Flemish government reaches double agreement: 1 billion euros for Defense Plan and 10,000 extra places in childcare

The Flemish government has passed what the federal government was not yet able to have a defense plan for the Easter holidays. At a marathon meeting, the N-VA government parties, CD&V and Vooruit reached an agreement. The focus is on supporting companies.

For example, the Flemish Defense Plan provides the establishment of a ‘Flemish Defense Fund’. This includes (maximum) one billion euros as support for companies investing in defense technology and dual-use – For both civil and military use. The intention is that private investors participate in this. A maximum of half of that amount comes from the government. The Flemish Government releases money through, among others, the Participation Company Flanders (PMV) and the Limburg Reconversion Company (LRM).

The Flemish Government also addresses the demand from the industry to cancel the so-called Muyters Directive. This now prohibits government support for the production of offensive weapons, such as artillery and firearms. An ethical check is required for other miliaire applications. So that guideline disappears, although there is an ethical check. The latter was especially an important point for Vooruit.

Civil resilience

In addition to the economic support, there are some striking actions in the Flemish Defense Plan. In this way the government also wants to focus on « civil resilience ». Minister of Domestic Board Hilde Crevits (CD&V) provides a ‘Flemish civil resilience program’. In it she takes over an idea from the federal coalition agreement to set up local volunteer corps. There will also be training and ‘experience days’, with the aim of: « Building an alert and self -reliant society that is ready for crisis situations ». The rules are also relaxed for local and Flemish officials to become a reservist at the Belgian army.

Furthermore, there is a stronger focus on cyber security, including through the Flemish Center for Digital Security, that the government had previously established. The permit policy is also relaxed for « strategic defense projects ». In addition, investments in roads and waterways are accelerated, depending on military transport. Bridges and tunnels are adapted to military transport as much as possible.

Earlier, Federal Minister of Defense, Theo Francken (N-VA), had said that those investments would be included for the NATO standard of 2 percent of GDP, but in the meantime it has become clear that all expenses of Flanders, just like the other federal states, are not charged by NATO.

Also agreement on childcare

At the same marathon session, the Flemish Government has reached an agreement on the expansion of places in childcare. Flemish Minister for Welfare, Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), provides the means to create 10,000 extra places. Before that, 100 million euros will be added next year and in 2027, 150 million in 2028 and 200 million from 2029. Whether that number is also achieved effectively will depend on the number of registrations on the call.

There was still a discussion between N-VA and Vooruit about the number of income-related places and the number of places for which all parents pay the same amount. N-VA mainly wanted the latter. In the end, 6,000 places become income -dependent and 4,000 not.