Belgium’s PM, Yves Leterme, defends housing code

Yves Leterme was formally named Belgium’s Prime Minister after nine months of turbulent negotiations between Francophone and Flemish politicians. For all that time, the country functioned virtually without a government. Today’s disparate coalition remains delicate, comprising parties which traditionally oppose each other on many issues. Mr Leterme gave this interview to EuroNews.

EuroNews: Belgium has traditionally been a very pro-European country. Some of your predecessors called themselves Federal Europeans. Are you a Federal European too?
Does it still exist in your opinion?

YVES LETERME, Belgian Prime Minister: I am in effect. I took courses on european federalism when I was a student at university, I have worked in european institutions, so I really am a convinced European. I even think it is difficult to be Belgian these days without being really convinced of the extra benefits EU membership brings.

EuroNews: Is it possible to be a federalist in Europe, but a confederalist in Belgium?

YL: Yes, that has to be possible. I mean, institutions evolve. I am the prime minister of a government which has a programme of institutional reform, and reform of the state too, so the programme of government is well framed within the evolution of Europe as well.

EuroNews: But even so, you are heading for quite a difficult phase from the point of view of balance within the country. There are major differences between the federal approach, and the confederal approach. Your job is to find the balance between the two positions. Are they reconcilable?

YL: Sometimes the difficulties in the day to day running of the country involve not only straddling a linguistic divide, but also major european cultures, and that makes the Belgian model very attractive. But sometimes it is difficult to find agreement. That was true during these past months, coming to a good balance – a new balance – in our institutions, a better division of powers and responsibilities. We had to negotiate and find the seeds of agreement, some ground-rules. At the moment the government has enough of a majority to bring a special law before the senate to re-balance some institutions, and to transfer some powers to the regions and communities. The aim is to come to a second agreement by next summer, with one part about guarantees regarding the working of the federal state, and the other concerning the supplementary transfer of powers.

EuroNews: Like, for example, the regionalisation of employment? Do you think Wallonia would be interested in something like that?

YL: I think anyone who views the situation with a certain objectivity must see first of all the social crisis of the unemployment rate, which is still very high, particularly in certain parts of Wallonia – you can not generalise. And the other part is the crisis unfolding in Brussels – despite being the principal economic motor of our country, there are not enough opportunities for job-seekers from the city itself. So I think in the coming months we must above all try to find the means to allow the regions to tailor their employment needs. The problems in the majority of the areas of Wallonia are not the same found in Flanders. The rate of unemployment in Flanders for example is a third or half of that in Wallonia.

EuroNews: What about those partners who proved the hardest in the negotiations to form a government – like certain Francophone parties – do they agree with that approach?

YL: In the government agreement, and when we explained our motivations behind this law which was presented to Senate, it was not just the majority parties which signed up to it, but a big portion of the opposition parties too. It was said and written that we want reforms of how the employment market functions, and of the responsibility of the different Belgian government departments concerned with employment policy.

EuroNews: The European Commission views your housing code, regarding social housing with, let’s say a certain difficulty. What do you think about the Commission’s stance?

YL: I was one of those who put together the Wooncode – the housing code – so I defend it. The aim of the Wooncode is to try to take the demands of those in emergency accomodation who want a council house – housing made available under certain social conditions – and use these demands as a method of integration. People can integrate through the availability of language learning. And I believe that beyond all the treaties, accords and rulings etc., it is important that people should be offered the possibility of integration – let’s say, to feel welcome in a community, and that happens by mastering a language, or at least being able to learn.

EuroNews: You do not think that there is even a little discrimination included in it?

YL: That’s not for me to judge.

EN: For the United Nations maybe? (silence) The United Nations have a position on the subject…

YL: Yes, what is your question?

EuroNews: Simply, do you think the code includes a form of discrimination based on language?

YL: Sir, I took part in making the decision on the Wooncode and I think the aim is clear-cut. And that is to use families’ demands for a council house as the ways-and-means of integration. I note that several Francophone specialists also in this country have spoken about the integration of families – for example immigration issues involve a knowledge of the language. I think the lawyers, for example, who touch on this subject should know that beyond their fascinating discussions on a legal level there is a social crisis happening. You know that the lack of enough knowledge about a language, for instance French or Dutch in Belgium, is the source of social injustice: there are kids nowadays, children who begin their schooling knowing neither French nor Dutch. And so beyond the United Nations, the EU, the European Commission and the very learned reports which have been published, we must try above all to resolve this social question. I believe we must offer to the children and the families who are asking for social housing the possibility of integrating through the language, and that is also really an offer of social freedom.

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