OVERVIEW. Ban on animal markets and dolphinariums, lower rates for childcare and the ‘toilet resolution’: this is what the Flemish Parliament has decided

Lowest childcare rate for all mothers in secondary education

From now on, young mothers who attend secondary education will always receive the lowest childcare rate. Until now, this minimum rate only applied to underage mothers. But not everyone has completed secondary education by their eighteenth birthday.

“Through this adjustment, we ensure that these mothers are not suddenly confronted with a rate increase and thus remove a barrier to completing their secondary education,” say the authors of the proposal Katrien Schryvers (CD&V), Koen Daniëls ( N-VA) and Freya Saeys (Open VLD).

New minimum targets for the first year of secondary school

The Flemish Parliament has also given the green light for the new minimum targets for the first year of secondary education and for the seventh year of vocational secondary education (BSO). More sobriety and more focus are the common thread and in terms of content the emphasis is on Dutch, languages ​​and mathematical sciences.

For example, the number of final objectives or minimum goals for the A-stream will increase from 180 to 114. “However, it is not the number of goals that count, but how high the bar is set,” is the message. In particular, repetitions, detailed descriptions and examples were deleted. In terms of content, the emphasis is on Dutch, languages ​​and mathematical sciences.

Decree ‘Early and near’ to streamline youth care

With the approved draft decree ‘Early and Close’, the government wants to streamline youth care, ten years after the introduction of the integrated youth care decree and the preventive family support decree.

The Flemish welfare and assistance landscape is a house with many rooms. Numerous organizations and tens of thousands of employees are busy supporting children, young people and their families every day. But it is no secret that things can be improved in a number of areas. Children and young people do not always find the right support, experience obstacles and thresholds, are sent from pillar to post, see their support suddenly disappear…

Pilot project with re-inspections at repairers

The pilot project, in which certain re-inspections of cars can be carried out at authorized repairers instead of at the car inspection center, also received approval. This is a five-year pilot project that can be extended for another five years if the evaluation is positive.

Initially, re-inspections will be considered for which no measuring equipment is required, so that repairers do not have to invest. This mainly concerns defects in tires, mirrors, lights and windows. Subsequently, re-inspections with measuring equipment may also be considered, such as the adjustment of the dipped beam headlights.

Joint preliminary process for adoption and foster care candidates from 2026

From 2026, part of the preparation process for candidate adoptive parents and candidate foster parents will coincide. Parents could then make their choice between adoption or foster care during the course of the process.

Flemish animal welfare code: animal markets and dolphinariums prohibited

It did not happen without a fight – the help of the opposition was even necessary – but last night the Flemish Parliament also approved the animal welfare codex of competent minister Ben Weyts (N-VA).

The codex bundles existing and new rules regarding animal welfare: for example, animal markets and home slaughter of certain animals are prohibited, and alternative punishments, such as mandatory training and guidance, can be imposed on people who cause animal suffering. Dolphinariums, with the exception of Boudewijn Seapark, are also prohibited.

Flanders guarantees education in community institutions

A new decree must guarantee education in community institutions. The Flemish Parliament is thus responding to a number of recommendations that were formulated following an investigation by the education inspectorate. Initiator Koen Daniëls (N-VA): “Every child has the right to education, including in community institutions. Even more: education is important to promote the future opportunities and well-being of these young people and to prevent recidivism. The importance can therefore hardly be underestimated.”

Temporary retention of De Warande

Cultural center De Warande in Turnhout can remain with the province of Antwerp for the time being pending a definitive solution.

The Flemish government appointed an intendant for the Warande in the summer of last year. After all, the cultural center was in danger of falling between two stools. The previous Flemish government decided to remove cultural powers from the provinces and transfer them either to the cities and municipalities or to Flanders. That choice is difficult for De Warande. The center is considered too big for Turnhout and too small for Flanders.

101 recommendations for sexual abuse

The Flemish Parliament unanimously approved the 101 recommendations of the special committee on sexual abuse in the Church and other authority relationships on Thursday morning. The committee requests, among other things, the establishment of a fund that gives all victims of sexual violence access to psychological care.

The ‘toilet resolution’

On Thursday morning, the ‘toilet resolution’ was also unanimously given the green light on the initiative of Flemish MP Katrien Schryvers. In the resolution, which was symbolically added to the agenda ‘with great urgency’, the CD&V MP advocates a ‘toilet plan’ that calls for more public and accessible toilets.

It is a nail that Katrien Schryvers has been knocking on for some time. For some people, especially people with certain conditions, the elderly or parents with small children, the unavailability of a clean, accessible toilet with the necessary facilities is downright problematic. That is why the CD&V politician has been pushing for a ‘toilet plan’ for some time.

Simplified licensing procedures

There will be a thorough reform of the licensing procedures. With a decree, Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) is cutting back on the procedures for applying for an environmental permit. There will be one basic procedure with a decision period of sixty days.

Flanders currently has five different procedures for applying for an environmental permit, all with different decision periods between 60 and 180 days. Moreover, it regularly happens that the application has to be submitted all over again if adjustments have to be made en route.