Long road ahead for Flanders in Action

Flanders in Action, the Flemish government plan to position the region among the top five in Europe by 2020, has  already achieved 25% of its objectives so far. The 136 indicators contained in the Pact 2020 are aimed at reaching  five targets: increased welfare and well being, a competitive and sustainable economy, higher employment rate and life quality and an efficient government. So far, Flanders can tick off one quarter of these objectives and the annual Pact 2020 measurement shows a 5% increase from last year, with four in ten indicators making progress. Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters CD&V sees this increase as a clear indication that the region is on the right track, with progress made in respect of energy, the environment and mobility. Objectives concerning hothouse gases, particulate matter concentrations and traffic noise have reached their target, and progress has been made concerning community integration and health indicators. Moreover Flemings currently rank third in Europe on the level of general happiness.
Unfortunately not all the indicators point in the right direction. Those addressing poverty have stagnated, and as a result of the economic crisis progress concerning economic and job market objectives has been limited. In addition, key contributors to competitive power, such as wage costs per unit product of job productivity, have stagnated. Similarly foreign investments, the number of independent businesses and export targets are nowhere near their objectives, with a number of crucial obstacles still not overcome. Flanders scores exceptionally well when it comes to the number of highly skilled in the region, but little progress has been made as far as lifelong learning is concerned.
These figures have meanwhile resulted in growing criticism towards Flanders in Action, with the opposition reproaching the government for its lack of focus and “advertising campaign without a display window”. Some social partners, including those who co-signed the Pact 2020, have also been critical. The Flemish employers’ organization Voka even called for a critical investigation of the initiative in April. At the time Voka managing director Jo Libeer suggested that Flanders in Action should focus its priorities instead of attempting to tackle a broad platform of civil service projects and policy initiatives.
The latest recording will be considered for inclusion in next year’s Flemish budget and the Flemish government’s policy plans, but the question remains how the post-election administration will roll it out after May next year. The project has become synonymous with the Peeters government and more specifically Peeters himself, and he is doing everything possible to keep a new government from aborting the project. His insistence that it’s a long-term project which transcends the current legislature could well fall on deaf ears and the entire initiative may be destined for doom if he does not have a place around the Flemish negotiation table.