Flemish government starts structural consultation with environmental organisations
The new Flemish government has initiated a formalised dialogue with a series of nature and environmental organisations, marking a significant step toward collaborative environmental governance. This new framework, established by the Diependaele government last Friday, will bring together groups such as Bond Beter Leefmilieu, Natuurpunt, BOS+ and Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen twice a year to discuss and evaluate Flemish environmental policy.
This structural consultation mirrors existing platforms like the Flemish Construction Consultation Committee, the Industry Forum and ongoing discussions with agricultural organisations. According to a government statement, the biannual meetings, due to take place in spring and autumn, will address "the progress of nature, forest and environmental policy" and cover "legal procedures regarding Flemish companies or governments." While these topics form the core of the discussions, the agenda is expected to extend beyond these initial themes.
Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele, alongside vice-minister-presidents Melissa Depraetere, Hilde Crevits and Ben Weyts, as well as Flemish minister of environment Jo Brouns, will represent the government in these consultations. The nature and environmental sector will be led by the chairpersons of the participating organisations.
N-VA members of the Flemish Parliament's environment committee expressed their approval of the initiative. In a joint statement, representatives Andy Pieters, Sanne Van Looy, Jurgen Callaerts and Hans Vanhoof emphasised that this move is essential for maintaining momentum in the region’s environmental ambitions. "It should not be the intention that the ambitious nature and environmental policy is paused or slackened," they noted. By involving these organisations directly, "we are putting the nature and environmental organisations in the cockpit to monitor the policy, which is a good addition to the parliamentary control."
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO IMAGEBROKER
Related news
