Verlinden's 11,500-euro business flight to Abu Dhabi went ahead despite a negative finance inspectorate opinion

A business-class flight to Abu Dhabi

Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (cd&v) attended a United Nations meeting on crime prevention and criminal justice in Abu Dhabi in late September, after appearing at the UN General Assembly in New York. Le Soir reported that she flew from New York to Abu Dhabi in business class, a ticket that alone cost 11,500 euros. A member of her cabinet travelled from Brussels in economy, with a round-trip flight costing about 1,700 euros, and about 4,000 euros was set aside for hotel costs. The total trip was estimated at roughly 25,000 euros.

Verlinden's New York to Abu Dhabi business flight11,500

Cabinet staff member's round-trip economy flight from Brussels1,700

Planned hotel costs4,000

Verlinden's New York to Abu Dhabi business flight

11500 EUR

Cabinet staff member's round-trip economy flight from Brussels

1700 EUR

Planned hotel costs

4000 EUR

Data from the article text

Inspectorate objects to the funding

Her cabinet's travel budget was not enough to cover the trip, so Verlinden asked the Federal Public Service Justice for extra money. The Inspectorate of Finance issued a negative opinion in early September, saying the cost should be charged to the cabinet's own base allowance rather than to government credits. It also objected on political grounds, arguing that the increase conflicted with the government's decided cuts on foreign travel. The inspectorate noted that the trip cost more than 18,000 euros for two people, nearly 11,500 of it for one business ticket for the minister alone. La Libre added that the overspend also contradicted the Arizona government's December 2025 decision to reduce foreign travel spending.

Budget released with a condition

Four days after the opinion, Verlinden asked fellow cd&v member Vincent Van Peteghem, the Minister of Budget, to intervene. In her request she wrote that she did not understand the principled reasons behind the inspectorate's advice. Van Peteghem gave the green light, but according to La Libre he required that Verlinden fully compensate the extra cost. The cabinet has not said how or within what timeframe that compensation would be made.

Cabinet defends the trip

Asked by Belga on Friday, 30 October, the cabinet said both trips were important, particularly because of strong links with the United Arab Emirates. It pointed to extraditions: 26 of the 45 serious criminals wanted internationally have been extradited from the UAE to Belgium, and 22 of those 26 came since the start of this legislature, when the minister took office. The statement's central claim was presented in these words:

“Of the 45 serious criminals wanted internationally, 26 have already been extradited to Belgium by the United Arab Emirates.”

On the compensation demanded by Van Peteghem, the cabinet gave no details and referred all budget questions to the Federal Public Service Justice.

Wider pressure on the justice minister

The trip adds to pressure over the I-Police affair. The Court of Audit estimated the total cost of the aborted I-Police project at 140 million euros, which L'Avenir noted was twice the original figure. Verlinden's spokesperson has been formally charged in the case. Le Soir has also reported a possible conflict of interest linked to her ties to a law firm that represents Sopra Steria, the company hired for the project, although that conflict is not yet proven. Verlinden rejects any responsibility. Le Soir said it obtained documents on the Abu Dhabi trip on Wednesday, 28 October, and a Justice and Interior committee session on the affair is due to follow.