Disneyland trips and missing funds: Audit to be carried out into alleged misuse of federal money for Brussels

An audit is to be carried out into the potential misuse of millions of euros in federal money for security in Brussels, including spending for social housing, a trip to Disneyland and a cyber-centre that was never built.

A budget of €55 million in federal funds is set aside for security in Brussels each year to ensure security at European summits and to support the capital’s international role, consisting of €35 million for the region's six police zones and €20 million for the municipalities.

But, according to a whistle-blower, millions from that funding are said to have been channelled into inappropriate expenditures in recent years, prompting calls for an audit.

One such expenditure involves a payment of €828,000 to the social housing association BGHM in 2020. The Finance Inspectorate raised serious concerns about this at the time.

Also in 2020, Brussels public transport operator Stib received €3 million euros for prevention and security projects during the pandemic, but part of that sum was used to install toilets in metro stations and to distribute meals to the homeless.

In 2023, the Finance Inspectorate noted that of the €3 million earmarked for a Brussels cyber-centre that was never built, more than €2 million is said to have ultimately ended up with the municipalities, which was spent on other projects.

Alexia Bertrand (Anders), then federal state budget secretary, was reportedly told by then Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort (PS) that this was a “bookkeeping adjustment”.

Following repeated insistence from the Finance Inspectorate, the Brussels government was asked to account for all costs. It is reported that the federal authorities have not been provided with detailed information on exactly where the money subsequently went.

Member of parliament Denis Ducarme (MR) has now revealed even more unusual expenditure items, particularly within the €20 million allocated to the municipalities, citing high-ranking officials within the administration as sources.

“It concerns investments in buildings and staff and operating costs, but also the purchase of household appliances or a trip to Disneyland,” Ducarme told Bruzz.

“This is money that Brussels could have channelled in recent years towards the many security challenges facing the city.”

Among the unusual expenditures are delivery charges, purchases of books, bin bags and even the construction of a launderette, all funded from the security budget.

Ducarme is calling for hearings in the federal parliament.

“Reimbursement of funds is an option,” he said, while also pointing to possible negligence on the part of the previous federal government.

MP Maaike De Vreese (N-VA) also spoke out about the alleged misuse of federal funding.

“That money is intended as extra support,” De Vreese told Bruzz.

“Whilst we are constantly being told by the PS party that not enough money is going towards security measures in Brussels, it turns out that federal funds are being used to organise a trip to Disneyland. That’s mind-boggling.”

Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) said that because the security fund has been regarded as a grant rather than a subsidy since 2017, he had no direct insight into how the funds are being used.

“I regret that. I find it particularly unfortunate, irritating and sometimes even outrageous,” Quintin said.

“Funds for the police and security must go towards the police and security. This also applies to the funds that Brussels receives in the context of European summits. I do not engage in ‘Brussels-bashing’. This principle applies everywhere and to everyone.”

Quintin said his predecessor Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) sought to ensure transparency, but that her efforts were consistently thwarted.

A spokesperson for Quintin said the minister has asked the relevant departments for a report on the allocation of federal security funds for Brussels.

De Vreese and Ducarme, meanwhile, indicated that the necessary steps towards a parliamentary inquiry or hearings are being taken within the federal majority parties.