{
    "title": "More civic integration participants to pay for integration courses",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-04 09:22:54",
    "published_at": "2026-06-04 09:22:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/more-civic-integration-participants-to-pay-for-integration-courses",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/maId",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "more-civic-integration-participants-to-pay-for-integration-courses",
    "body": "<p><strong>More people taking part in Flanders&#039; civic integration programme will be required to contribute financially to their integration process under reforms approved by the Flemish government on Friday, interior minister Hilde Crevits announced.</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">&ldquo;I am convinced that something only gains value if you charge something for it,&rdquo; the minister said in parliament on Wednesday in response to a topical question.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">A civic integration programme currently costs 180 euros, although several categories of participants are exempt. These include people receiving social welfare benefits, detainees, certain job seekers and individuals following employment pathways.</p><h4 id=\"fewer-exemptions\" style=\"text-align: left\">Fewer exemptions</h4><p style=\"text-align: left\">Under the planned reform, exemptions will be limited to unaccompanied foreign minors and participants registered in the Brussels-Capital Region.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">According to the government, unaccompanied minors will remain exempt because of their vulnerable situation. Participants in Brussels will also continue to be exempt in order to keep Flemish integration courses accessible, as free bilingual integration programmes are available there as an alternative.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">People receiving increased social benefits, as well as those receiving social welfare or social assistance from a Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW), will be eligible for a reduced rate. All other participants will be required to pay the full fee once the decree enters into force.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The changes form part of a broader modernisation of Flemish integration and civic integration policy.</p><p><sup><br>\u200b#FlandersNewsService | &copy; PHOTO NICOLAS GUYONET / HANS LUCAS</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-e97ee32f-e9fd-4615-a9b0-26d9c552bcf1\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/almost-one-in-three-asylum-seekers-waits-more-than-two-years-for-decision\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F6835a845-0780-4000-aeda-cd8094282047%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=f87eee78a775ce8c256bbe1a3572ff71)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/almost-one-in-three-asylum-seekers-waits-more-than-two-years-for-decision\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"e97ee32f-e9fd-4615-a9b0-26d9c552bcf1\"\n           >\n                Almost one in three asylum seekers waits more than two years for decision            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Nearly one in three asylum seekers in Belgium currently waits more than two years for a decision on their application, according to figures...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Falmost-one-in-three-asylum-seekers-waits-more-than-two-years-for-decision&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"bookmark-895ac2da-6779-49e0-b0c8-8eb18adbd72c\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-tightens-rules-for-foreign-students\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F93d88ec1-5cfe-436d-8500-084f14710fa8%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=910913b3638062247c9b722a492c28da)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-tightens-rules-for-foreign-students\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"895ac2da-6779-49e0-b0c8-8eb18adbd72c\"\n           >\n                Belgium tightens rules for foreign students            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Belgium has introduced stricter rules for non-European students who want to study in the country or extend their student residence permit, the...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fbelgium-tightens-rules-for-foreign-students&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>",
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            "description": "Belgium tightens rules for foreign students",
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    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
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}