Brussels court rules: Belgium must lift ‘all COVID-19 measures’ within 30 days

The Brussels Times reports Belgium today was ordered by a Brussels court to lift “all coronavirus measures” within 30 days, as their legal basis is insufficient.

‍Le Soir says the judge gave the Belgian State 30 days to provide a sound legal basis, or face a penalty of €5,000 for each day this period is exceeded, with a maximum limit of €200,000.

The League for Human Rights filed the lawsuit weeks ago, challenging Belgium’s use of Ministerial Decrees to implement the measures, circumventing the legislature.

The current coronavirus measures are based on the Civil Safety Act of 2007, which enable the State to react quickly in “exceptional circumstances,” but the judge has now ruled that these laws cannot serve as a basis for the Ministerial Decrees. An appeal to overturn the court ruling is still possible.

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