Flanders cuts development cooperation funding in new budget
As part of its budgetary exercise, Flanders is cutting down on development cooperation. Development cooperation policy will focus on one-off interventions in countries where, for example, an emergency has occurred.
Flanders currently spends a total of 15 million euros a year on development cooperation with Mozambique, Morocco and Malawi. The agreement with Mozambique has expired and will not be renewed, and the other two countries will also lose their budget. The non-profit media project MO*, which focuses on global stories, also loses its subsidy.
Opposition party Groen reacted with indignation to the decision. “Vooruit and CD&V are abandoning their values to participate in this antisocial policy,” said Nadia Naji. “This is at the expense of the world's poorest people and the fight against the climate crisis. This government is showing its true colours: antisocial at home, cold abroad.”
According to human rights organisation 11.11.11, Flanders is “actively choosing insecurity, abandoning human rights and joining the global attack on solidarity”.
“This is a Trumpian, short-sighted and anti-social policy,” the NGO said, “happening at a time of unprecedented international instability, war and attacks on human rights.”
The federal government is also cutting down on development cooperation by 25 per cent, it was announced earlier this year.
Flemish minister president Matthias Diependaele is delivering his September Declaration to the Flemish Parliament on Monday afternoon. In this annual policy statement, he will outline the government’s assessment of the region’s social and economic situation, set out the policy priorities for the coming year and present the Flemish budget.
In the coming days and weeks, the federal government also has to decide on its budget, which involves a much larger budget cut. The regional governments of Brussels and Wallonia still have to present their budget cuts.
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish minister president Matthias Diependaele © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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