Around 400 Brussels civil society organisations have signed a petition demanding that Brussels policymakers unblock the deadlock in the formation of a regional government. Discussions have been ongoing for around nine months.
Hundreds of Brussels civil society organisations and cultural centres, including Bozar and several theatres, signed the petition 'We still exist!'. In it, they call out the continued lack of a Brussels Government. The formation of a government in Brussels has been stalled for almost nine months following the 9 June elections. By Monday morning, it was signed more than 430 times.
"We, the people of Brussels and civil society organisations, are angry and impatient," the petition reads. The signatories add that they refuse to resign themselves to "the current polarisation and standstill and we expect our politicians to do the same."
"Too many vetoes and egos" are holding up the formation of a government, according to the petition. "Public finances are becoming more disastrous by the day. While politicians block any action, we continue to work, because we believe in Brussels. But we are working in uncertainty, and our (financial) resilience is running out."
They added that subsidies are at risk. However, outgoing Brussels Finance Minister Sven Gatz (Open VLD) recently announced that associations, non-profit organisations and private companies that receive optional subsidies will be able to receive them again, Bruzz reported. However, the total budget for these subsidies will be cut by 15%.
The organisations are also asking to be actively involved in the discussion about a more efficient organisation of the Brussels institutions.
Several business associations published a petition last month in which they argued that "every day without a government worsens an already worrying situation."
Lack of solidarity
The name of the petition – 'We still exist' – is a nod to the slogan 'We exist!', used 18 years ago to call for a well-supported Brussels policy. "The appeal is still relevant today. We call on politicians to unblock the situation because it is catastrophic for the people of Brussels. We insist on an inclusive and sustainable project in cooperation with all stakeholders."
The petition also refers to the new Federal Government, and its policy of "more tanks, less social security" and "more controls at all levels". They accuse the Federal Government of a lack of solidarity and refer to the stricter controls for the long-term sick and unemployed, and stricter asylum rules. "Civil society will also pay the price for these antisocial measures."
According to the signatories, cutting back on the resources and personnel of civil society organisations will only increase poverty and alienation.
"Brussels faces challenges in many areas: security, education, unemployment and so on. And the authorities cannot handle it alone. But without a strong, well-established and committed civil society, it is impossible to forge social cohesion in the most diverse city in Europe."
