Flemish PM Jan Jambon warns of strong headwinds, calls for confederal switch

Mr Jambon delivered his last major 11 July speech as Flemish prime minister last night at the Golden Spurs Celebrations in Kortrijk (West Flanders). He spoke at the Groeningekouter in the city, the battlefield where an army of Flemish townspeople faced off the might of the King of France in 1302, allowing Flanders to continue as an independent entity.  The anniversary of the battle on 11 July is the Flemish holiday.

Mr Jambon lauded today's Flanders as "one of the most prosperous regions in the world". He also highlighted the achievements of the Flemish government he leads, e.g. an employment rate of 77 per cent and 11.6 billion euros (3.5 per cent of gross domestic product) in investments in research and development.

"Self-governance is the best cure"

"Flanders is in excellent shape economically and socially," Mr Jambon noted. "But because powers are fragmented, we are prevented from realising our ambitions. As a result, we cannot always pursue the policies to which the Flemish people are entitled."

According to Mr Jambon, thorough reforms are needed. "Belgian structures are not right," he said referring to who decides labour market policy, justice and energy policy.

"Flanders features in the top three in Europe when it comes to the rollout of solar panels and wind turbines, but only when it comes to onshore wind turbines. We have no jurisdiction on wind turbines at sea, but also on nuclear power plants, for example. On the contrary, in areas where the powers are all in one hand, we can move ahead."

Confederal switch

So what exactly does Mr Jambon believe is the solution? "A confederal switch in which as many powers as possible are handed to the federated states. It is now up to us to convince others of that as well." Now that N-VA leader Bart De Wever has become formateur (and will attempt to form a new federal government), it remains to be seen to what extent the Flemish nationalist party can realise its dreams for Flanders.

Mr Jambon said the election result on the French-speaking side was "particularly significant". "This is a unique opportunity to achieve a prosperous Wallonia together with a prosperous Flanders. Self-government is the best cure."

"For the first time in a long while, opportunities exist to realise ambitions with a federal government that reflects the governing coalitions in the federated states. With parties on both sides of the language border that understand that budgetary efforts are serious and necessary."

However, the future is not all rosy: "On the political front, we are probably already heading for tough days and weeks, with strong headwinds and maybe even storms."

The problem with education

Critics point out that more autonomy does not always necessarily lead to successful outcomes. For example, despite the fact the devolved governments are responsible for education, Flanders has long struggled with a problem of declining quality in education and a dire teacher shortage.

Mr Jambon acknowledges that Flemish education "is not having an easy time". But according to him, the "tanker is turning" and the teacher shortage is being "vigorously addressed".

With regard to that shortage, Mr Jambon also shared a jab at the education networks. He says the education networks should consider why it is possible that there are too few teachers in classrooms, while at the same time there have never been more people working in education than today.