This year, the government is granting 57 million euros to State Security, a record, according to De Tijd that published the information Saturday on the basis of Minister of CD&V Justice Koen Geens’ data. After November 13, 2015, Paris terrorist attacks, the government of Charles Michel (MR) had put forward its intention to reinforce the battle against terrorism. State Security had begun this year to follow a plan aiming at reorganizing its services in depth.
To the 57 million euros allocated by the government in 2018, an open budget of 7 million is to be added.
Four years ago, before the terrorist attacks in question, State Security could only rely on a total budget of 46 million euros. 15 years ago, the intelligence services only benefitted from 24 million euros.
The head of State Security had recently deplored the underfunding, assessing that his services needed a budget three times that.
This year, State Security intends to allocate 11.2 million euros to new ITC material.
The Brussels Times
