De Wever pledges stronger long-term support for victims of terrorism
It is the government's responsibility not to repeat past mistakes in the follow-up of victims of terrorism, prime minister Bart De Wever said on Wednesday during the European memorial service for victims of terrorism in Brussels. He promised a plan to improve long-term support for those victims.
De Wever acknowledged that governments often respond in a "very predictable way" after a terrorist attack. Authorities provide medical care, take security measures and try to ensure that daily life resumes as quickly as possible. "For many victims, however, this is when the most difficult time begins," he said.
According to De Wever, Belgium had to learn this the hard way. In the years following the Brussels bombings in 2016, victims and their families expressed considerable anger about the lack of support and long-term care.
"The commission of inquiry set up after the attacks taught us important lessons about security and crisis management, but also about caring for the victims. And those lessons remain essential. Because an attack does not stop when the news dies down or when commemorations are organised. For victims, it never really stops," he said.
Plan for better long-term support
Following the ceremony, the prime minister spoke with several terrorism victims, who outlined what they expect from the state. De Wever later told Belga that a meeting would be held in his office on Friday to discuss possible measures to strengthen long-term support. He hopes to present a concrete plan to victims' associations within ten days, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Brussels attacks.
The prime minister also said Belgium is now better prepared for terrorist attacks, although a new attack can never be ruled out. "Security policy has been strengthened and it is no coincidence that during this legislative period the security departments do not have to make savings and are even being strengthened in budgetary terms," he said.
The European commemoration ceremony takes place every year on 11 March, the anniversary of the attacks in Madrid that killed more than 190 people. Because of the tenth anniversary of the attacks in Brussels, the federal government helped organising the event this year. The year 2026 also marks the tenth anniversary of the attack in Nice on the French national holiday and the attack at the Christmas market in Berlin.
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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