“The government must now show that it is there to help Van Hool’s staff.” “We must do everything we can to save the profitable parts of Van Hool.” Van Hool employees received a lot of compassion and empathy in the Flemish Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, but for the time being little perspective.
Prime Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) made it clear for the first time that several candidates have emerged to invest in the ailing company, but remained discreet and conditional about this. “There are candidates, but in such things there are always cowboys and valid candidates. That must also be examined,” Jambon told Villa Politica.
Inquiries show that Jambon certainly did not mean that Van Hool’s rescue is now close. These types of files also attract bargain hunters, who do not necessarily have the company’s best interests at heart. This is not denied within the Flemish government.
The big challenge remains that a restart for Van Hool is subject to conditions. The Flemish government needs a credible business plan, cooperation from the banks, an industrial partner and the anchoring of employment in Flanders.
“It is not an option to just invest in Van Hool’s capital and turn it into a purely public company,” Jambon said. “We cannot ignore the European rules on state aid. So a private player is needed to make a restart possible.”
There are no taboos in the use of Flemish support instruments for Minister of Economy Jo Brouns (CD&V), but he cannot avoid those conditions. He doesn’t want to make “false promises”.
Chinese buses
Jambon refuted the criticism that De Lijn itself had caused Van Hool’s problems by buying Chinese buses, arguing that Van Hool itself did not want that. Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) pointed out that De Lijn issued a tender for 350 electric buses from the Belgian companies Van Hool and VDL in November 2021, but neither managed to deliver on time due to problems with the supply of batteries .
It did not convince Vooruit MP Thijs Verbeurgt and his Green colleague Staf Aerts. “The previous and current Flemish governments should have made a resounding choice in favor of electric buses in the past,” they said. “That could have prompted Van Hool himself to make better choices more quickly, because yes, they also made mistakes.”
Europa
For a substantive solution for Belgian industry, N-VA Member of Parliament Philippe Muyters mainly looks to Europe. This should prevent China from outcompeting European companies with unbridled state support. The EU must also prevent the countries within Europe that can provide the highest subsidies from attracting investments. “Flanders alone cannot build a barrier against China,” Jambon also acknowledges. “There is an urgent need for a more decisive approach at European level.”
