26 JUIN 1997. An Act to confirm royal decrees under the Act of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union, the Act of 26 July 1996 on social security modernization and ensuring the viability of legal pension schemes, and the Act of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness (1)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
TITLE I. - General provision
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 78 of the Constitution.
PART II. - Sea Transport Regulation
Art. 2. 1^er. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 18 February 1997 on measures for the dissolution of the Maritime Transport Regulations pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 6°, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
2° Royal Decree of 18 February 1997 on various measures in favour of the statutory agents of the Maritime Transport Regulations, pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 6°, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
2. Article 1^er of the Royal Decree of 18 February 1997 on various measures in favour of the statutory agents of the Régie des transports maritimes, pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 6°, of the Act of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union, is replaced by the following provision:
" Article 1^er. For the establishment of the average salary used as a basis for the calculation of the pension granted to the agents of the Maritime Transportation Regulations, below referred to as the "TMR", in application-. Section 46 of the Act of May 15, 1984, which provides for harmonization measures in pension plans, is taken into account, for the periods during which the officer benefited from the pre-retirement leave plan that would be established for agents of the gtr, the treatment of which the officer would have benefited if he had remained in service. This treatment is established under the conditions provided for by the financial status in force on the date of taking the pension, and increased the amounts of the pilotage allowance and the sea allowance as they would have been taken into account in calculating the pension if the officer had remained in service. '.
PART III. - Employment Measures
Art. 3. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 27 January 1997 containing measures for the promotion of employment, pursuant to Article 7, 2, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
2° Royal Decree of 27 January 1997 containing measures on mid-time prepension, pursuant to Article 7, 2, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
3° Royal Decree of 27 January 1997 amending Royal Decree No. 230 of 21 December 1983 concerning the internship and professional integration of young people, pursuant to Article 7, 2, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
4° Royal Decree of 6 February 1997 establishing a right to the interruption of the professional career, pursuant to Article 7, 2, 1°, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
5° Royal Decree of 24 February 1997 containing more precise conditions relating to employment agreements, pursuant to articles 7, 2, 30, 2, and 33, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
6° Royal Decree of 14 March 1997 on measures to promote specific employment for small and medium-sized enterprises, pursuant to Article 7, 2, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
7° Royal Decree of 18 April 1997 on measures to promote employment in the merchant marine, pursuant to Article 7, 2, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
8° Royal Decree of 25 April 1997 exempting certain employers' contributions for the benefit of companies in the dredging sector, pursuant to Article 7, 2, of the Law of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness.
Art. 4. Article 8, 1^er, of the Act of 26 July 1996 on the promotion of employment and the prevention of competitiveness, the words "before 31 March" are replaced by the words "before 15 May" and the words "before 31 May" are replaced by the words" before 30 June '.
PART IV. - Chômage
Art. 5. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 17 February 1997 amending section 74 of the Act of 28 July 1992 on tax and financial provisions, pursuant to section 33 of the Act of 26 July 1996 on social security modernization and ensuring the viability of legal pension schemes. 2° Royal Decree of 21 March 1997 establishing employers' contributions and deductions for some elderly unemployed, pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 4°, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
PART V. - Pensions
Art. 6. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 21 March 1997 amending the Royal Decree of 23 December 1996 implementing articles 15, 16 and 17 of the Act of 26 July 1996 on social security modernization and ensuring the viability of legal pension schemes.
2° Royal Decree of 30 January 1997 on the pension plan of independent workers, pursuant to articles 15 and 27 of the law of 26 July 1996 on the modernization of social security and ensuring the viability of the legal pension plans, and of article 3, 1as, 4°, of the law of 26 July 1996 to realize the budgetary conditions of the participation of Belgium in the European Economic and Monetary Union, and the royal decree of 21 March 1997
3° Royal Decree of 7 February 1997 on measures to ensure the viability of capitalization schemes established under the laws relating to insurance for old age and premature death, pursuant to articles 18 and 49 of the Act of 26 July 1996 on social security modernization and ensuring the viability of legal pension schemes.
PART VI. - Expenditures in the health care sector
Art. 7. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 17 March 1997 establishing the administrative costs of the Caisse des soins de santé de la Société nationale des chemins de fer Belgique, pursuant to article 10, 7°, of the Act of 26 July 1996 on the modernization of social security and ensuring the viability of the legal pension schemes.
2° Royal Decree of 24 March 1997 pursuant to Article 10, 2°, of the Act of 26 July 1996 on social security modernization and ensuring the viability of legal pension schemes.
Art. 8. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 4 February 1997 establishing for the year 1997 a contribution on the turnover of certain pharmaceutical products pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 2° and 4°, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
2° Royal Decree of 21 February 1997 amending the Compulsory Health Care and Compensation Insurance Act, coordinated on 14 July 1994, pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 1° and 4°, and 2, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
3° Royal Decree of 5 March 1997 concerning medical fees for hemodialysis benefits, measures pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 1° and 4°, of the law of 26 July 1996 aimed at realizing the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union..
PART VII. - Better management in social security
Art. 9. Confirmed with effect on the date of their entry into force:
1° Royal Decree of 18 December 1996 on measures to establish a social identity card for the use of all social insured persons, pursuant to articles 38, 40, 41 and 49 of the Act of 26 July 1996 on the modernization of social security and ensuring the viability of legal pension schemes.
2° Royal Decree of 24 January 1997 on certain measures relating to the financing of social security, pursuant to Article 3, 1^er, 4°, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
3° Royal Decree of 20 February 1997 amending article 1410, 4, of the Judicial Code, pursuant to articles 2 and 3, 1^er, 3° and 4°, and 2, of the law of 26 July 1996 to fulfil the budgetary conditions of Belgium's participation in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
Art. 10. This Act comes into force on the day of its publication in the Belgian Monitor.
Promulgate this law, order that it be clothed with the seal of the State and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given to Fenffe on 26 June 1997.
ALBERT
By the King:
The Prime Minister,
J.-L. DEHAENE
Minister of Telecommunications,
E. DI RUPO
Minister of Finance,
Ph. MAYSTADT
The Minister of Budget,
H. VAN ROMPUY
Minister of Public Health and Pensions,
Mr. COLLA
Minister of Employment and Labour,
Ms. M. SMET
The Minister of Social Affairs,
Ms. M. DE GALAN
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises,
K. PINXTEN
Minister of Transport,
Mr. DAERDEN
Minister of Justice,
S. DE CLERCK
Minister of Public Service,
A. FLAHAUT
Seal of the state seal:
Minister of Justice,
S. DE CLERCK