Downturn is a Diamond Market's Worst Friend

For polished diamonds, those worked on by the Antwerp craftsmen, the figures are 32 percent and 28 percent down.

By Expatica.com

Antwerp -- Diamonds may be forever but traders in Antwerp are hoping Europe's recession won't be as it is turning their businesses pear-shaped.

"Business is down 20-30 percent," moaned Dany Meylemans, boss of one of the diamond polishing companies in the Belgian city known as the diamond capital of the world.

In his workshop nine employees, each wearing an eye-glass, were finishing and polishing tiny facets on the precious gems.

Each individual diamond requires two to four weeks painstaking and precise work, from which the finished article derives much of its value.

Meylemans has seen demand weaken since this time last year.

"For us, the crisis started before the fall of the stock markets," he said....(Remainder.)

Belgium Launches Amnesty for Illegals

Belgium is to launch a new regularisation operation for people who have been in the country for at least five years.

By Expatica.com

Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has released the details of the Federal Government agreement on the regularisation of illegals.

In order to be successful, applicants will have to show they are integrated into the community.

Illegals who have lived in Belgium for at least five years will be able to apply for a regularisation of their situation between 15 September and 15 December.

If successful, they will be granted papers that will allow them to stay in the country legally.

The Secretary of State for Asylum and Immigration, Melchior Wathelet (Francophone Christian Democrat), has the final say.

People who have been working in Belgium for at least two years and a half can also apply for a residence permit. They will have to produce a labour contract and a regional labour card.

Other factors that can count in an applicant's favour include language skills,  following a literacy course or having children at school.

"Where is the clarity?"

Bar the ecologists of Groen! all opposition parties have slated the regularisation. The Government had promised clarity regarding the regularisation criteria. All opposition parties say that no clarity has been provided.

They also argue that the Asylum and Immigration Secretary has been given too much discretion.

The Asylum and Migration Forum that defends the interests of illegals has welcomed the accord.

It says that the one-off regularisation will provide a solution for many foreigners who have been living in Belgium in pitiful circumstances for many years....(Original.)

Belgium's Fallen Premier Back in Cabinet as De Gucht Moves to EU

By Mohit Joshi
Top New India

Brussels - Belgium's fallen prime minister, Yves Leterme, returned to government on Friday seven months after leaving it, as he took control of the foreign ministry in a reshuffle of European dimensions.

Leterme's move to the foreign ministry followed the appointment of veteran foreign minister Karel de Gucht to the post of European Union commissioner for development issues.

The conservative Dutch-speaking Leterme, 48, topped a national election in June 2007, but found his attempts to form a stable government blocked by tensions between Dutch- and French-speaking parties in parliament.

Taking up the post of prime minister in March 2008, he offered to resign just four months later in protest at the two communities' inability to reach a deal. Belgium's king rejected that offer.

But Leterme was forced out of office in December after it was alleged that he had used his position to put pressure on judges in the disputed sale of collapsed banking group Fortis.

His return to cabinet caps a political rehabilitation which began in June when he scored a resounding success in regional elections....(Remainder.)

Belgium "Has No Money for Economic Stimulus"

This is really only of interest to me as I'm currently living in Belgium.

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By Expatica.com

The OECD, the organisation of the world's richest countries, has said that Belgium has no financial leeway to take any additional measures to stimulate the economy and tackle the effects of the global recession.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says a number of other measures are urgently needed.

Government finances need to be made sound once again. The OECD notes that Belgium's regions have a role to play in this.

It suggests that the regions could take responsibility for funding the pensions of civil servants.

It also argues that labour and businesses are taxed too heavily.

The OECD proposes that any tax shortfall could be made good by higher taxes on real estate, goods and services and increasing the price of diesel.

(Original.)

Two-Thirds of Flemish Mayors Threatened With Violence

According to a report in a weekend’s edition of the Sunday newspaper ‘De Zondag’, two-thirds of Flemish Mayors have received threats of violence or even death at least once during their political career.

By Expatica.com

Although actual violence against holders of public office is rare, around 10% of the region’s Mayors say that they have experienced it. Around half of Flanders’ 309 Mayors responded to the survey.

The Mayor of Ghent Daniël Termont (Socialist) was recently punched in the face during a road rage incident in the city.

Mr Termont is not alone, the Mayors of Gavere (East Flanders), Meerhout (Antwerp province) and Herent (Flemish Brabant) have all received letters containing a bullet.

The Mayor of Overijse in Flemish Brabant Dirk Brankaer (Overijse 2002) has received a tirade of abusive letters, including death threats to himself and his family.

The Mayor of the East Flemish town of Temse was warned that someone was planning to stab him.

The Christian democrat Luc De Ryck told the paper that the police arrested someone carrying a knife not far from him during a local festival....(Remainder.)

Protests Against Headscarf Ban, Call to Snitch on Burka-Wearers

By Europe News

On Sunday about 120 Muslims protested in Antwerp against the headscarf ban in the Royal Athenaeums of Antwerp and Hoboken.  They carried signs saying: "Everybody free, except us," "Democracy, not discrimination" and "You are the oppressors, not us."  (See pictures here)  They demanded to rescind the headscarf ban by the two schools.

Parent Mina Cheeba said in a speech that the representatives of the parents in the school council haven't heard of any social pressure to wear a headscarf and that if there are actual complaints, then they would like to take a look at them so they could come to a solution together.

Cheeba says the decision to ban the headscarf was made without asking the parents' advice.  The school regulations shouldn't be changed autonomously, but by consultation with the parents.

Several students also expressed their displeasure.  One said that they're supposedly under pressure to wear a headscarf, but that's nonsense.  They are not feather-brains who accept everything without thinking.

Ayoub Aazzouti said that he's fed up of the men being portrayed as machos who force girls to wear headscarves, because it's not like that. "For us boys and girls are equal.  We have a lot of respect for them and they are intelligent enough to decide on their own if they wear a headscarf or not.  Stop using us as an excuse."


On Monday about 40 Muslim women showed up to protest in front of the Royal Athenaeum of Hoboken.  Some of the slogans included: 'distressed by the lack of understanding', 'why a ban on my character', and 'lies in order to discriminate'.

One of the students spoke: "We have a right to study and to a headscarf.  It's not one or the other, we have a right to both."

Principal Chris Weyers spoke as well, telling she understands them, but that they did not protest when all other schools closed their doors to them.  She said they should speak to the government so that they'll be welcome everywhere again.  The principal says it's wrong that girls depend in their choice of studies on whether a school allows a headscarf or not....(Remainder.)

Statuary Around The Fine Art Museum

I was wondering around the fine art museum whilst taking Ivan for a walk, and noticed that there is all kinds of interesting statuary around. I ran home (well because of my ankles, it's was more like a rapid hobble), grabbed the camera, and snapped some photos. First of all, let me say that I have absolutely no idea why there is a giant apple and egg on the roof. It seems incredibly random to me.

Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image. We would greatly appreciate any and all comments.

Rudeness of Belgians

So for dinner I wanted to have a nice big fruit salad (I'm getting back on the diet and going to the gym, but that's another story for another time). There are two green grocers near our apartment. So we went to the closest one. Right off the bat the woman running the place was being rather rude. I thought that she was just being typically Belgian, as they're some of the rudest people on Earth! So after asking for apples and oranges (oh, when I asked if she had Naval oranges, her trite response "Not in season." My response to that "Well I can always get them in the States, what's wrong with Belgium?") her attitude was not improving at all. Jan was standing next to me holding 4 peaches that he had picked out. So I whispered to him, that we were going to pay for what we had asked for so far, and then leave to the other shop. Jan went to put the peaches back, and the woman, in the rudest tone ever, said "I don't like it when you touch the fruit and put it back." Well my response to her, which was not polite at all, was "F**k you, you stupid bi*ch! You're not the only grocer on this street. So calm down with the incredibly rude Belgian attitude." And we walked out. The lady at the next shop was quite lovely.

I cannot believe Belgians. I'm not kidding, or even exaggerating about how over-the-top rude these people are; not to mention lazy! I have told people off more than once, and I think that they're taken aback over that. Not only are they rude, but they're unbelievably wishy-washy as well. Everyone just kind of accepts what happens, and goes along with it. Well not me!

So that's today's story about our travails in Belgium.

Brussels Wants Smoking Ban Across Europe

By Elitsa Vucheva
EU Observer

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The European Commission on Tuesday (30 June) called on member states to boost their non-smoking legislation in order to move towards a "smoke free" EU by 2012.

Greeks, Bulgarians and Latvians smoke the most in the EU (Photo: wikipedia)

The commission is suggesting the bloc's 27 member states agree smoking in "enclosed public places, workplaces and public transport" be banned by 2012, while children's exposure to tobacco should be specifically tackled and "efforts to give up tobacco use and pictorial warnings on tobacco packages" should be encouraged.

According to commission estimates, 25 percent of cancer deaths and 15 percent of total deaths in the EU can be attributed to smoking.

Last year alone, 6,000 people died in the EU just from "workplace exposure to tobacco smoke," including 2,500 non-smokers, it says.

"It is my firm belief that each and every European merits full protection from tobacco smoke. There is a wave of support from the general public and we will work with member states to make this a reality," EU health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said.

According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, around 32 percent of the bloc's citizens currently smoke, with the proportion being highest in Greece (42%), Bulgaria (39%) and Latvia (38%).

Simultaneously, a large majority of Europeans favour smoking ban in the workplace (84%), restaurants (79%), as well as also bars, clubs and pubs (65%).

"We have come a long way since the time smoking was considered glamorous," Ms Vassiliou said.

She praised the UK and Ireland for being the two only member states where a full smoking ban has been introduced for all work and public places, adding that Bulgaria is to follow suit in 2010.

In eight other member states – Italy, Malta, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Slovenia, France and the Netherlands – there is legislation banning smoking at work and in public places, but allowing for special enclosed smoking rooms.

In other EU countries "some form of legislation" aimed to limit smoking in public areas exists, "but it's not ideal."...(Remainder.)

Wonky Fruit to Return to EU Shops

By Andrew Willis
EU Observer

Legislation banning the sale of imperfectly shaped fruit and vegetables will be assigned to the compost heap of history on Wednesday (1 July) as repeals to controversial marketing standards that became synonymous with Brussels heavy-handedness come into effect.

"This marks a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the knobbly carrot," said agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel in anticipation of the move.

"It's a concrete example of our drive to cut unnecessary red tape. We simply don't need to regulate this sort of thing at EU level. It is far better to leave it to market operators."

The new dawn for avant-garde avocados and knobbly sprouts comes after EU member states agreed last November on commission proposals to scrap strict shape requirements that prevented the sale of cucumbers which curved more than 1cm for every 10cm of length.

The rules will no longer apply to 26 agricultural products but will remain in place for ten others. Wonky variations of these ten can also be sold however, provided they are labelled to distinguish them from their more perfect ‘extra', ‘class I' and ‘class II' cousins.

The fully de-shackled 26 are: apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, avocadoes, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflowers, cherries, courgettes, cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery, spinach, walnuts in shell, water melons, and witloof/chicory.

The ten types that will require special labelling before they can be sold in their more twisted formats currently account for 75 percent of the value of EU trade in fruit and vegetables.

They are: apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes....(Remainder.)