Concerns that political crisis may harm economy

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST Brussels, Belgium - 22 November 2007 1. Wide top shot of Brussels, with the spire of the Grand Place 2. Wide Brussels street scene with people walking 3. Wide Q8 petrol station sign in the foreground with Hilton hotel in the background 4. Close shop sign reading "Giorgio Armani" 5. Mid shop sign reading "Puma" 6. Close shop sign reading "BMW Brussels" 7. Mid setup Marcel Claes, Chief Executive of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Belgium, reading the AmCham "Foreign Investor's Agenda" report on Belgium 8. Close AmCham's "Foreign Investor's Agenda" report on Belgium 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Marcel Claes, Chief Executive of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Belgium: "Political uncertainty might mean that investors start to hesitate or could even consider not investing at all in Belgium. And that's why we are raising a little bit the alarm bell, or at least raising awareness about the fact that we need a government to make a number of necessary changes, that we need a government to also create again that perception, that image of stability for the investors." 10. Wide UCB biopharmaceutical company, Brussels 11. Close up of Belgian flag 12. Setup Didier Malherbe, Vice President of Public Affairs, UCB Group 13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Didier Malherbe, Vice President Public Affairs UCB Group: "We are very active to attract bio-pharma companies, bio-tech in Belgium, especially in Wallonia. We see the frame of the Marshall Plan. So the governments, the Walloon government, the Belgian government, spend a lot of energy to attract these investors, these potential investors, but now, how can you do that in a country without a government? So, to take a decision from a headquarters abroad, they will first look at the political situation and the political stability of the country." FILE: Brussels, Belgium - 30 October 2007 14. Wide zoom in from high-rise building to Belgium flags hanging from balconies 15. Wide Belgian flag draped over balcony and resident 16. Poster reads in English: "I want you for Belgium" FILE: Wezembeek-Oppem Municipality (Brussels periphery) - 22 October 2007 17. Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) member Frank Vanhecke at council meeting walking up to a Walloon council member to protest against use of French language at council meeting followed by a protester shouting in Dutch. UPSOUND: (Dutch) Frank Vanhecke, Flemish: "You must respect the language laws. You must speak Dutch here." 18. Mid Flemish separatist protesters putting up posters and shouting in Dutch: French rats, French Rats!" 19. Close-up posters reads in Dutch: Divide Now: Brussels, Halle Vilvoorde. 20. Mid Flemish separatist protester placing sticker on street name to cover French name 21. Close-up of protester placing sticker to cover French word for councillor. Sticker reads in Dutch: Flanders Independence Now! Brussels, Belgium - 22 November 2007 22. Wide exterior Wittamer chocolate shop, Brussels, with Belgian flag 23. Set up of Myriam Wittamer, owner of the Wittamer chocolate shop 24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Myriam Wittamer, Wittamer chocolate shop owner: "I think that it is not a good image, definitely not. I am quite ashamed about that, as a citizen of my country and that is very bad and we do our best to try to erase that effect by really welcoming the foreigners and trying to give a good image." 25. Various of window display showing chocolate coins on a tree STORYLINE: Belgium has long been seen as a popular and often profitable country for foreign investments, but all this could change as Belgium's on-going political crisis could eventually have severe economic consequences on the country. But amid the political chaos, at least one thing remains stable in Belgium: chocolate. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e9b0af26b853ff80350842087e2de383 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork