Industry and Parliament Scheme embedded in the "Voka – Vlaams Economisch Verbond”, the representative business organisation of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium, generating more than 60 percent of the Belgian GDP. The Voka – Vlaams Economisch Verbond is an independent, private, non-profit organisation for free enterprise, progress and well-being in Flanders. Therefore, the Voka – Vlaams Economisch Verbond is co-operating closely with the Flemish Government and the Flemish social partners.

Five-day attachments of MPs, Senators, MEPs to companies. Every year the parliamentarian has the possibility to choose an attachment in a different company. Attachments take place during parliamentary recess.

Business workshops for MPs: three-day attachments to a company on topics the MP is specifically interested in and that correspond with his parliamentary work.

Weekly company visits for MPs: a number of parliamentarians and an equal number of business people of other companies are invited to visit an enterprise. The political group can be composed of MPs of the same party or of different parties but of the same constituency or of members of the same legislative committee. A presentation of the host company is followed by a tour and a working lunch. During lunch there is a structured discussion on social-economic issues of mutual concern.

Thematic working lunches of business leaders with MPs, member of the legal committees, of interest to the business community.

Workshops for ministers: private meeting of a minister with business leaders on topics the policy maker is interested to test policy projects or ideas with the business community before outlining policy.

Visits to the Parliament (Flemish, federal, European) for businessmen.

Parliamentary three-day workshops for businessmen. Two-day seminar on how the Flemish Government and the Flemish Parliament are working, followed by a one-day attachment to an MP.

Federal Level
Chamber of Representatives: 150 deputies, Senate: 71 senators

Dutch-speaking MPs: 91 in Chamber of Representatives: 31 in Senate

Community/Regional level Flemish Parliament: 118 MP’s Brussels Council: 17 Dutch-speaking members

European level Dutch-speaking MEP’s 14