ÿWPCM Gd”~“2„K’Ã)¦àªœ¬ÑKh%ÐéΠþN¸Vv´{5*1<¥_k­Ë¤#‘Œû¥¢:E¦‘q&tÿ÷µÂ?‰f+wCøôÇT`Äþñ¶ŸãAè~Ðmk«Î6¡bw{+¢"t½iÐvcs¢ù¼9=e#ØÀ$¤—;€²£o¸Ñ¾„rŒ\ŽÜe®40»èpþÔ±}Ú°¥cY1šÝöìÕèÛ8³„¼ å½õ¹±Ã,ɸ±þ u„¾øÐàÂ#jqRüU:n·,µßeŒ¤`‡],¸ìÐN÷l<Ú– PDª¦ŒrÚð‡¯é$”´•ËÕ£rÓÿþÝ£ h çi¼ù¨…é_˜N Z7ÜàÁ[ólzò&z Ö·cŠ«m+Œ?{{ËëâI5q'LìAøYÌ5¬þ"DÓÿ2wl¬».¯©Âê·³LŒÅ¤T”íAî?…Þw3øÒ<©×ùuAÄD¦­£>hð†ë€«]R—d-s*¸û1J¨6OâFyF?$Ò \Ýèþ #ɨUNq %¿ 0:ÅNÿ^ w 4%4 m6˜HP Officejet 6500 E710n-z (Network)”˜”˜˜””˜0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,ÔI¨•>‡ ±”“>ntFold3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡¼¥¸»XXÔÓ  Óò òBELGIUMÔ#†XðÜX»¼¥¸=#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ\ÓÌÔUSCE.,ÔFollow-up€-€State€ReportingÐ ° Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€Action€by€Treaty€Bodies,€including€reports€on€missionsÔCE.,US.,»ÔÐ œì ÐÌó óÔUSCE.,ÔÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô,€A/64/18€(2009)ó óÐ ` ° ÐÓ  ÓÌ...Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÔL  ÔÔM  ÔÔL  ÔÔM  Ôò òChapter€IV.€€Follow„up€to€the€consideration€of€reports€submitted€by€States€parties€underÐ `  Ðarticle€9€of€the€Conventionó óÐ üL  ÐÌÔL  ÔÔM  ÔÔL  ÔÔM  Ô48.€€In€2009,€Mr.€Amir€served€as€coordinator€and€Mr.€Prosper€as€alternate€coordinator€for€follow„upÐ Ô$  Ðto€the€consideration€of€reports€submitted€by€States€parties.Ð À  ÐÌ49.€€Terms€of€reference€for€the€work€of€the€coordinator€on€follow„upÔL  ÔÔM  Ôòò1óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€and€guidelines€on€follow„upÐ ˜è Ðto€be€sent€to€each€State€party€together€with€the€concluding€observations€of€the€CommitteeÔL  ÔÔM  Ôòò2óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€wereÐ „Ô Ðadopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€sixty„sixth€and€sixty„eighth€sessions,€respectively.Ð pÀ ÐÌ50.€€At€the€1923rd€meeting€(seventy„fourth€session)€and€the€1897th€meeting€(seventy„fifth€session),Ð H˜ Ðheld€on€2€March€and€17€August€2009€respectively,€the€coordinator€on€follow„up€presented€a€reportÐ 4„ Ðon€his€activities€to€the€Committee.Ð  p ÐÌ51.€€Since€the€closing€of€the€seventy„third€session,€follow„up€reports€on€the€implementation€ofÐ øH Ðrecommendations€regarding€which€the€Committee€had€requested€information€were€received€from€theÐ ä4 Ðfollowing€States€parties:€Austria€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔAUTÔ_Ô/CO/17/Add.1),€BelgiumÐ Ð  Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/BEL/CO/15/Add.1),€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔBIHÔ_Ô/CO/6/Add.2),€CanadaÐ ¼  Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/CAN/CO/18/Add.€1),€Italy€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/ITA/CO/15/Add.1),€New€ZealandÐ ¨ø Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔNZLÔ_Ô/CO/17/Add.1),€Republic€of€Korea€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/KOR/CO/14/Add.1),€Republic€ofÐ ”ä ÐMoldova€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/MDA/CO/7/Add.1),€Turkey€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔTURÔ_Ô/CO/3/Add.1)€and€United€States€ofÐ € Ð ÐAmerica€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/USA/CO/6/Add.1).Ð l!¼ ÐÌ52.€€At€its€seventy„fourth€and€seventy„fifth€sessions,€the€Committee€considered€the€follow„up€reportsÐ D#”! Ðof€Belgium,€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€Israel,€Italy,€New€Zealand,€the€Republic€of€Korea€and€theÐ 0$€" ÐUnited€States€of€America€and€continued€the€constructive€dialogue€with€these€States€parties€byÐ %l # Ðtransmitting€comments€and€requesting€further€information.Ð &X!$ Ð__________Ð ô&D"% ÐÌòò1óó€€For€the€terms€of€reference€of€the€work€of€the€coordinator€on€follow„up,€see€ÔL  ÔÔM  ÔòòOfficial€Records€of€theÐ Ì($' ÐGeneral€Assembly,€Sixtieth€Session,€Supplement€No.€18óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€(A/60/18),€annex€IVÔL  ÔÔM  Ô.Ð ¸)%( ÐÌòò2óó€€For€the€text€of€the€guidelines,€see€ÔL  ÔÔM  ÔòòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€AssÔ_ÔemblyÔ_Ô,€Sixty„first€Session,Ð +à&* ÐSupplement€No.€18óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€(A/61/18),€annex€VI.ÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔCE.,US.,•Ôò òÐ  |,Ì'+ ÐÌFollow-up€-€State€ReportingÐ œì Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€ii)€Action€by€State€Partyó óÐ ˆØ ÐÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/BEL/CO/15/Add.1€(2009)ó óÐ `° ÐÌò òInformation€provided€by€the€Government€of€Belgium€on€the€implementation€of€the€concludingÐ 8 ˆ Ðobservations€of€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€DiscriminationÐ $ t Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/BEL/CO/15)ó óÐ  ` ÐÌ[24€March€2009]Ð è 8  ÐÌò òIntroductionó óÐ À  ÐÌ1.à  àThe€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€("the€Committee")€consideredÐ ˜è  Ðthe€fourteenth€and€fifteenth€periodic€reports€of€Belgium,€submitted€in€one€documentÐ „Ô  Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/BEL/15),€at€its€1857th€and€1858th€meetings,€held€on€25€and€26€February€2008.€At€itsÐ pÀ Ð1870th€meeting,€held€on€5€March€2008,€it€adopted€its€concluding€observationsÐ \¬ Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/BEL/CO/15),€in€which€it€asked€the€State€party€to€provide,€within€one€year,€informationÐ H˜ Ðon€the€way€it€has€followed€up€on€the€Committee's€recommendations€contained€in€paragraphs€10,€14,Ð 4„ Ð16€and€22.€Belgium€hereby€submits€additional€information€on€the€follow-up€to€thoseÐ  p Ðrecommendations.Ð  \ ÐÌò òI.€€RECOMMENDATION€CONTAINED€IN€PARAGRAPH€10ó óÐ ä4 ÐÌ2.à  àPolitical€debate€is€still€under€way€on€the€establishment€of€"an€independent€national€humanÐ ¼  Ðrights€institution,€with€a€broad€mandate€to€promote€and€protect€human€rights,€in€accordance€with€theÐ ¨ø ÐParis€Principles".€As€Belgium€indicated€in€its€oral€presentation€to€the€Committee,€the€project€raisesÐ ”ä Ða€number€of€institutional€issues€as€the€country€already€has€several€institutions€working€in€humanÐ €Ð Ðrights-related€fields.€Exhaustive€discussions€have€already€taken€place€following€the€preparatoryÐ l¼ Ðwork,€and€various€options€have€now€been€submitted€for€a€careful€review€which€will€take€into€accountÐ X ¨ Ðthe€views€expressed,€the€Paris€Principles€and€the€domestic€institutional€framework.Ð D!” ÐÌò òII.€€RECOMMENDATION€CONTAINED€IN€PARAGRAPH€14ó óÐ #l! ÐÌ3.à  àWith€regard€to€the€Committee's€recommendation€to€"develop€a€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€strategy,€taking€intoÐ ô$D # Ðconsideration€general€recommendation€No.€31,€for€changing€the€situation€in€order€to€ensure€that€allÐ à%0!$ Ðpersons€irrespective€of€race,€colour,€descent,€or€national€or€ethnic€origin€are€treated€equally€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðpenal€system",€Belgium€indicated€during€its€presentation€to€the€Committee€that€it€did€not€dispute€theÐ ¸'#& Ðfindings€of€the€study€referred€to€by€the€Committee€and€would€consider€taking€steps€to€resolve€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðissue.€Some€measures€had€been€taken€prior€to€the€study€as€part€of€the€overall€legislative€andÐ )à$( Ðexecutive€efforts€to€eliminate€discrimination.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ4.à  àIt€should,€however,€be€stressed€that€the€National€Institute€on€Criminal€Statistics€andÐ T,¤'+ ÐÔ_ÔCriminology€has€already€drawn€two€conclusions€from€its€research:€(a)€it€is€imperative€that€theÐ @-(, ÐÔ_Ôjudiciary€review€its€own€practices;€and€(b)€regulatory€amendments€are€unnecessary€as€existingÐ ° Ðlegislation€already€covers€discrimination€comprehensively.Ð œì ÐÌ5.à  àThe€Belgian€authorities€consider€awareness-raising€training€and€initiatives€as€the€best€wayÐ tÄ Ðto€tackle€discrimination.€In€that€connection,€it€is€worth€mentioning€that€specialized,€compulsoryÐ `° Ðtraining€has€been€given€to€future€juvenile€court€judges€since€2007,€and€has€proved€to€be€the€mostÐ L œ Ðeffective€way€of€raising€their€awareness€of€the€various€aspects€of€discrimination.€The€greatestÐ 8 ˆ Ðbenefits€of€the€training€will,€of€course,€be€seen€in€the€medium€term.Ð $ t ÐÌ6.à  àThis€specialized€training€is€one€of€a€number€of€measures€taken€by€Belgium€as€part€of€itsÐ ü L  Ðefforts€to€eliminate€racial€discrimination€against€minors€(whether€of€foreign€origin€or€not).Ð è 8  ÐÌò òIII.€€RECOMMENDATION€CONTAINED€IN€PARAGRAPH€16Ð À  ÐÌA.€€Comments€on€the€language€proficiency€requirement€in€the€Flemish€Housing€Codeó óÐ ˜è  ÐÌ7.à  àArticle€92,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Flemish€Housing€Code€sets€out€requirements€for€socialÐ pÀ Ðhousing€tenants,€which€include€a€willingness€to€learn€Dutch.€Any€Belgian€or€foreign€adult€applyingÐ \¬ Ðfor€social€housing€to€whom€no€legal€exemption€is€applicable€and€who€cannot€demonstrate€anÐ H˜ Ðadequate€knowledge€of€Dutch€(i.e.,€who€does€not€have€a€Dutch-language€certificate€or€equivalent)Ð 4„ Ðis€asked€to€take€a€beginner's€course€in€Dutch€(a€European-standard€basic€language€course).€Currently,Ð  p Ðapplicants€can€also€prove€their€knowledge€of€the€language€by€sitting€a€straightforward€test€run€byÐ  \ Ðsocial€housing€associations€which€a€number€of€association€members€are€trained€to€give.Ð øH ÐÌ8.à  àWith€regard€to€costs€and€supply,€the€course€is€still€accessible€to€all.€Training€is€carried€outÐ Ð  Ðwithin€the€official€framework€of€adult€education€centres,€university€language€centres€and€basicÐ ¼  Ðeducation€centres€and€its€costs€are€borne€in€full€by€the€authorities,€meaning€lessons€are€free€of€charge.Ð ¨ø ÐThe€beginner's€course€does€not€require€learners€to€sit€an€exam€and€a€certificate€is€given€to€those€withÐ ”ä Ðat€least€80€per€cent€attendance.€Lessons€times€are€flexible€and€accessible€enough€to€accommodateÐ €Ð Ðhousing€applicants€who€work.Ð l¼ ÐÌ9.à  àMigrant€children€usually€learn€the€basics€of€Dutch€as€part€of€their€formal€education.Ð D!” ÐÌ10.à  àNo€potential€tenant€has€ever€been€turned€down€on€the€basis€of€the€language€proficiencyÐ #l! Ðrequirement.€In€2008,€nearly€2,500€potential€tenants€who€did€not€pass€the€language€test€were€givenÐ $X" Ðfree€language€training,€while€almost€120€individuals€had€already€followed€an€integration€procedureÐ ô$D # Ðwhich€offers€language€training.€In€addition,€around€1,000€new€arrivals€enrolled€on€a€language€courseÐ à%0!$ Ðof€their€own€volition,€without€having€been€referred€to€one€by€a€welcome€centre€or€other€public€body.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ11.à  àThe€language€proficiency€requirement€should€in€no€way€be€viewed€as€a€measure€to€controlÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€allocation€of€social€housing.€It€is€a€measure€that€should€improve€the€atmosphere€in€social€housingÐ )à$( Ðcomplexes,€as€it€aims€to€achieve€better€communication€between€residents€and€thus€a€more€acceptableÐ |*Ì%) Ðliving€environment.€The€domestic€legal€system€deems€the€language€clause€to€be€responsible,Ð h+¸&* Ðlegitimate,€proportional€and€non-discriminatory€(see€below,€paras.€12-15).€The€language€proficiencyÐ T,¤'+ Ðrequirement€is€a€response€to€the€practical€problems€encountered€in€social€housing€complexesÐ @-(, Ðthroughout€Flanders.€In€other€words,€the€Flemish€authorities€are€responding€to€residents'€need€forÐ ° Ðproper€communication,€which€aids€mutual€understanding€and€prevents€or€solves€the€problems€thatÐ œì Ðcommonly€arise€among€neighbours.€This€is€done€through€various€channels,€for€example€during€socialÐ ˆØ Ðhousing€registration€or€during€the€integration€procedure,€which€provides€added€value€and€benefitsÐ tÄ Ðthose€concerned.€The€requirement€therefore€has€no€discriminatory€effect.Ð `° ÐÌò òB.€€Review€of€the€language€proficiency€requirement€by€the€higher€courtsó óÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ12.à  àIn€Judgement€No.€101/2008€of€10€July€2008,€the€Constitutional€Court€ruled€that€the€languageÐ  ` Ðproficiency€requirement€in€the€Flemish€Housing€Code€does€not€breach€the€principle€of€equalityÐ ü L  Ðenshrined€in€article€10€of€the€Belgian€Constitution,€the€prohibition€of€discrimination€in€article€11€orÐ è 8  Ðthe€right€to€housing€in€article€23,€or€the€relevant€provisions€of€international€law€or€the€standards€ofÐ Ô$  ÐEuropean€law€(article€11€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,Ð À  Ðarticle€31€of€the€European€Social€Charter€and€article€34,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Charter€of€FundamentalÐ ¬ü  ÐRights€of€the€European€Union).€In€its€judgement,€the€court€ruled€that€the€language€proficiencyÐ ˜è  Ðrequirement€is€not€applicable€to€prospective€or€current€tenants€of€the€social€housing€referred€to€in€theÐ „Ô  Ðdecree€that€is€located€in€language-border€or€outlying€communes€and€who€wish€to€make€use€ofÐ pÀ Ðlanguage€facilities.€The€Flemish€authorities€feel€vindicated€by€this€judgement€from€the€highest€courtÐ \¬ Ðin€the€country,€which€is€composed€of€equal€numbers€both€of€Dutch-speakers€and€French-speakers,Ð H˜ Ðand€of€academic€and€political€representatives.Ð 4„ ÐÌ13.à  àIn€its€decision€No.€39.536/VR/3€of€24€January€2006€on€the€draft€decree€amending€the€decreeÐ  \ Ðof€15€July€1997€containing€the€Flemish€Housing€Code,€the€legislative€section€of€the€Council€of€StateÐ øH Ðhad€already€confirmed€that€social€housing€tenants€were€merely€required€to€commit€to€making€anÐ ä4 Ðeffort€and€that€the€language€requirement€should€be€considered€legitimate.€The€Council€of€StateÐ Ð  Ðbelieves€that€a€justifiable€link€exists€in€this€case€between€the€language€knowledge€expected€and€theÐ ¼  Ðobjective€pursued.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ14.à  àIt€can€be€concluded€that€both€the€Flemish€authorities€and€the€highest€federal€courts€considerÐ €Ð Ða€language€proficiency€requirement€to€be€a€legitimate€and€broad€protective€measure€which€shouldÐ l¼ Ðpromote€peaceful€coexistence€and€communication€within€social€housing€complexes,€and€not€aÐ X ¨ Ðmeasure€that€might€violate€the€fundamental€individual€rights€of€the€person€who€is€obliged€to€seekÐ D!” Ðsocial€housing.€In€addition,€the€Constitutional€Court€judges€that€the€language€proficiency€requirementÐ 0"€  Ðis€not€in€conflict€with€the€international€obligations€of€Belgium.Ð #l! ÐÌò òC.€€Comments€on€language€(proficiency)€requirements€of€local€authoritiesó óÐ ô$D # ÐÌ15.à  àIn€addition€to€the€Flemish€Housing€Code,€a€number€of€regulations€have€been€adopted€at€theÐ Ì&"% Ðlocal€level,€including€in€the€Zaventem€commune,€under€which€the€sale€of€communal€land€or€theÐ ¸'#& Ðapplication€of€other€local€policy€measures€is€subject€to€language-proficiency€or€languageÐ ¤(ô#' Ðrequirements.€In€each€case,€the€decision€to€adopt€such€regulations€was€taken€by€communal€councilsÐ )à$( Ðin€the€context€of€self-government,€as€regulated€by€article€41€of€the€Belgian€Constitution,€and€theÐ |*Ì%) ÐEuropean€Charter€of€Local€Self-Government.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ16.à  àPursuant€to€article€162€of€the€Constitution,€decisions€taken€by€communes€are€subject€toÐ @-(, Ðadministrative€supervision€according€to€the€provisions€set€out€by€the€Flemish€Parliament€in€articlesÐ ° Ð248-261€of€the€Communal€Decree€of€15€July€2005.€Accordingly,€local€authority€decisions€takeÐ œì Ðimmediate€effect€upon€their€adoption€by€the€relevant€communal€body,€but€may€be€subject€to€review,Ð ˆØ Ðprovided€the€review€is€carried€out€within€the€time€limit€set€by€the€decree.€Under€the€decree,€localÐ tÄ Ðauthority€decisions€are€submitted€for€review€only€if€a€complaint,€claim€or€other€communication€isÐ `° Ðreferred€to€the€supervisory€authority€within€the€time€limit€stipulated€by€the€Communal€Decree.€OnceÐ L œ Ðthe€deadline€has€passed,€only€the€competent€courts€can€review€the€legitimacy€of€communal€councilÐ 8 ˆ Ðdecisions€and€then€only€where€specific€cases€are€referred€to€them.Ð $ t ÐÌ17.à  àIn€the€exercise€of€its€supervisory€role,€the€Flemish€Government€respects€communal€selfÐ ü L  Ðgovernment,€and€does€not€seek€to€replace€the€local€authorities€in€areas€for€which€they€have€politicalÐ è 8  Ðresponsibility.€In€the€case€of€Zaventem,€the€Flemish€Government€received€no€complaints€from€anyÐ Ô$  Ðcitizens€or€communal€councillors€from€the€local€political€majority€or€the€opposition,€whetherÐ À  ÐFrench-speaking€or€not.€Therefore€Flanders€did€not€review€the€commune's€decision€in€the€contextÐ ¬ü  Ðof€its€administrative€supervision.€In€their€supervisory€capacity,€the€Flemish€authorities€apply€the€lawÐ ˜è  Ðstrictly,€as€evidenced€by€their€approach€to€decisions€by€communes€wishing€to€restrict€the€use€ofÐ „Ô  Ðanother€language€where€the€law€provides€for€its€use.€For€example,€in€2008,€the€Flemish€GovernmentÐ pÀ Ðoverturned€a€decision€of€the€communal€council€of€Liedekerke€which€banned€children€who€did€notÐ \¬ Ðspeak€Dutch€from€using€communal€play€areas.Ð H˜ ÐÌò òIV.€€RECOMMENDATION€CONTAINED€IN€PARAGRAPH€22Ð  p ÐÌA.€€Measures€taken€by€the€Flemish€authorities€to€tackle€discrimination€against€RomaÐ øH ÐÌ1.€€Overview€of€the€social€and€economic€situation€of€Travellers€and€Romaó óÐ Ð  ÐÌ18.à  àThe€main€problem€facing€Travellers,€Sinti€and€Roma€is€the€great€uncertainty€in€their€housingÐ ¨ø Ðsituation,€which€has€a€significant€impact€on€other€aspects€of€their€lives€(education,€work,€etc.).€AÐ ”ä ÐFlemish€minister,€Mr.€Keulen,€specifically€addresses€the€problem€of€the€Travellers,€Sinti€and€RomaÐ €Ð Ðin€a€general€policy€paper€on€civic€integration,€2004-2009:€"The€Flemish€Government€will€devote€theÐ l¼ Ðnecessary€attention€to€Travellers,€Sinti€and€Roma€and,€more€specifically,€to€their€children's€education.Ð X ¨ ÐIt€will€review€the€most€important€aspects€of€the€problem€in€collaboration€with€the€ministers€ofÐ D!” Ðwelfare€and€education€and€will€set€objectives€to€encourage€those€children€to€go€to€school.€It€will€alsoÐ 0"€  Ðendeavour€to€improve€employment€opportunities€for€Travellers,€Sinti€and€Roma,€in€association€withÐ #l! Ðboth€the€Minister€of€Labour€and€the€Minister€of€Enterprise.€Numerous€individuals€are€in€factÐ $X" Ðself-employed€on€account€of€their€way€of€life€and€their€interests."Ð ô$D # ÐÌ19.à  àWith€a€view€to€achieving€the€above-mentioned€objectives,€a€study€is€currently€beingÐ Ì&"% Ðconducted€on€the€situation€of€itinerants€as€regards€work,€education,€health€care,€well-being,€the€DutchÐ ¸'#& Ðlanguage,€youth,€etc.,€in€order€to€obtain€precise€figures€on€itinerants€in€the€various€areas.€The€study'sÐ ¤(ô#' Ðfindings€will€be€examined€in€2009€and€addressed€through€a€strategic€plan€for€itinerants,€which€willÐ )à$( Ðbe€submitted€to€the€Flemish€Government€for€approval.€Besides€itinerants,€the€Roma€are€a€targetÐ |*Ì%) Ðgroup€that€is€difficult€to€help,€given€that€most€of€them€do€not€live€in€caravans.€A€study€will€be€carriedÐ h+¸&* Ðout€in€2009€to€take€stock€of€the€specific€social€and€economic€situation€of€the€Roma.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð20.à  àRoma€and€itinerants€are€targeted€by€organizations€working€in€the€integration€sector,€whichÐ ° Ðreceives€subsidies€from€the€Flemish€authorities.€The€sector's€ultimate€goal€is€to€ensure€that€allÐ œì Ðindividuals€are€seen€as€full€citizens€of€society.€Agreements€concluded€between€a€number€ofÐ ˆØ Ðcommunes€and€the€Flemish€authorities€set€specific€targets€for€itinerants,€ranging€from€ensuring€socialÐ tÄ Ðcohesion€at€grass-roots€level€to€referring€residents€to€services€and€regular€employment.Ð `° ÐÌò ò2.€€Caravan€sitesó óÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ21.à  àItinerants€are€first€and€foremost€faced€with€a€lack€of€designated€caravan€sites.€The€mainÐ  ` Ðproblem€encountered€by€Travellers,€Sinti€and€Roma€is€the€great€uncertainty€in€their€housing€situation,Ð ü L  Ðwhich€has€a€significant€impact€on€other€aspects€of€their€lives€(education,€work,€etc.).€Existing€sitesÐ è 8  Ðin€residential€areas€are€overcrowded,€which€affects€not€only€the€itinerants€themselves,€but€also€theÐ Ô$  Ðother€residents€in€the€area.€The€current€Flemish€Government€has€set€itself€the€fundamental€goal€ofÐ À  Ðensuring€that€there€are€enough€adequate,€legal€caravan€sites:€"The€Flemish€Government€will€lookÐ ¬ü  Ðcarefully€at€the€specific€living€conditions€of€Travellers,€Sinti€and€Roma.€A€fundamental€goal€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐFlemish€Government€will€be€to€create€enough€caravan€sites,€in€association€and€after€consultationÐ „Ô  Ðwith€the€local€and€provincial€authorities"€(from€the€aforementioned€general€policy€paper).Ð pÀ ÐÌ22.à  àIn€Flanders,€the€number€of€itinerant€families€currently€exceeds€the€number€of€sites€available,Ð H˜ Ðprincipally€because€of€the€natural€growth€of€the€itinerant€population.€The€Flemish€GovernmentÐ 4„ Ðprovides€support€to€those€behind€initiatives€to€acquire€and€create€residential€and€temporary€caravanÐ  p Ðsites€by€subsidizing€90€per€cent€of€the€costs€(Decision€of€12€May€2000).€This€policy€of€support,Ð  \ Ðwhich€aims€to€ensure€a€high-quality€supply€of€sites,€has€resulted€in€increased€demand€over€recentÐ øH Ðyears,€meaning€new€caravan€sites€have€been€created€in€a€greater€number€of€communes.€The€2007Ð ä4 Ðbudget€quadrupled€to€ðHð4,273,000€from€the€2006€budget€of€ðHð1,011,000€and€stabilized€in€2008€atÐ Ð  ÐðHð4,337,000.€The€recent€trend€to€establish€new€caravan€sites€has€continued€into€2009,€and€ðHð4,445,000Ð ¼  Ðhas€been€allocated€in€2009€for€the€acquisition,€conversion,€renovation€and€expansion€of€sites€forÐ ¨ø Ðitinerants.€Flanders€currently€has€30€residential€caravan€sites€with€a€total€of€474€pitches.€There€areÐ ”ä Ðat€present€six€short-stay€sites€(Antwerp,€Huizingen,€Dendermonde,€Gent,€Kortrijk€and€HarenÐ €Ð Ð(Brussels-capital€region)),€where€a€total€of€105€pitches€are€planned.Ð l¼ ÐÌò òB.€€Walloon€regionó óÐ D!” ÐÌ23.à  àAn€inter-ministerial€working€group€on€such€topics€as€social€welfare€housing,€land-useÐ #l! Ðplanning€and€the€environment€was€set€up€in€June€2007.€The€Minister€of€Health,€Social€Welfare€andÐ $X" ÐEqual€Opportunities,€Didier€Donfut,€notes€that€this€group€was€given€the€task€of€"exploring€possibleÐ ô$D # Ðways€of€making€Travellers'€reception€and€stay€as€harmonious€as€possible".Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ24.à  àUnder€the€communal€action€plan€to€implement€the€right€to€decent€housing,€local€authoritiesÐ ¸'#& Ðcan€obtain€a€subsidy€for€creating€a€caravan€site.Ð ¤(ô#' Ð-----Ð )à$( Ð