“Brussels can't afford further delays”
Now that Brussels has a fully empowered government, Vooruit.brussels is asking the competent ministers to finally get to work on the cooperation agreement on youth aid and child protection. That agreement is necessary to fully implement the Brussels ordinance of 2019 but has been more than five years in the making. Brussels MP Ilyas Mouani (Vooruit.brussels) therefore asked the government for clarity on Thursday evening during the Health committee of the Brussels parliament: “Young people who commit serious offences need limits and guidance.”
“For years, we've received the same signals from magistrates, youth judges, and social workers”, "said Brussels MP Ilyas Mouani (Vooruit.brussels) on Thursday during the Brussels Parliament's Health Committee.". “The decisions have been made, but the implementation is lagging. This is despite the sector having been knocking on doors and crying out for help for years. Young people who commit serious offences need limits and support. Brussels must finally do what it has been promising for years.”
Ongoing matters
According to Mouani, the government has no further reason to postpone the matter. Throughout the previous legislative period, the cooperation agreement remained unfinished. Now that the Brussels government has its full powers, he expects the dossier to be dealt with as a priority.
Mouani, who herself has a background in youth work, therefore wanted to know the current concrete status of the cooperation agreement, which parts are still blocked and by when the government wants to finalise the agreement. “This issue is close to my heart. After more than five years of standstill, it's time to move forward.”
Flanders
In addition, the Forwards.brussels Member of Parliament asked what impact the recent reform of the Flemish youth delinquency approach would have on Brussels, and how the Brussels government would organise cooperation with the relevant partners, concerning aspects such as capacity, placement criteria and follow-up.
“We can no longer file this under the heading of institutional complexity. As of 1 January 2026, significant powers relating to juvenile delinquency, including community institutions and the Flemish detention centre, have been transferred to the Agency for Justice and Enforcement. This is not merely an administrative move. It is a shift in management, priorities, and partners. And if Brussels is dependent on Flemish capacity and agreements, that will have direct consequences for our cooperation.”, he decided.