Keeping an eye on the Tranzis:
International pressure groups may pose a serious threat to the Belgian economy, it was reported on Monday. The Flemish daily newspaper De Tijd said the Comite R, which coordinates the work of the Belgian intelligence services, is worried about some NGOs who damage the reputation of Belgian companies. The fears were reportedly expressed by Comite R president Jean-Claude Delepiere in a closed session in front of the Belgian senate. Some members of the senate rejected the committee's view that NGOs — of which there are 1,400 or so in Brussels alone — amount to a threat. Senate president Anne-Marie Lizin, who is also the president of the parliamentary commission which monitors Comite R, said the concerns only applied to NGOs who conducted campaigns against businesses and gravely damaged their image. |