Parliamentary inquiries by the Belgian Federal Parliament

Both Chambers of the Federal Parliament, the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, has the right to conduct parliamentary inquiries pursuant to article 56 of the Belgian Constitution, which provides that "Each Chamber has the right of inquiry". [cite web
url=http://www.senate.be/english/federal_parliament_en.html#T.6.4.3
title=Right of Inquiry
publisher=The Belgian Senate
accessdate=2006-11-20] Committees of inquiry were rarely set up until 20 years ago, and have been used increasingly in the recent past, dealing with matters deemed of major public concern or apparent governmental failure.

Inquiries by the Chamber of Representatives

1880: Education reform and legislation

1880-05-05 Parliamentry inquiry commission concerning the moral and material situation of Belgiums primary education, the results of the law of July 1, 1879, and the means used to inhibit implementation of this law.

1909: Draft-legislation

1909-03-10 Parliamentary inquiry in order to resolve the outcomes of the law of May 21 1902 (change in the milita-law and the law on compensation of drafted men).

1935: Monetary devaluation

1935-04-17 Parliamentary inquiry responsible for determining the responsibilities in the defaulation of the Frank, determined by the law of March 30, 1935, and the Royal Decree of March 31, 1935.

1989: Leopoldstad

1959-01-15 Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning the events that took place in Leopoldstad in January 1959.

1972: Publicity on state-run television networks

1972-06-18 Parliamentary inquiry commission on the direct or indirect addition of commercial texts or imagery in the broadcasts of the BRT, the RTB, and cable television.

1985: Handling of "Heizel-drama"

1985-06-06 Parliamentary inquiry commission to the causes, the circumstances, and the lessons that should be drawn from the tragic events that took place on 1985-05-29, during the football match Liverpool - Juventus Turin.

1987: Arms sales to embargoed countries

1987-04-09 Parliamentary inquiry commission for research on the Belgian arms and munition sales to countries in armed conflicts, or against which a weapons embargo is called.

1988: Fraud and NPT-breaches

1988-03-17 Parliamentary inquiry commission for the study of the range, the causes, and the results of possible fraud scandals and of possible violations on the Non-Proliferation treaty by the Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie (SCK), or related companies.

1988: Handling of major crime and terrorism

1988-04-21 Parliamentary inquiry commission, commissioned with the research on the way of opposing banditism and terrorism.

1988: Arms sales to embargoed countries

1988-06-16 Parliamentary inquiry commission for research on the Belgian arms and munition sales to countries in armed conflicts, or against which a weapons embargo is called.

1992: Human trafficking

1992-11-26 Parliamentary enquiry commission to research a structural policy concerning punishment and eradication of human traficking.

1992: Waste transport

1992-03-05 Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning import, export, and transport of industrial and domestic waste substances.

1993: Military purchases

1993-06-17 Parliamentary inquiry commission, commissioned with research on army purchases.

1995: Handling of case-"Nijvel-gang"

1995-06-13 Parliamentary inquiry commission, commissioned with the research on the necessary ajustments in the organisation and workings of the police and justice system, based on the difficulties that arose during the research on the "Nijvel-gang".

1996: Policy regarding sects

1996-03-06 Parliamentry inquiry commission on the formation of policy to combat illegitimate practices of sects, and it's dangers for society and for the individual, and minors in particular.

1996: Handling of case-Dutroux/Nihoul

1996-10-17 Parliementary inquiry commission to research the way the inquiries were conducted by the police and the court in the case "Dutroux-Nihoul and their likes".

1996: Murder on André Cools

1996-10-24 Parliamentary inquiry commission to research the murder on "Cools". André Cools was a Belgian socialist politician who was assassinated at Liège in 1991. The political circumstances and connections triggered the emergence of multiple scandals and speculation, which led to the initiation of an inquiry.

Inquiries by the Senate

1951: Tax collection

1951-03-01 Parliamentary inquiry commission on the activities of the service of the Sequester.)

1980: Militia-activity

1980-06-19 Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning the problems related to order keeping and private militias.

1987: Arms sales to embargoed countries

1987-04-07 Parliamentary enquiry commission, commissioned to research the circumstances in which Beligium would have been involved in trade and trafficing of weapons and munition, either directly or inderectly, to countries the government has decided to place under embargo.

1988: Nuclear security

1988-03-23 Parliamentary inquiry commission to research and evaluate the guidelines regarding to nuclear secutrity, the measures taken for education and protection of the population, and the means of evacuation in case of elevated radioactivity within the countries territories.

1990: Gladio-network

1990-12-20 Parliamentary inquiry commission to research recent discoveries about the existence of a secret international intelligence network in Belgium, known under the name of "Gladio".

The Belgian branch of the "Gladio" stay-behind network was a secret military unit trained to form a resistance movement in the event of an communist invasion by the Soviet Union. Its existence became publicly known on November 14, 1990, when Defense minister Guy Coëme announced its existence following Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti's revelations concerning the Italian branch of Gladio.

Because questions and allegations where raised regarding its functioning and oversight, and possible connections between Gladio-operatives and criminal and terroristic activities in Belgium during the previous decade, a parliamentary inquiry was initiated.

1996: Organized crime activity

1996-07-18 Parliamentary inquiry commission of research on organised crime in Beligium.

1997: Rwanda inquiry

1997-01-23 Establishment of a special commission Rwanda.

ee also

Belgian political scandals

References

*http://www.law.kuleuven.ac.be/jura/34n3/backer.htm
*http://www.senate.be/com/onderzoekscommissies_nl.html

__NOTOC__