Launch of the Risk Management Strategy: Accountability of Citizens

The National Security Council, expanded to include the Minister-Presidents, met to discuss the work carried out by Celeval, which was asked to develop a longer-term approach to health risk management. The six golden rules are key to this approach. As a reminder, they are: Compliance with hygiene measures; Preferably organize activities in open air; Protect vulnerable people; Keep your distance…

Speech on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations

Dear Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,   75 years ago, The guns of World War II had only just died down, The largest multilateral organization ever was born. The United Nations Charter came into force. This anniversary is an opportunity to remind us of the objectives behind this unique creation. The aim was to rebuild a world in ruins by establishing a strong and…

Managing the health situation, start of the school year for all and outlook

The National Security Council extended to include the Minister-Presidents met on Thursday 20 August to take stock of the epidemiological situation and to determine the measures that should be extended and those that could be relaxed. In addition to managing our health situation, the measures in place in recent weeks were aimed at safeguarding the start of the new school year – in other…

Additional measures to strengthen the double strategy to fight the Corona virus’ resurgence

The National Security Council, extended to include the ministers-president, met today in view of the evolution of the epidemiological situation, which is permanently monitored. Based on the new health information, a new report was requested from Celeval last weekend. On the basis of this report, it was decided to strengthen the double strategy – national and local – introduced last…

Requirement to wear masks is extended, tighter controls and local lockdowns

A combined national and local approach to curb the coronavirus epidemic On 23 July, the National Security Council (NSC), enlarged to include the Minister-Presidents, met to take stock of the health situation and to take the necessary measures. In view of the epidemiological indicators, it was decided not to trigger phase 5 of the phase-out plan. Therefore, the maximum number of people present at…

The Consultative Committee extends the requirement to wear a face mask

The Consultative Committee met today, Thursday 9 July, in the presence of the Group of Experts in charge of the Exit Strategy (GEES). The experts submitted a new report recommending an extension of the obligation to wear a face mask. This brings them in line with the advisory report of the Superior Health Council, which was issued this morning. On this basis, the Consultative Committee decided to…

Response to parliamentary questions on the handling of the crisis and on the recovery

Check against delivery   Handling of the coronavirus crisis   Thank you, Mr Speaker.   Of course, the summer-holiday period is a very popular time for people to travel abroad, and the lockdown we have experienced because of the public-health crisis has definitely made the desire for a change of scene even greater. However, as we know and as has been said many times, the virus has not…

Decision of the Consultative Committee on travel abroad

Today, Wednesday 8 July, the Consultative Committee met in the presence of the Group of Experts in charge of the Exit Strategy (GEES) to define the epidemiological strategy regarding people who return from so-called “high-risk” zones, as part of the fight against Covid-19 in Belgium. The National Security Council has already regulated non-essential travel abroad by strictly limiting…

Response to parliamentary questions (events sector and management of the crisis compared with other OECD countries)

Check against delivery   Emergence from the crisis and the road ahead for the events sector   Thank you, Mr Speaker.   As I’ve said a number of times, easing the lockdown is an unprecedented, complex and gradual process that requires us to strike a balance between the desire and the need to return to normal life, on the one hand, and the requirements of the health situation, on…