Giebels: “The De Croo government funded the socialist PR stunt with money for nuclear innovation, defense and recovery from Corona”

The information comes from documents obtained by Frida Gables through Open Government. In concrete terms, this relates to a memorandum from the Financial Inspectorate and a communication from Foreign Minister de Bleecker (Open Vld) to Thomas Diermen warning him about the approach to funding the European Space Agency and speaking of disrespect towards its services. Eye-catching details? That letter was sent the week de Bleecker was forced to resign after the budget saga. This meant that ESA funding was ultimately approved without the budget’s critical secretary of state.

An expensive PR stunt

A subject of contention within the government for some time now: SMR power stations. Earlier reports had already shown that part of the €100m promised by the prime minister had been diverted to ESA Dermine, raising the question of whether the beneficiary, SCK CEN, could still count on the funding. Her letter now shows that De Bleeker also shared this concern in November 2022: She warned that this budget would not actually be completed automatically.

“I am also still waiting to see this promise on paper,” says MP Bert Wollants, who has already questioned the relevant members of the government several times on the issue. “Because if the government has chosen a PR stunt about the future of our energy policy, it is an absolute shame. You cannot take up the challenge of nuclear innovation in the press and pass their money to PS behind the scenes.”

The prescribed protocol was not followed

The documents also show that a budget of 100 million euros, earmarked for defense projects within the framework of industrial renewal, flowed into the European Space Agency. The Financial Inspectorate noted that the Federal Minister of Defense Dedonder (PS) did not follow the specific protocol that should govern the distribution of the budget with sectors. Even the European RRF or the well-known Corona Recovery Fund had to believe it: 35 million euros were withdrawn from it in favor of the European Space Agency.

Embrace openness

Another hot detail: Belgium is today the fifth largest ESA investor per capita with €305 million annually. Geebbels couldn’t believe her eyes as she flicked through the documents. “While the De Croo government boasted of a campaign about innovation a few weeks ago, it is depriving the same innovators of their budgets in favor of a PR stunt. There is no explanation for that.”