Jean-Paul Peuskens about subsidy for Agropolis: “If Flanders does not want to, the province will have to look for resources itself” (Domestic)

40

One of the five organizations involved in the ‘LimFoodHub’ testing ground is the non-profit organization Agropolis. — © rr

Hasselt –

If Flanders does not provide subsidies to the ‘LimFoodHub’ testing ground, the deputation must release its own resources. Jean-Paul Peuskens said this during the provincial council on Wednesday evening. “Demir’s attitude is disrespectful.”

The Flemish government failed to agree on a subsidy of 931,600 euros that the province of Limburg applied for to start up a pilot project in fruit and vegetable cultivation. One of the five organizations involved in this ‘LimFoodHub’ is the non-profit organization Agropolis. Hubert Brouns is chairman of the board of directors there, but Hubert is also the father of Flemish minister Jo Brouns and that upsets Flemish minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). She believes that Jo Brouns (CD&V) presents a file in which almost half of the subsidy – 410,720 euros – is intended for Agropolis.

READ ALSO. Flemish subsidy for Agropolis: election campaign starts with Jo Brouns damage operation

“Disrespectful”

At the provincial council, councilor Jean-Paul Peuskens (Vooruit) wanted to know how to proceed. “Is this project in danger of being lost or will the province provide its own resources?” he asked deputy Inge Moors (CD&V). She replied that the province does not have its own resources for the pilot project. “If that were the case, we would not have submitted a file to Flanders. A lot of consultation was done to submit a solid file with only positive advice. Unfortunately, the Flemish government has not yet made a decision.”

Peuskens concluded that LimFoodHub has not yet been completely removed. “If the subsidy is not awarded, I call on the delegation to look for resources within their own operations to start this project during this legislature. I deeply regret that Demir is blocking this because of arguments that have nothing to do with quality. I already find this disrespectful of Demir towards Brouns. Moreover, this is a blow to the five institutions that she denies a subsidy.”