Belastingbetaler moet opdraaien voor Afrikaans klimaatbeleid
![Foto: iStock. Belastingbetaler moet opdraaien voor Afrikaans klimaatbeleid](/sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w28/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=PIUslfgE 28w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w33/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=Iezp6JY8 33w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w39/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=Lehi0NYW 39w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w47/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=KC_wLw3W 47w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w56/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=57X0WPM2 56w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w66/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=P42hOzuE 66w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w67/public/2023-06/iStock-956172788%20%282%29.jpg?h=0e552d62&itok=fvbm8U9l 67w, 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Minister van Ontwikkelingssamenwerking Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) wil 2,4 miljoen aan openstaande schulden van Mozambique kwijtschelden, in ruil voor klimaatinvesteringen in dat land. De regeling kadert in een samenwerkingsakkoord tussen 2023 en 2028, ter waarde van 25 miljoen euro. “Dit is een toepassing van het antiwesterse ‘loss and damage’-principe, waarbij men het Westen verantwoordelijk acht voor de gevolgen van de klimaatverandering in de derde wereld”, aldus Vlaams Belang-Kamerlid Ellen Samyn. “Op die manier culpabiliseert ze onze belastingbetalers, die opdraaien voor het klimaatbeleid van Afrikaanse landen.”
Mozambique zou nog zo’n 5,6 miljoen euro aan openstaande schulden hebben bij België. In plaats van dat het die netjes afbetaalt, wil Gennez al minstens 2,4 miljoen ervan kwijtschelden indien het land belooft dat geld in klimaatbeleid te investeren. Die miljoenen zou Mozambique dan overmaken op de rekening van het Belgisch Ontwikkelingsagentschap Enabel, dat de middelen voor klimaatprojecten in het land zal aanwenden. “Het Belgisch aandeel van de wereldwijde CO2-uitstoot bedraagt minder dan 0,3 procent”, vervolgt Samyn. “Toch stelt de minister onze belastingbetaler verantwoordelijk voor klimaatschade en klimaatbeleid in een land als Mozambique.”
“Gennez zet de Sinterklaaspolitiek van haar voorgangers verder”
Vlaams Belang heeft ook erg zijn twijfels bij de correcte aanwending van de kwijtgescholden schulden door het Mozambikaanse regime. “Veel meer nog dan klimaatschade heeft dat land te kampen met endemische corruptie.”, stelt Samyn, “De minister zet de naïeve Sinterklaaspolitiek van haar voorgangers en partijgenoten Frank Vandenbroucke en Meryame Kitir vrolijk verder. Door geld te vergooien aan regimes die ons beloven in klimaat te investeren, maar met die centen gewoon hun eigen zakken vullen.”
Tot slot hekelt de partij ook het signaal dat Vivaldi hiermee stuurt richting Afrikaanse landen. “Door schulden kwijt te schelden onder het mom van klimaatinvesteringen geven wij de boodschap dat Afrikaanse landen nog kwistiger mogen omspringen met hun belastinggeld dan ze nu al doen”, besluit Samyn. “Dit zet de deur wagenwijd open voor nog meer schulden en vervolgens nog meer kwijtscheldingen, waarbij de hardwerkende Vlaming traditiegetrouw het gelag betaalt.”