Flemish Government Bars Subsidy-Funded Legal Actions Against Itself
Organisations that receive subsidies from the Flemish government will no longer be permitted to use that funding to pursue legal actions against the region, reports 24brussels.
Flemish Finance and Budget Minister Ben Weyts announced the decision on Monday, emphasizing that subsidies should be allocated only for their intended purposes, rather than to cover legal expenses. Weyts expressed concern that allowing organisations to use taxpayer money for such pursuits creates “absurd situations,” where the Flemish authorities find themselves defending against lawsuits funded by their own subsidies.
This new regulation does not bar organisations from initiating legal or administrative actions against the Flemish government; however, they must now finance these actions independently. “Subsidised organisations can still go to court as much as they like, just not with taxpayers’ money,” Weyts clarified.
“The subsidy culture has swung too far”
Weyts further noted that this decision is part of a larger initiative aimed at curbing public expenditure. “The subsidy culture has swung too far,” he stated. The Flemish government has already announced cuts of 210 million euros directly from subsidies and intends to continue tightening the regulations governing their use.
