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        <title><![CDATA[Federal Chamber · OpenDemocratie]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/feed/chamber.xml]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Bills and political choices in plain language. Vote anonymously and compare with parliament.]]></description>
        <language>en-BE</language>
        <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>

                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for a federal action plan for safer nightlife areas]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/163</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal asks the federal government to draft an action plan for safer nightlife districts, create legal rules for nightlife hosts, and improve the recording of drink spiking incidents. It also recommends deploying dedicated youth police officers and sharing successful initiatives through an online platform. Nightlife visitors, students, hospitality owners, local authorities, and the police will notice the effects of these joint efforts. You will see more accessible support staff and officers during nights out, better assistance if an incident occurs, and stronger prevention against harassment and inappropriate behavior.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal to recognize the Tibetan government-in-exile and impose sanctions]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/166</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Lawmakers propose that the federal government recognize the Tibetan government-in-exile and impose targeted sanctions on Chinese officials. This primarily affects Belgian diplomacy, foreign relations with China, and the protection of the Tibetan community in Belgium. For you, everyday life remains mostly unchanged, except for stricter oversight of goods linked to forced labor.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Bill to recognise and compensate pesticide-related occupational illnesses]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/164</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Three illnesses (Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas) will be recognized as occupational diseases from pesticide exposure, alongside a new compensation fund. It applies to employees, civil servants, self-employed workers like farmers, and children exposed before birth through their parents' work. If you fell ill after prolonged workplace exposure, you no longer need to provide complex scientific proof to receive a monthly allowance and medical cost reimbursements.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposed Belgian ban on goods from Israeli settlements]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/162</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal bans the import, purchase, sale, and brokering in Belgium of goods originating from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, as well as any circumvention. Businesses and traders importing products from Israel are most affected; they must prove the origin of goods and face penalties if they violate the ban. As a consumer, you will no longer find these specific goods in Belgian stores, while standard trade with Israel itself remains permitted.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Bill proposing a socially just phase-out of fossil fuels]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/159</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal obliges the government to gradually phase out fossil fuel subsidies, bans public investments in fossil sectors, and sets strict rules for banks and lobbyists. This mainly affects federal authorities, fossil fuel businesses, banks, and financial intermediaries. For you, this means public funds and private savings are redirected toward greener alternatives, with special support to keep energy affordable for vulnerable households.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for a national pact to improve disease prevention]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/168</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal calls for a national pact that allocates more funding to health prevention. This would be financed through higher tobacco duties, a minimum price for alcohol, and a tiered tax on sugary soft drinks. This affects smokers, consumers, and beverage manufacturers, as well as family doctors, health insurance funds, and schools. You would gain access to reimbursed prevention check-ups with your doctor, more health screenings, and support to quit smoking. Meanwhile, tobacco and high-sugar drinks would become more expensive, while sugar-free drinks would be taxed less.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[BELNET network moves to the Federal Public Service BOSA]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/174</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The public IT network BELNET is transferred from the Science Policy department to the FPS Policy and Support (BOSA). This mainly affects federal public services, universities, and research institutions that use the network. Nothing changes directly for you, but the federal government aims to bring together and better coordinate its digital services and cybersecurity.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Temporary ban on family reunification following convictions for partner violence]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/175</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Anyone with a final conviction for violence against a previous partner or for a marriage of convenience will be barred from bringing a new partner to Belgium through family reunification for five years. In exceptional cases, the government may grant an exemption based on an individual assessment. This measure applies to Belgian citizens, EU citizens, and foreign nationals convicted of these offences who wish to sponsor a new foreign partner. If you receive such a conviction, you must wait five years before you can sponsor a partner for family reunification. The rule applies only to convictions that become final after the law enters into force.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Faster access to new medical technology in healthcare]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/169</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal asks the federal government to speed up the assessment and reimbursement of medical innovations, such as health apps and smart diagnostic tools, under one clear law. Healthcare workers like doctors and nurses receive tools to reduce their workload, while innovative companies can conduct research in Belgium more easily. You gain faster access to reliable new technologies and home tests, helping detect illnesses earlier and allowing you to receive care at home more often instead of staying in a hospital.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Automatic five-year review of income guarantee for elderly people]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/172</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The pension service will be required to automatically review entitlement to the income guarantee for the elderly (GRAPA/IGO), or an increase of it, at least every five years. This affects individuals who have reached the legal retirement age and currently receive no income guarantee or only a partial benefit. You will no longer necessarily have to apply yourself if your financial situation deteriorates; the administration will regularly check your situation automatically.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Bill proposing a new wealth tax above five million euros]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/170</link>
                <description><![CDATA[An annual tax on large fortunes would be created: 1% between 5 and 100 million euros, and 2% on amounts above that. This tax only applies to individuals with personal assets of at least 5 million euros. If your total wealth is below 5 million euros, nothing changes for you and you do not pay this tax.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Stricter scrutiny of economic grounds for collective redundancies]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/171</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Companies will only be allowed to proceed with collective dismissals if the public employment service or the labour court formally approves the economic justification in advance. This affects employers, workers facing collective redundancies, and sub-contractors associated with the restructuring firm. Your job is better shielded from purely profit-driven cuts, and you can claim reinstatement and back pay if a dismissal breaks the rules.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for a national action plan to protect against severe heatwaves]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/179</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal asks the federal government to set clear temperature rules for working in heat, increase funding for emergency services, and adapt public spaces with more shade and greenery. This affects workers, employers, vulnerable people such as the elderly, and emergency response and healthcare staff. During a heatwave, you would receive better protection at work, faster emergency response times, and easier access to cool public spaces and free drinking water in your neighbourhood.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Tobacco industry urged to fund anti-smoking policies and healthcare]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/190</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal asks the federal government to charge tobacco manufacturers and importers an annual fee. This money would fund inspections, smoking cessation support, and healthcare costs for tobacco-related illnesses. Tobacco producers and importers will be directly affected, paying based on their market share. Public authorities and the healthcare sector will also benefit from extra funding. For you, this could reduce the amount of taxpayer money spent on treating smoking-related diseases. It could also lead to more resources and support if you want to quit smoking.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal to tackle shrinkflation in supermarkets more effectively]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/191</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal asks the federal government to research shrinkflation and advocate for EU rules that require clear notices whenever a product shrinks without a price decrease. Manufacturers and stores will have to be transparent about smaller packaging, while government agencies monitor price changes more closely. You will be able to see more easily in the supermarket if a familiar product contains less than before, helping you avoid unknowingly paying the same for less.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Free choice of life insurance beneficiary for long-term savings]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/180</link>
                <description><![CDATA[You will be able to freely choose who receives your life insurance payout upon death, without losing your tax reduction for long-term savings. Currently, it must strictly be your partner or a close relative. This affects anyone using long-term savings, especially single individuals or people who want to designate someone outside their immediate family. You keep your tax benefit of up to 735 euros per year, even if you name a friend or a cohabiting partner as the beneficiary.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for a single reporting desk for misconduct by healthcare providers]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/177</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal calls for a single federal contact point where you can report sexual misconduct by healthcare providers and receive advice. It is meant for patients, victims, witnesses, and relatives, while healthcare professionals will also see better coordinated reporting procedures. You will no longer need to find the right authority yourself, repeat your story multiple times, or wonder about progress, as you can track your case online.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Faster cuts to energy duties when prices spike]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/187</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal updates the existing protection system so that excise duties on gas and electricity decrease faster and more substantially when market prices surge. Households with standard consumption of natural gas (up to 12 MWh per year) and electricity (up to 3 MWh per year) will notice this. If energy prices spike sharply again, you will pay lower federal duties and your energy bills will rise less severely.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Working caregivers gain the right to reasonable adjustments at work]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/184</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The law will require employers to make reasonable workplace adjustments for workers who care for a person with a disability, unless it causes a disproportionate burden. This proposal affects employees who provide regular and necessary care to a close person with a disability, as well as their employers. You will be able to ask for adjusted working hours or remote work to combine your job with care duties, without facing discrimination or unfair treatment.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Confirmation of mandatory contributions to the animal health fund]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/182</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Parliament confirms the rules on mandatory financial contributions paid by livestock keepers to the federal animal health fund. This ensures recent updates for poultry and cattle sectors remain formally valid. This mainly affects poultry and cattle farmers and dealers, through specific exemptions for small numbers of animals or updated reference periods. For you as an individual citizen, this brings no direct change; the fund helps monitor animal health and safeguard the food chain.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for an audit of the Diabolo rail link contracts]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/206</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The Chamber of Representatives asks the Court of Audit to thoroughly examine the contract for the rail link to Brussels Airport. The audit aims to determine whether the financial compensation and the Diabolo surcharge remain reasonable after nearly twenty years. For now, this review mainly affects the Court of Audit, rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, and the private company involved. If parliament later decides to adjust the contract, this could also impact SNCB and other train operators. If you take the train to the airport today, you pay an extra surcharge on top of your ticket. This audit will investigate whether this fee discourages people from taking the train and whether the financing can be organized differently in the future.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Better protection and compensation for defects in modern and digital products]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/196</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Product liability rules are updated to explicitly cover software, apps, and connected devices. The 500-euro threshold for property damage is removed, and courts can now order companies to disclose technical evidence. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of both physical and digital products can be held liable more easily. If you suffer harm from a faulty device, malfunctioning software, or lost private data, you can claim compensation more easily without having to prove complex technical details yourself.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Modernising civil status and family law in Belgium]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/207</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Rules governing civil status, family law, and nationality are being updated to make legal procedures simpler, more digital, and more compassionate. This mainly impacts parents of stillborn children, legally protected adults and their guardians, and anyone involved in family court proceedings. You will be able to give a surname to a stillborn child after 140 days of pregnancy, and court registries will now retrieve your official records directly.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal on funding for the Dutch-speaking primary school in Comines-Warneton]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/223</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal asks the federal government to call on the French Community to fund the Dutch-speaking primary school De Taalkoffer in Comines-Warneton. This mainly affects the Flemish and French Communities, as well as the staff and pupils of this school. If implemented, Flanders could potentially receive financial compensation, and federal funding for the French Community could be reduced until it contributes.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal to halt preparations for Belgium's 200th anniversary]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/228</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal asks the federal government to immediately stop all preparations and plans to celebrate Belgium's bicentenary in 2030. It mainly affects government departments and event planners who are currently working on the anniversary celebrations. If parliament approves this proposal, there will be no official federal celebrations in 2030 and your tax money will not be spent on them.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for stronger action against the criminalisation of homosexuality worldwide]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/224</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal asks the federal government to challenge countries that punish homosexuality, demand explanations from their ambassadors, and immediately stop all development aid to them. Belgian diplomacy, aid organisations, and Belgium's partner countries would notice this in foreign policy and funding. For you, nothing changes at home, but travel advice for those countries could become stricter and information for asylum applications would be updated.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[More powers for security guards at airports to tackle nuisance]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/225</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Airport security guards will be allowed to ask people without a valid access pass to leave a designated area, and forcibly remove them if necessary. This affects airport visitors, travellers, security staff, and the police, who will need to intervene less often for general nuisance issues. If you are in a designated airport area, you must be able to show a valid ticket or pass; if you refuse to leave without one, security guards can make you leave.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Clearer rules for the work of private investigators]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/231</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Private investigators will be allowed to observe someone for up to four days within a thirty-day period, use smartphones or cameras, and gather evidence for ongoing civil cases. These rules apply to private investigators and their clients, such as insurers, companies, or individuals needing evidence for legal proceedings. If an investigator conducts an inquiry involving you, clearer limits will apply, while your privacy remains protected because fully automatic recordings without human control stay prohibited.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Single judges to handle attempted murder and serious drug cases again]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/229</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Cases involving attempted murder and leading a drug trafficking ring will in principle be handled by a single judge instead of three. Court presidents can still refer very complex cases to a panel of three judges. This primarily affects courts and judges, as well as suspects and victims involved in these criminal proceedings. By requiring fewer judges per case, courts can reduce backlogs and handle criminal cases more swiftly for you.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Resolution proposal on protecting Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/222</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal calls on the federal government to strongly condemn the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and to take international action. The text is directed at the Belgian government, international organisations such as UNESCO, and countries involved such as Azerbaijan and Turkey. Nothing changes for you in daily life; it is a diplomatic request for the government to help protect historical heritage and human rights.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for better prevention and support regarding incest and child abuse]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/221</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The proposal asks the government to better investigate incest and family violence against children, better train professionals, and guarantee free psychological care for victims. It directly concerns child and adult victims, protective parents, as well as police, judicial, and healthcare workers. If you or someone around you faces incest, you would have access to free frontline help, and children would be interviewed in a safer, more supportive environment.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Modernising federal budget and public accounting rules]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/230</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The bill clarifies the rules for government grants and endowments, tightens conditions for cash advances, and improves consolidated public accounts. This mainly affects federal public departments, their accountants, and organisations that apply for or receive public subsidies. Nothing changes directly in your daily life, but your tax money will be managed more transparently and accurately by the federal government.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Modernisation of accounting rules for Belgian communities and regions]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/227</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The bill modernises public accounting rules, allowing governments more flexibility in their chart of accounts while ensuring financial reporting remains harmonised and comparable. This directly affects the governments and administrations of the communities and regions, the Brussels community commissions, and the Court of Audit. For you as a citizen, nothing changes in daily life; the measure is aimed at making the management of public finances more transparent and consistent.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for an audit into the Diabolo surcharge for airport trains]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/236</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal asks the Court of Audit to examine the financial flows and contracts behind the Diabolo project and its train surcharge. The Court of Audit, rail companies Infrabel and SNCB, the federal government, and the private project partner will need to cooperate in the audit. Nothing changes for your train ticket right now. The inquiry aims to clarify why you pay this surcharge and whether the contract can be revised.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Faster support for métis people from the colonial era]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/245</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal asks the federal government to fully and swiftly implement past commitments made to métis people from the colonial era. It calls for a clear timeline, a detailed progress report, and a single federal contact point. This mainly affects mixed-race individuals born during Belgian colonial rule in Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, as well as their descendants. If you are affected, you will receive better administrative, legal, and psychological support to trace your family origins or resolve civil status records, and an official memorial will be created.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ban on paid political mandates during sick leave for federal officials]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/243</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Federal civil servants on sick leave will no longer be allowed to hold a paid political position, such as mayor or alderman, during their absence. Unpaid roles where you only receive attendance fees, like municipal councillor, remain permitted. This proposal applies to permanent federal civil servants who are absent due to illness or on reduced hours for medical reasons. Local politicians who hold a federal civil service job are directly affected if they fall ill. For you as a citizen, this promotes fairness: public servants receiving sick pay will no longer be able to simultaneously perform and receive pay for an executive political office.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Transfer of the municipality of Dentergem to the Waregem judicial canton]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/244</link>
                <description><![CDATA[From 1 January 2027, the municipality of Dentergem will move from the Tielt judicial canton to the Waregem canton. This ensures the entire merged police zone falls under the same court in Kortrijk. This will mainly affect the police and the prosecutor's office, who will no longer need to split cases between Bruges and Kortrijk. If you live in Dentergem and need to go to the justice of the peace or to court, you will go to Waregem or Kortrijk instead of Tielt or Bruges from 2027.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Proposal for stricter sanctions against repression by the Iranian regime]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/232</link>
                <description><![CDATA[This proposal asks the federal government to firmly condemn violence in Iran and advocate for stricter European sanctions against Iranian state bodies. It also urges Belgian judicial authorities to examine whether involved Iranian officials can face criminal prosecution. The Belgian government, prosecutors, and diplomats are called to act, while targeted Iranian officials could face asset freezes and travel bans. Nothing changes directly in your daily life, but the proposal aims to better protect the Iranian diaspora and activists in Belgium from foreign harassment and intimidation.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Exploring the reuse of historical radium for cancer therapies]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/247</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The House of Representatives asks the federal government to study whether historical radium waste can be safely recovered and reused for innovative cancer treatments. This mainly impacts nuclear research centres, medical companies, and public agencies responsible for waste management and radiation safety. Nothing changes directly in your daily life right now, but this work could eventually improve the availability of advanced cancer treatments.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Expansion of temporary unemployment for extreme weather and climate risks]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/239</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Temporary unemployment for bad weather will also cover extreme heat and severe pollution, starting from half a day and as soon as work becomes dangerous. The scheme is opened to all workers, including office staff, temporary workers, students, and flexi-jobbers, rather than just manual laborers. If the weather makes your work dangerous and safety measures are not enough, you can stop working without losing your usual take-home pay.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Stricter rules on temporary unemployment when challenging medical fit-to-work decisions]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/249</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Employees who challenge a health insurance doctor's medical decision in court will no longer automatically receive temporary unemployment benefits. They will have to meet the same conditions as others, including a maximum duration of twelve months. This applies to employees with an ongoing contract who are declared fit for work by the advisory doctor and appeal that decision. If you challenge this decision, you will have to take part in a reintegration track with your employer to retain temporary benefits.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Simpler public procurement rules and better access for smaller businesses]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/246</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The rules for public tenders are being simplified: small purchases under €3,000 can now be awarded directly, and the threshold for simple procedures rises to €75,000. Additionally, mistakes with digital signatures can now be corrected, and energy efficiency and short supply chains are given greater priority. This mainly affects public authorities as well as self-employed professionals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bidding for public contracts. For you, this means public authorities can procure goods and services faster with less paperwork, while local businesses can more easily compete for public contracts.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easier access to legal aid for young adults and protective parents]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/238</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The bill makes it easier for young adults and protective parents to access subsidised legal aid. They will no longer need to prove their income in advance for events that occurred during childhood or for domestic violence against their child. This applies to adults involved in legal cases for acts that happened while they were minors, and to parents protecting their child from abuse by a relative. The accused person cannot benefit from this rule. You will be able to get a lawyer much faster without having to gather financial paperwork first. This ensures you receive immediate legal support during a stressful time.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Increase in fees for licensed gambling and betting operators]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/219</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The mandatory contribution paid by gambling companies to the Gaming Commission will increase by 15 percent in 2026 to cover the regulator's operational and staff costs. Companies holding an official licence for gambling and betting activities will be affected, as they must pay this higher fee. For you as a citizen, nothing changes directly; the supervision of gambling is funded by the industry itself rather than through your taxes.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Incentives for trainee GPs to do internships in doctor shortage areas]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/259</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Trainee general practitioners could credit six months of hospital training if they instead complete an internship in a shortage area. The change affects general practitioners in training and practices located in areas experiencing a doctor shortage. The proposal aims to make it easier for you to find a regular local general practitioner in your area.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Draft bill strengthens consumer protection rights across multiple sectors in Belgium]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/234</link>
                <description><![CDATA[The bill updates rules regarding energy bills, gift vouchers, online fraud, pet purchases, and used electric vehicles. It affects consumers as well as businesses, including energy suppliers, retailers, and financial services. You gain stronger safeguards against late energy bills, longer voucher validity, and free choice of vet for sick pets.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[New rules for sick notes, medical reviews, and returning to work]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/235</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Doctors face stricter rules for prescribing sick leave and fines for illegitimate certificates. At the same time, medical follow-ups for long-term sick leave are reinforced, and the financial bonus for employers facilitating a return to work will increase. This affects long-term sick employees and self-employed individuals, general practitioners, health insurance funds, and employers. If you are on long-term sick leave, you must visit your doctor at least once a year for a renewal note and attend more regular check-ups with your health insurer. If you are able to return to work, you will receive better support, and your employer can receive a higher re-employment bonus.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Funeral allowance for civil servants extended to statutory cohabitants]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/264</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Statutory cohabitants will now automatically receive the same funeral allowance as married spouses when a civil servant dies. This applies to legal cohabitants of deceased Belgian federal civil servants and retired statutory personnel. If your late partner was a civil servant and you were legal cohabitants, you will receive financial support to help cover funeral expenses.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easier proof for creators against unauthorized use by AI]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/265</link>
                <description><![CDATA[If a creator shows clues that an AI model used their work, the AI company must prove otherwise. This proposal mainly affects artists, authors, musicians, and developers of artificial intelligence systems. As a creator, you will have a stronger legal standing in court to claim fair pay if an AI uses your work.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Confirmation of the nuclear levy for the year 2025]]></title>
                <link>https://be.opendemocratie.eu/en/proposals/267</link>
                <description><![CDATA[Parliament formally confirms the Royal Decree setting the distribution contribution, commonly known as the nuclear levy, for the year 2025. This measure directly applies to nuclear power plant operators in Belgium, specifically Electrabel and Luminus. You will not see any direct change in daily life, though the proceeds support national energy policy and security of supply.]]></description>
                <author><![CDATA[OpenDemocratie]]></author>
                <pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <category>Federal Chamber</category>
                            </item>
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