Last week an open letter from 3 Brussels banks raised concerns about the lack of security in Brussels. This week many more Brussels businesses are sounding the alarm. Business organisation Voka Brussels has received a lot of similar messages from worried entrepreneurs. ‘If the Brussels and federal governments do not intervene, companies will eventually leave the city,’ they argue.
The bank CEOs are worried about the lack of security in the neighbourhood around their headquarters at the Namur Gate in Brussels. They see more and more drug users, exhibitionists and people prostituting themselves. ‘We are receiving similar messages’ says Voka Brussels director René Konings.
‘We too receive a lot of reports about insecurity in Brussels. Not only at the Namur Gate, but also at the North and South stations. It’s a worry for Brussels residents, but also for commuters who travel by public transport and then walk to their offices. They see homeless people and drug users on their route, or are even accosted or shouted at.’
Voka Brussels has noticed that the situation has become much worse since the pandemic. René Konings: ‘The drug problem has got worse, and there are more homeless people in public spaces in Brussels. We notice these 2 issues are often linked. On the other hand, we also see problems with regard to the reception of transmigrants. There is currently no Brussels government to tackle the problem. The federal government too is a caretaker administration.’
Voka Brussels is very concerned and worried that no action will be taken. René Konings: ‘The letter from the Brussels banks is a step in the right direction. We want to send a similar signal. It cannot go on like this. More and more companies are concerned about security and cleanliness in Brussels. And although accessibility and tax levels are attractive, it could still mean that companies will eventually decide to leave Brussels.’