Ecolo released several proposals on Sunday from its first “social congress” in Brussels, including that of a “universal solidarity capital”, an envelope of 30,000 euros which would be granted to each young person at the age of 25 as a starting point in life.
“This is a forward-looking measure“, launches Gilles Vanden Burre, leader of the Ecolo group in the House of Representatives. “Today, we have too many young people who are out of all life paths. Young people who are not studying, who are not on a work placement. The idea is therefore to give these young people a chance to develop. The other issue is the inequalities of heritage. We therefore believe that it is important to give this support, unconditionally, to young people aged 25 to buy an apartment or start a business. That’s when they need it.“
The cost of the measure is estimated at 3 billion euros. How to finance it? “An additional effort would be required from the wealthiest percent of Belgians. This would be an additional contribution that would be redistributed in full to young people.“
And how could we identify this percentage of Belgians? “These are people who own more than one million euros, not counting housing and the means of production.“
Nuclear extension: where are we?
The extension of nuclear power is a sensitive issue in Belgium. With the war in Ukraine, the government agreed in March on the extension of two nuclear reactors for ten years. But if it were to cost too much, Écolo would finally like to abandon the idea of the extension. “Engie claims that Belgium pays for nuclear waste, plant maintenance and depreciation, even though this is the responsibility of the operator. For us, that’s out of the question. It’s not up to the Belgians to pay for that. It’s a complicated negotiation.“
This Sunday, the N-VA demanded that Minister Groen be removed from the file in favor of Alexander De Croo alone. Bart De Wever considers environmentalists to be “obsessed” by gas-fired power plants “polluting and costly“. He accuses Tinne Van der Straeten of underestimating energy needs and relying too much on imports from France”who won’t come“. Half of the French nuclear reactors are currently shut down for maintenance or because of corrosion problems. For the mayor of Antwerp, Alexander De Croo would even do well to disembark the government ecologists. Gilles Vanden Burre reacts: “Basically, they did nothing while they were in power and, above all, they confirmed the exit from nuclear power by a law. Tinne Van der Straeten must continue to negotiate with Engie. I believe in a deal.”
Risk of blackout?
The extension of two nuclear reactors for ten years has been recorded here. Problem? They will not be available before 2027. Is there a risk of a blackout between 2025, the date of the gradual phase-out of nuclear power, and 2027? “Everything is done so that there is no risk. Security of supply is priority N°1 and there are solutions.”