Flanders aims to accelerate authorisation procedures for defence-related matters in the future.
A special decree is being prepared, and a specific service within the Environment Department will help facilitate these processes.
The goal is to enable quicker deployment of defence systems on critical infrastructure and to ease the establishment of new military production facilities in Flanders.
“We do not want our security to depend on lengthy authorisation procedures. Bureaucracy must not be an obstacle to our safety,” said Flemish Minister for the Environment, Jo Brouns (CD&V).
Currently, defence is exempt from prior authorisation for constructing strategic installations on military sites. The Flemish Minister aims to extend this exemption to other critical sites such as energy supply infrastructure, water treatment facilities, and key logistical hubs.
This measure may allow rapid deployment of air defence systems at the Port of Antwerp, which currently lacks military protection.
