Brussels simplifies crisis management system

Brussels simplifies crisis management system
Minister-president Rudi Vervoort © Belga

The Brussels Parliament on Friday approved a draft ordinance aimed at clarifying the security coordination model developed by the capital region following Belgium’s Sixth State Reform.

Two groups, Mouvement Reformateur (MR) and Les Engagés, voted against the draft, which was prepared at the initiative of Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort, Belga News Agency reports.

Under the model envisaged with the BPS, the powers previously exercised by the governor of the Brussels-Capital administrative district were shared between the Minister-President and the Senior Official.

Vervoort said the earlier security model went through a “crash test” phase with the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that the crisis management involving the Minister-President, the Senior Official and leading Brussels Prevention and Security (BPS) officials sometimes led to a loss of time, information, effectiveness, and coherence.

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Under this framework, powers related to guaranteeing public order were attributed to the Minister-President while those relating to civil protection were handed over to the Senior Official.

The Senior Official was also granted the double status of regional functionary and decentralised federal authority.

The ordinance adopted on Friday now allows these competencies to be exercised by one and the same person.


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