Chamber pushes ahead with unemployment reform debate despite Brussels conflict of interest
The Chamber's social affairs committee is pushing ahead on Friday with its debate on the unemployment reform, despite a Brussels conflict of interest. The legal services of the Chamber ruled that a suspension of proceedings is not necessary.
The United College of the Common Community Commission (GGC/COCOM), composed of Brussels government ministers, had decided to trigger the conflict of interest procedure. The GGC/COCOM, which stressed the need for intergovernmental consultations, said this would suspend the federal vote for 60 days.
The Brussels authorities want the reform (which limits unemployment benefits to two years) postponed by at least six months, citing major concerns for local welfare offices (OCMWs), which they say risk being overwhelmed without extra funding or coordination.
If the procedure indeed would have resulted in the federal parliament not being able to vote on the reform for at least 60 days, that would have been a serious blow to the De Wever government, which wants to get the plans through parliament before the summer recess.
The legal services of the Chamber however ruled that a suspension of proceedings is not necessary, as a government cannot file a conflict of interest against the discussion of a bill in a parliament. The Brussels Parliament could, but that would require a three-quarters majority and a majority in each language group. Whether that is feasible is doubtful.
The Chamber's social affairs committee is currently continuing to debate the unemployment reform and may still be able to vote it through at first reading on Friday evening.
Ecolo's Sarah Schlitz and minister of economy and work David Clarinval at the Belgian parliament © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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