The business courts of Walloon Brabant and French-speaking Brussels announced on Friday that they would join a protest movement initiated several days ago within the judiciary against the chronic underfunding of the judicial system and the federal government’s proposed pension reform.
Starting Monday until Friday 30 May, the business court of Walloon Brabant stated that its judicial registry and those for legal entities will be physically and telephonically available only between 9:00 and 11:30, from Monday to Friday.
Only urgent cases will be heard and deliberated upon, while newly introduced cases or those deferred to the first chamber will be postponed for rescheduling.
Due to their infrequent sessions, held twice a month, the amicable settlement and troubled business chambers will operate as usual.
Similarly, the French-speaking business court of Brussels has decided to implement temporary measures while maintaining all services to litigants.
Cases where the Belgian state or a public authority is a plaintiff will be paused. The court will cease cooperating with the state in economic police measures, notably involving the judicial dissolution of companies. Judges will reserve the right to rule in judgments on the payment of a 165-euro court docket fee per case, owed to the Belgian state, as stated in a communiqué.
Both courts reserve the right to extend these measures or introduce new ones in consultation with other jurisdictions in the country.
