#BELGIUM: Climate Action Group Sues Gov't For Inaction

[world politics news]

In a class action lawsuit, about 60,000 Belgians are suing their government for their alleged inaction in the fight against global warming. The case was filed in a civil court in Brussels. 

Launched in 2015 by the association Klimatzaak (the climate case, in Dutch), the procedure follows a similar one in the Netherlands that led to a ruling against the Dutch government.

The cases attack governments for not respecting the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

In the Belgian case, the accusation alleges that Belgium failed to reduce its overall carbon emissions by “40% or at least 25%” by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, the updated thresholds linked to the Paris pact. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BELGIUM: Council Of State Rules Climate Law Unconstitutional; Violated Constitutional Powers Of Regions

[world politics news]

The Council of State says climate legislation  proposed by the federal parliament is unconstitutional. The special law supported by several left-leaning and environment parties proposed a reduction of 55% in greenhouse gases based on 1990 levels, and sought to harmonize state, federal and regional policies.

The Council of State, which scrutinizes acts of government, ruled that the law's attempt to create one single cohesive policy would usurp the powers granted to the regions by the constitution and its amendments. The federal government could not take for itself by legislative act powers that are granted to another forum, in this case the regions. That would require an amendment to the constitution, the Council said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BELGIUM: PM Michel Resigns Over Support For UN.Migration Pact After Violent Protests

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Charles Michel has resigned after losing a Socialist-led vote of no confidence amid a political crisis over the controversial UN migration pact. Michel told parliament he would take his offer to quit to the king. 

He was forced to reshuffle his government to avert its collapse after the New Flemish Alliance party pulled their support in protest over Belgium’s decision to adopt the United Nation’s Global Compact on Migration, a decision which sparked violent protests in the nation's capital.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BELGIUM: Coalition Partner Says It Will Not Support Gov't Signing UN Migration Accord; Gov't Insists It Will Still Sign It

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Charles Michel had promised to sign a new UN migration pact back in September, but that seemed in doubt this week after the Reform Movement Party's coalition partner, the New Flemish Alliance, expressed concerns about the proposal."We will not sign off on this text," said a spokesman for Theo Francken, secretary of state for asylum and migration, and prominent Alliance Party member.

The spokesman said the Global Pact for Migration is in conflict with the Belgian government’s own governing accords, established in 2014. Michel later reportedly "firmly" made known to his government partners that Belgium will sign the pact. Government officials argue that the pact is non-binding, but opponents disagree, saying it infringes on national sovereignty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Wallonia Agrees On Canada Trade Deal After "Demands" Met

[world politics news]

Belgian political leaders have reached a consensus in support of the landmark EU-Canada trade deal, Prime Minister Charles Michel said, raising hopes it can be signed soon. Politicians from the French-speaking Wallonia region were holding up the deal, but now says their "demands" were met.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: PM Charles Michel and the EU's Jean-Claude Juncker.

#BELGIUM: Walloon Regional Parliament Stalls EU/Canada Trade Deal

[world politics news]

Lawmakers in the French-speaking region of Wallonia have voted against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) between the European Union and Canada, sending negotiations into chaos.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BELGIUM: Transport Min. Resigns Over Known Security Lapses At Brussels Airport

[world politics news]

Belgian Transport Minister Jacqueline Galant submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Charles Michel after being heavily criticized by the opposition of ignoring a report which criticized security at Brussels Airport long before the brutal attack. There has also been severe internal dissension within the Transportation Ministry over her style, and Michel complained he was never made aware of an audit by the EU earlier this that criticized security at the airport.

#BELGIUM: Interior, Justice Mins. Offer To Resign Over Security Lapses Before Attacks; PM Rejects

[world politics news]

Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon and Justice Minister Koen Geens presented their resignations, but their offers were declined by Prime Minister Charles Michel. Jambon and Geens reportedly offered to resign amid mounting concern that Belgium failed to act on warnings about Ibrahim el-Bakraoui before he blew himself up at the Brussels airport.

Pictured: Belgian Justice Min. Jan Jambon.

#BELGIUM: Gov't Min. Says Asylum-Seekers Must Sign Doc Accepting EU Human Rights, European Values

[world politics news]

Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken says all new migrants entering Belgium must sign a document pledging themselves to the basic values expressed in the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as to principles of the Belgian Constitution. Failure to accept the equality of men and women, free speech and the separation of church and state, among others, will weigh against their case for permanent status, he said.

[Note: Link is to a Belgian-language page.]

BELGIUM: Flemish Separatist Party Leader Criticizes King's Christmas Speech [World Politics News]