While the Mayor of Antwerp, Bart De Wever, called on the Federal Government to take more action in the battle against drug violence in the port city, Federal Economy and Employment Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne paid a visit to the Flemish city on Thursday.
As the summer holidays for Belgium's political institutions draws to a close, socialist minister Dermagne was invited to Antwerp for a working visit by one of the city's federal MPs, Michael Freilich.
During his visit, he met with Ari Epstein, CEO of the Antwerp World Diamond Center, as well as other local economic leaders.
He also made a visit to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which is now suffering a labour shortage despite aspiring to be a European leader in importing green hydrogen.
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Dermagne met with local officials, including the city mayor and president of the N-VA, Bart De Wever, during which they are thought to have discussed the recent revelation that drug traffickers are responding to employment offers at the port.
This is part of a wider issue involving drug-related violence in the Flemish city, for which Antwerp Mayor De Wever has requested stronger federal action.
To this end, Federal Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden submitted a preliminary draft law on local administrative action against organised crime and trafficking of all sorts, along with mayors of other important Belgian cities.
