Belgium Coalition to Propose Global Ethical Texts by December 1

Belgium's governing coalition aims to present a unified set of ethical texts to the government by December 1st, according to Vice Prime Minister David Clarinval. This comprehensive package will address several sensitive topics, including abortion, discreet childbirth, euthanasia for individuals with dementia, and surrogacy.

The decision follows a restricted ministerial committee meeting. The Prime Minister's office confirmed the agreement. While the coalition has agreed on the timeline for presenting these texts, Clarinval noted that a full agreement among all coalition partners on the specific details is still pending. These proposals are expected to be finalized and approved sometime next year.

Clarinval stated that the majority will not support opposition-led proposals to extend the legal abortion deadline to 18 weeks. Instead, they are working towards a broader consensus on various ethical issues. He indicated that the Justice Minister's proposal for a 14-week abortion limit might need further revision to gain support from coalition partners, particularly the MR party, which has reserved freedom of vote on the matter.

In contrast, an agreement has been reached regarding sperm donation reforms, a proposal led by the Minister of Public Health. This text will be sent to the Council of State. Additionally, the coalition has approved the initiation of a procedure to sell 20% of Belfius's capital and is considering a potential operation involving the state's over 30% stake in Ethias. An initial draft law on insurance matters also received approval.