc.), which meets at least three times a year to consult, identify bottlenecks and enable coordinated cooperation. In 2020, we also concluded a cooperation agreement between Brussels Mobility (Brussels administration) and De Werkvennootschap (Flemish administration) to facilitate the construction of cycling links between the regions. A first project for a cycle highway was recently completed along the E40 motorway, between the regional border and the Avenue des Communes, and several other projects are currently being implemented.

Increase the number of S-trains in and around Brussels:

This is a federal responsibility, but there is already consultation through a management committee and gradual improvement (opening new stations and increasing frequency and range). After lobbying by the Brussels Capital Region and intensive consultation, SNCB recently presented its new 2023-2026 transport plan with strong ambitions for the Brussels Region, see the presentation here: https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/about-sncb/en-route-vers-mieux/transport-plan

Finalise the RER project:

See previous point

Create more pedestrian zones and quieter neighbourhoods.

Ongoing, in collaboration with municipalities, notably through the implementation of car-free neighbourhoods (measure A2 of the regional mobility plan ‘Good Move’), see website: https://lowtrafficneighbourhoods.brussels

Explanation in the area of urban development

Today, public space is saturated by cars, with traffic and parking at the expense of other functions, and the function of using public space is very limited. This situation needs to be rectified.

As part of the reform of the Regional Urban Planning Ordinance and the preparation of the Handbook for Public Space Projects in Brussels, the aim is to increase the social value of open spaces, accessible to all (age, gender, disadvantaged communities) with a view to preventing ill health, promoting healthy lifestyles and community resilience. On the other hand, the aim is to rebalance the distribution of public space between different active transport modes, public transport and environmental functions and create public spaces suitable for travel by active transport modes that are safe, comfortable and uninterrupted. Parking in front of listed buildings open to the public will be abolished.

The proposal put forward at first reading as part of the reform of the Regional Urban Planning Ordinance proposes, with the exception of shared spaces (meeting areas, bike lanes, etc.), to allocate no more than 50 % of public open space for use by private cars, thus contributing to the regional goal of reducing the number of on-street parking spaces to less than 200,000.

Interaction between different forms of transport

Let’s invest in green infrastructure to protect people using non-motorised means of transport. One of the most dangerous areas of traffic is where different types of transport meet, but strategic investment in updated infrastructure could make mobility safer for everyone.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Elke Van den Brandt
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation

The Region identifies accident-prone areas every 2 years and adopts a programme providing a solution within 3 years of their identification. A programme to make pedestrian and cyclist crossings safer is also under way.

Regarding the separation of pedestrians/cyclists from motorised traffic, there are several regulations: mixed traffic, marked bike lane, segregated bike lane…. These are applied according to speed and amount of traffic, especially heavy goods vehicles.

The first stage always involves the reduction of speed and traffic. Depending on the significance of the potential reduction, the cycling infrastructure will be adapted. The cycling infrastructure chosen also depends on the expected level of service, based on the specialisation of the roads.

The choice of planting to secure intersections and crossings should always be studied with great care, given the importance of shared visibility among users.

Improved quality of pavements

We have to improve mobility and access for disabled pedestrians. Footpaths that are dirty or damaged should be repaired or cleaned more quickly.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Elke Van den Brandt
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation

The Brussels Capital Region currently has several programmes to make public transport and public spaces accessible:

A Strategic Accessibility Plan has been added to STIB’s public service contract and has been implemented for several years. STIB’s accessibility has improved significantly in recent years: hundreds of bus and tram stops have been adapted, several metro stations have been equipped with lifts, STIB’s app has been made digitally accessible and contains specific information for people with reduced mobility (cf. AccessiBus programme, real-time availability of lifts…), and new rolling stock is fully accessible (new buses, TNG tram, M7 metro…);

In addition to improving the accessibility of the regular network, STIB offers a door-to-door service for people with disabilities who are severely restricted in their independence (TaxiBus). This service works well (despite a few hiccups during the restart after the corona crisis) and demand for it is increasing sharply year on year;

Regarding the accessibility of public spaces, Brussels Mobility ensures compliance with specific standards (cf. Cahier Pedestrian Accessibility, GSV, etc.), trains its staff and those of its partners (municipalities, STIB/MIVB) in the accessibility of public spaces and includes the point of view of people with reduced mobility in its opinions on redevelopment projects via advisory committees (active modes section of the Regional Mobility Commission);

Regarding pavements more specifically, the Brussels Capital Region has invested heavily in this area in recent years. Brussels Mobility has drawn up a plan for the maintenance of pavements (on regional roads) which, in addition to following up on specific repairs, includes the complete reconstruction of parts of pavements. Under this plan, pedestrian crossings are systematically made barrier-free and podotactile elements are installed. Every year, Brussels Mobility also awards grants to local authorities to support their efforts to make footpaths accessible. Since the end of 2021, Brussels Mobility has also been integrating reporting categories specifically related to pedestrian accessibility into the FixMyStreet app, making it easier for city users to report problems related to pavement lining, lack of kerbs and podotactile tiles, etc.

Welcoming public space

Manage public spaces in a more effective and pleasant way

People who move to Brussels often say that they do not feel safe in streets and public spaces, with women especially concerned. We also wish that there were more comfortable and welcoming social spaces outdoors. International Brusselers have practical ideas to reimagine Brussels as a city where everyone feels safe to meet or spend time outdoors. We also support plans to give space back to residents, considering that the vast majority of Brussels’ public space is currently occupied by transport.

A green city

We want to set up modular and portable community gardens on slow streets. This would make the city greener while offering new opportunities for social connection.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Elke Van den Brandt
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation in the area of urban development

Public spaces in Brussels are still too paved. To remedy this and make Brussels a green and pleasant city, to beautify the city, to contribute to the development of biodiversity, to combat the phenomenon of urban heat islands and create a cooling network, to reduce the negative effects of air pollution and to create living spaces, the first reading of the draft Regional Urban Development Ordinance proposes that on public roads, the area of open green space should account for at least 10% of the surface area. In public open space, it is therefore demanded that a significant amount of tall-stemmed trees be present to provide shade.

The presence of vegetation and open areas in all public spaces is an essential factor in improving the human habitat and environmental quality in the city. This should enable large-scale continuity of natural environments and the formation of a cooling network. Vegetation also provides shade and evapotranspiration, which is beneficial in combating heat islands and heat waves. 10% vegetation is a minimum. The wider the road (10 m or more), the more vegetation there should be (aim for 15% or more). If there is parking along the road, trees should preferably be planted in line with it. The residential function, and not just mobility, is becoming more important and that means inclusive spaces, rest areas and meeting places, with associated street furniture (fountains, public toilets, benches, etc.).

Explanation in the area of mobility

The Region has a number of programmes to help residents reclaim public space, particularly by reducing the amount of traffic on roads:

The Local Mobility Contract

The Local Mobility Contract (LMC) is a cooperation project between the Region and the municipalities created by the Regional Mobility Plan 2020-2030. This programme has a number of key objectives, which can be summarised as “making neighbourhoods car-free”:

Improving traffic conditions for pedestrians, cyclists (comfort, safety) and public transport (efficiency), making them more attractive;

Improving local public spaces by giving more space to local activities, plant cover and sustainable rainwater management;

Improving the quality of life for Brussels residents by reducing the nuisance of car traffic: noise, air pollution, road safety.

On local roads, where available space is limited, achieving these objectives means reducing the space occupied by traffic and/or the volume of traffic.

Various calls for projects, such as Bruxelles en Vacances or Inspirons le Quartier; through these calls for projects, local residents, whether organised into associations or not, can submit projects for the temporary design of public spaces and receive financial and/or methodological support.

Municipalities can also apply for a grant from Brussels Mobility to make their streets greener.

Fun parks

Let’s rethink, reclaim and reuse car-parking spaces, both at street level and underground. A shift in land use would free up space for social and cultural facilities.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Elke Van den Brandt
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation in the area of urban development

In the wake of the recent health and economic crisis, the Horeca Federation and other associations representing the sector asked the Region for support in the development of terraces and a clear regulatory framework.

In terms of urban planning, the regulatory framework is laid down in the Brussels Town and Country Planning Code, the Regional Town and Country Planning Ordinance and the Small Business Decree.

To clarify and facilitate administrative practices, initial guidelines for catering terraces in public spaces were adopted for a period of two years, in 2021 and 2022.

These guidelines extend until 30 September 2024 the framework that was first adopted by the government in April 2021. In the summer of 2024, they will be replaced by the new regulatory framework of the new Regional Urban Planning Ordinance and the corresponding Exemptions Decree. Restaurants and cafés can keep their terraces in car parking spaces. Over time, their place on public roads has demonstrated how lively the city becomes when residents and non-cars are given the necessary space. The ambition is to make this a permanent part of the upcoming new Regional Urban Planning Ordinance.

The objectives are to provide a clear framework for all players, including hospitality businesses, municipalities and the Region, and to support the dynamism of the hospitality sector, as well as to provide a framework for the quality of developments and a commitment to flexibility and sustainability, and to contribute to the regional goal of reducing the number of on-street parking spaces to less than 200,000.

Linked to this proposal is the policy to support the temporary use of sites pending or under renovation, which is encouraged and systematically considered for regional sites. These spaces, sometimes vacant for several years, can host many innovative initiatives from the voluntary sector, local residents, institutions or companies looking for a space to develop, including cultural and community projects, as well as help for the most disadvantaged, workshops, event projects, etc. To support initiatives and opportunities in this area, a regional counter for temporary use has been set up at https://temporary.brussels

Explanation in the area of mobility

Regarding on-street parking, this proposal reflects the spirit of the project calls “Living Labs – Brussels on Holiday”, which enable residents and users to reuse Brussels streets and public spaces during the summer, see “Living Labs – Brussels on Holiday”: https://mobilite-mobiliteit.brussels/fr/news/les-subventions-offertes-par-bruxelles-mobilite.

As for off-street parking, there are currently more plans to make better use of this as a place to park in order to free up more public space. Consideration could also be given to converting off-street parking spaces, especially for logistics, storage or other uses. The COBRACE/BWLKE encourages companies to reduce their company parking spaces and convert them to local parking, storage or other uses.

Temporary uses can also be considered for off-street parking, although this is certainly less appropriate in terms of quality of space, security, etc.

Since car parks are mainly owned by private individuals, negotiations with them should be done in advance.

A safe city

It’s time to reform the police system. We ask for more coherent and integrated management of police forces, both on the ground and online, while addressing discrimination in these services.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Nawal Ben Hamou
Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Housing and Equal opportunities

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

The structure and operation of the integrated police (federal police and local police) are governed by federal legislation. Operational management is under the exclusive control of the Ministers of the Interior and Justice as far as the federal police are concerned, and under the exclusive control of the municipalities (mayors and police council) as far as the local police are concerned. The Brussels Region has no supervisory powers over the security services and therefore cannot influence how the police operate.

However, since the 6th state reform, the Region has been responsible for coordinating security policy in the Brussels Region. This is reflected in the implementation of a four-year plan, the Global Security and Prevention Plan, which gathers 14 priorities, each benefiting from actions directly funded by the Region or supported by the regional administrations in their regular work. The plan is implemented by an administration overseen by the Minister-President, safe.brussels, and monitored by the CoReS (Regional Security Council), which includes the Minister-President, the Chief Official, the 19 mayors, the 6 police zones and the Public Prosecutor.

Of the 60 or so measures developed, we specifically mention those aimed at :

improving the organisation of public spaces, in particular with the creation of two ‘Security by Design’ guides, which have been used for the redevelopment of the Schuman roundabout, the vicinity of schools and the improvement of public lighting;
increasing the expertise and technical resources of police forces by providing them with a regional cyber centre equipped with the latest technologies;
organising training in the Brussels Police Academy aimed at combating prejudice, racism and discrimination.

As part of the Secretary of State’s Equal Opportunities competence, several actions in the Brussels Plan to combat violence against women relate to public spaces and the desire to make them safer for women. Equal.brussels is involved as a partner in several actions, in particular the setting up of a training module on the fight against sexist harassment in public spaces, or paying particular attention to harassment and violence in public spaces in the “Security By Design” guide. In addition, last November, the secretary of state and the prime minister launched a ‘Join the fam’ campaign to raise awareness of the fight against harassment in public spaces and sexual violence in nightlife. The target audience of this campaign are witnesses of such violence. The campaign aims to publicise the 5D method, a method that teaches how to react as a bystander.

Another action, implemented by Bruxelles Pouvoirs Locaux, concerns a training course on gender and the city, intended for municipal staff. This training allows municipalities to take gender into account when designing public spaces, making urban planning policies more accessible and inclusive for all.

A bright city

Install smart street lighting systems, with an efficient maintenance process. Lighting makes people feel safer at night, while smarter technology and upkeep will make it easier for the Region to maintain street lights.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Elke Van den Brandt
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

An intelligent system is currently being deployed by Brussels Mobility. The (new) lights have been specially selected for their serviceability and wide availability of spare parts. Any citizen can report a breakdown on Fixmystreet. This is followed up in real time.

An inventory and accurate follow-up of maintenance will soon be facilitated by a global asset management system for all Brussels Mobility assets.

The Brussels Capital Region recently set up a joint venture with Sibelga (intermunicipal lighting company) and provided a substantial budget to develop the permanent lighting of exceptional art nouveau buildings in Brussels. In a first phase, 5 exceptional art-nouveau buildings (Horta House, Maison Hannon, Hotel Solvay, Hotel Van Eetvelde and Cauchie House) were selected and 3 lighting design firms were contracted to develop these 5 projects. The lighting test is in progress and the first illuminations will be ready starting this year. This new collaboration between the Region and Sibelga is an important step forward to create high-quality lighting projects, implement the existing Regional Lighting Plan and make Brussels a beautiful city.

A place to live, a place for life

Make Brussels a city where we can all afford a comfortable home

The housing market in Brussels is becoming increasingly inaccessible, even for those of us who earn an average wage. Rents are rising and we are concerned about the quality of accommodation. Some areas also lack family-friendly infrastructure and services, which encourages families to move to the suburbs or the “Vlaamse Rand” and thereby aggravates mobility issues. Another issue is the extra challenges which International Brusselers (especially non-EU citizens) face in accessing the rental market. We propose solutions which curb rents, attract families back to Brussels and simplify the process of finding a first home.

Affordable housing solutions

We should ensure rents remain at affordable levels. A fair price would be guaranteed by better enforcement of rules and careful control of price rises.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Nawal Ben Hamou
Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Housing and Equal opportunities

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation

A change to the rent indexation system in the Brussels Capital Region came into force on 14 October 2022 for a period of one year, against an economic backdrop in which inflation reached 9.7% due to the war in Ukraine, the highest level since 1975. However, the average rent indexation rate over the past 20 years is 1.67%.

This measure limits the impact that high inflation can have on rent increases.

In practical terms, a link has been made between rent indexation and the energy performance of the property, encouraging landlords who own energy-hungry properties to renovate them, in line with the “Renolution” policy implemented at regional level in line with European targets.

This new indexation system is thus perfectly in line with the programme to accelerate the renovation of Brussels buildings, on the one hand by supporting tenants facing the energy crisis, but also by guiding owners in their aspiration to renovate their property.

To index the rent, the landlord must comply with two obligations set out in the Housing Code (Articles 217 and 227), namely :
- have registered the lease
- have an EPB certificate for the leased property
Indexation (Article 224/2 of the Housing Code/Article 1728 bis of the Civil Code) is linked to the energy performance of the leased property:

If the landlord has an EPB A, B, C or D certificate, he can index the rent;
If the landlord has an EPB E certificate, he may index the rent up to 50%.
If the landlord has a class F or G EPB certificate or if he does not have an EPB certificate, he may not index the rent.

https://logement.brussels/nouvelle-methode-de-calcul-de-lindexation-des-loyers-basee-sur-le-peb/

This temporary indexation system applies from 14 October 2022 to 13 October 2023.

Legislative reference:

13 OCTOBER 2022 – Ordinance amending the Brussels Housing Code in order to change rent indexation

A European neighbourhood full of life

Let’s invest in family-friendly infrastructure and services, especially in the European Quarter. Examples include schools, modern playgrounds, libraries and pleasant paths for walking.

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Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Barbara Trachte
Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Economic transition and Scientific research

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.
AND
We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

Today, the European Quarter is a fairly monofunctional district consisting mainly of office buildings. The district empties out between 5pm and 7am and the services and public spaces that are there are mainly focused on this sector.

As part of the https://perspective.brussels/sites/default/files/poles/qe_-vision_partageenlillu_20220530.pdf (.pdf in Dutch) adopted by the Regional Government in 2022 after an extensive consultation process with all stakeholders in the area, our goal is to make the European Quarter a mixed-use and vibrant neighbourhood, with offices as well as housing and public facilities, united by high-quality and inclusive public spaces, in order to develop a peaceful and diversified neighbourhood based on a new balance between residential, cultural and office spaces.

As part of the implementation of this shared vision and in line with the City of Brussels’ recommendations for the European Quarter, we will support and promote concrete mixed-use real estate projects with a proportion of housing and amenities, the activation of ground floors that revitalise public spaces, and the greening of the interior spaces of housing blocks to encourage the repurposing of this neighbourhood by its residents and by all the people of Brussels.

Walking will become more pleasant thanks to the greenery and redevelopment of the public spaces, structured along several axes, including a cultural axis Cinquantenaire-Mont des Arts (via Place Jean Rey, Parc Léopold, Place Luxembourg, Place du Trône, Place Palais and Place Royale), which aims to create a pedestrian circuit of museums between the two major centres, linking the other cultural institutions and the main living spaces along the route and invigorating the ground floors with temporary exhibitions.

We are also closely involved in projects to redevelop public spaces for residential and active transport purposes, such as the future Place Schuman, the Rue de la Loi and Rue Belliard axes, Place du Luxembourg and the study for the future Highlane pedestrian and cycle link along the railway embankment between Luxembourg Station and Schuman Station.

The instruments to support the economic transition are also instruments that can be used by economic players with entrepreneurial or trade projects. For example, the aim of the Open Soon project call is to stimulate the opening of new, original, high-quality shops that apply sustainable practices and generate dynamism in the shopping districts of the Brussels Region (https://economie-emploi.brussels/appel- projects-opensoon-2023). The Local & Together project call also aims to support local trade dynamics and to strengthen the local trade fabric. The aim is to set up collective projects led by shopkeepers’ associations and other local players in a defined commercial district (https://economie-emploi.brussels/appel-projets-local-together-2023).

European Quarter Brand: defines the new common graphic identity for the EW. In particular, it will be used for the signage that the European Parliament plans to install in the district.

Opening of the UNESCO World Heritage Hotel van Eetvelde to the public from 2023. The Hotel van Eetvelde on Palmerstonlaan, a true temple of Art Nouveau designed by architect Victor Horta, is a protected Brussels building and is one of the world’s masterpieces.

An overview of other projects supported by the Region: the refurbishment of the Cinquantenaire site with the federal government on the occasion of Belgium’s bicentenary in 2030 and the support for the renovation of the Paul-Henri Spaak building, which houses the seat of the European Parliament is housed in Brussels, to open it up to the neighbourhood.

The question of the location of the European Schools falls within the competence of the Federal Government. We support the principle of establishing a European School in the European Quarter.

A housing market fair for international newcomers

In order to ease access to the rental market for newcomers, we want to see clearer information concerning the housing market and adapted rules on rental deposit protection.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Nawal Ben Hamou
Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Housing and Equal opportunities

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation

Regional support measures in housing are fundamentally inclusive and not intended for a specific demographic group. Every Brussels resident has access to them, provided they meet the income and family conditions required to qualify for most of these support measures.

These measures are therefore not discriminatory in terms of the origin or nationality of applicants. Consequently, newcomers to the Brussels Region and other Brussels citizens are treated equally.

Setting up a rental guarantee, which is consistently required by landlords, can be a major problem for many tenants in Brussels, including international Brusselers. In response to these situations, the Housing Fund (Fonds du Logement / Woningfonds) has been given a regional mandate to provide assistance in setting up a rental guarantee.

Assistance in setting up a rental guarantee can be provided in two ways:

The grant of an interest-free consumer credit with a maximum repayment period of 24 months (which may not exceed the term of the lease) after verifying the solvency of the applicant, who must not be in default of payment of an amount equal to or greater than €1,000 under another consumer credit or mortgage loan;

The concession of the BRUHWA Fund, which provides an alternative credit for families with debt problems and those with income levels that do not allow them to repay a credit in up to 24 months who, in return, pay a monthly contribution of between €5 and €31.

Since 2022, a reform of the legal framework aims to open the latter support scheme to new target groups that were excluded from it in the following way:

Enabling unaccompanied foreign minors to qualify for assistance;

Removing the requirement for applicants to sign a lease of at least one year and removing the requirement to be domiciled in the property (for example, many students sign 10-month leases for the academic year from September to June);

Opening up rental guarantee assistance to all households with taxable income within the mortgage access scales of the Housing Fund, with the exception of under-35s, who benefit from higher income ceilings.

Further information:
https://fonds.brussels/nl/huurwaarborg

Legislative references:

10 NOVEMBER 2022. – Order of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region amending the Order of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region of 28 September 2017 on the organisation of regional assistance in the composition of housing rental guarantees

Order of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region of 28 SEPTEMBER 2017 on the organisation of regional assistance in the composition of housing rental guarantees.

A clean city

Make Brussels a clean city where we all treat the environment with respect

Cleanliness in public spaces is a vital aspect of a city that is healthy and safe, while tidy streets and parks are immediately more attractive and welcoming. The cleaner Brussels we ask for would not only benefit residents but would also improve the reputation of Brussels among those who visit for work or tourism. We have proposals which would reduce the amount of dirt and rubbish deposited in public spaces, and we also suggest policies that would improve the way public authorities clean our streets.

Local stewardship

Promote and support neighbourhood-led stewardship of spaces. Community building is at the core of urban cohesion and conviviality, feeding a sense of belonging and mutual respect which encourages residents to take better care of their environment.

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Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Alain Maron
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Climate change, Environment, Energy and Participatory democracy

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

The Government’s General Policy Statement 2019-2024 says: “A clean region is essential for the quality of life of Brussels residents. It is also the first image that Brussels’ many visitors get. A great many efforts are still needed “, the Brussels-Capital Government launched the process of jointly drafting a first urban cleanliness strategy for the Brussels-Capital Region. This strategy, called “clean.brussels”, was presented in June 2022 and proposes 15 emblematic measures, including the institutionalisation of the role of the zone manager. His/her role is to better coordinate and monitor the initiatives of the various actors (Net Brussels, Brussels Mobility, STIB, municipalities, SNCB, Buildings Authority, etc.), take stock of the state of play and clearly define the responsibilities of each player.

To promote the commitment of Brussels residents to keep their streets clean, clean.brussels also plans to set up a network of cleanliness ambassadors in the Brussels-Capital Region, in collaboration with the municipalities, to support voluntary waste collection campaigns, primarily to raise awareness among fellow citizens.

More generally, as responsibilities for urban cleanliness are shared, it should be noted that clean.brussels also plans to set up a Municipal-Regional Cooperation Council for Urban Cleanliness, which will create a framework for dialogue and structural cooperation between players at regional and municipal level.

Inform our society on the circular economy

Provide better information about which products we can reuse or recycle. Information and initiatives for reusing and recycling materials are currently fragmented and difficult to find, especially for International Brusselers.

READ THE RESPONSE

Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Alain Maron
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Climate change, Environment, Energy and Participatory democracy

Barbara Trachte
Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Economic transition and Scientific research

Response

This proposal is in line with existing
measures or upcoming legislation.

Explanation

The reform of the household waste collection system which started on 15 May 2023 in the Brussels-Capital Region has given rise to an extensive information campaign on waste sorting and recycling, including door-to-door leaflets and multilingual information on the website of the Brussels agency Bruxelles Proprété (https://www.arp-gan.be).

The Bruxelles Environnement website offers a wide range of information on waste reduction and processing options, as well as local initiatives on zero-waste and the circular economy, via the “Making environmentally conscious choices” tab (https://environnement.brussels/citoyen/lenvironnement-bruxelles/agir-eco-responsable).

The new regional strategy for urban cleanliness, (http://www.clean.brussels), which aims to reduce the presence of illegal dumping sites, will also reinforce the promotion of solutions for disposing of bulky and other special waste (extension of the Recyparks network, expansion of mobile Recyparks, creation of donation zones linked to Recyparks, increased support for repair cafes, etc.).

Through the Regional economic transition strategy Shifting Economy (https://shiftingeconomy.brussels), which aims to transform the Brussels economy into a low-carbon, regenerative, circular, social, democratic and digital economy by 2050, special attention is paid to the circular economy, by stimulating economic activities that enable recycling or reuse, in particular through the circular economy innovation pathway. This provides guidance and support for projects in this area, regardless of their stage of development (near or far from commercialisation). One example is Circular Innovation (https://innoviris.brussels/program/circular-innovation), an Innoviris call for projects that allows innovators to obtain funding to test the feasibility and viability of an innovative recycling or reuse activity based on an “urban waste”/waste.

Replace the plastic garbage collection bags

We ask to end the rubbish collection system based on residents leaving plastic bin bags in the street. One solution would be to install larger containers, local and accessible for residents, across the city.

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Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Alain Maron
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Climate change, Environment, Energy and Participatory democracy

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

The proposal for a regional strategy for urban cleanliness, “clean.brussels” (http://www.clean.brussels) envisages through measure 33 the analysis of household waste collection via optional underground waste drop-off points in the Brussels Capital Region.

In this context, Bruxelles Propreté recently published a public contract to conduct a study on the results of household waste collection via optional drop-off, and more specifically via sorting points in urban contexts similar to the Brussels Region. This will make it possible to examine how to optimise the operation of sorting points (as Bruxelles Proprété’s underground containers are called) and to assess a possible wider deployment in other types of neighbourhoods or environments in the Brussels territory.

As for the results of the sorting points currently installed, studies by Fost Plus on the underground systems used by the various intermunicipalities show that sorting quality is lower than for door-to-door bag collection. Litter is also often found around underground containers.

However, there are no plans to remove existing sorting points. The Brussels-Capital Region will continue to install underground sorting points as part of new buildings or large-scale renovation projects which meet its specifications. The Brussels-Capital Region has agreed in principle to some 30 applications for the installation of such sorting points.

However, a generalised use of sorting points is out of the question. Besides the problems of sorting and cleanliness, it is not always operationally possible to place containers underground in Brussels, given the number of utility lines present underground in Brussels. Moreover, almost 10,000 parking spaces would have to disappear if this method of collection became the norm in the Brussels Region.

Improve the coordination between regional and municipal services

Improve the coordination between Bruxelles Propreté and municipal street cleaning actors. A better coordination between Bruxelles Proprété and other authorities would help prevent situations such as pavements being cleaned just before rubbish is collected.

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Member(s) of Government responsible for this response

Alain Maron
Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Climate change, Environment, Energy and Participatory democracy

Response

We support parts of this proposal
and we can implement them.

Explanation

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