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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.