Beernem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Beernem, led by Mayor Jos Sypré (CD&V), is delaying a volunteer corps despite over 100 Flemish municipalities joining the plan, citing costs, insurance, and unclear training timelines.
As VRT News reported, Beernem, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, is not setting up a volunteer corps for now, even though such groups are appearing in many places across Flanders. The volunteer corps program focuses on proper training and coordination.
Volunteers receive courses in cooperation with recognised emergency and civil protection organisations. They learn first aid, basic fire safety, evacuation methods, and communication skills for crises.
What delays Beernem from joining the Flemish volunteer corps program?
In Beernem, the local N-VA says it is time for the municipality to join the many towns in Flanders that are forming volunteer emergency corps. They believe such a corps could help during floods, power failures, or other local emergencies.
Mayor Jos Sypré (CD&V) disagrees and says Beernem should wait before taking that step.
“Many municipalities have registered to show interest, but most have not yet presented an agreement to their municipal councils,”
he said. The mayor stressed that interest does not mean commitment and that Beernem should take a careful approach.
Sypré also pointed out several practical and financial challenges linked to creating a volunteer corps. The setup would bring extra costs for staff hours, protective gear, and regular training. The municipality would also need to ensure volunteers for activities outside of emergencies.
Another concern is how to keep volunteers motivated and active when no incidents occur. According to the mayor, there is still no clear timeline for when official training sessions can start. Beernem will therefore monitor how other municipalities manage costs, training, and organisation before making a final decision.
“It’s important that the task package is thoroughly discussed with all emergency services,”
the mayor continues. He therefore refers the discussion to the next municipal safety unit to request an official recommendation.
“Having the municipal council approve the establishment of the municipal volunteer corps now is therefore premature,”
concludes Sypré.
The Flemish government launched its local volunteer corps program in late May 2025 to strengthen crisis response in towns and cities. Interior Minister Hilde Crevits and Minister-President Matthias Diependaele announced the plan on May 28, 2025, with an annual budget of around 1 million euros. The goal is to help municipalities prepare for floods, storms, and other emergencies by training residents in first aid and crisis management.
By early August 2025, 34 municipalities had registered, and the first training sessions were planned for September. Reports in late September 2025 showed that more than 100 municipalities had joined, with the first volunteer corps expected to start operating in October 2025.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
