Question 11770 — European Union

Summary

Mr. Pierre Cordier draws the attention of the Minister, to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for European affairs, to the difficulties encountered by the families of the 3,000 French citizens who die each year in Belgium, particularly in rest homes and in border hospitals. Indeed, when a French citizen dies in Belgium and the family wishes there to be a funeral ceremony in France, the remains must be placed in a coffin which must be zinc plated, airtight and sealed in the presence of the police who draw up a report. In addition to the administrative complications and the additional cost incurred, the seals cannot be legally broken, which prevents the family from seeing their deceased face uncovered. In the event of cremation in Belgium, the situation is even more complex because the funeral company must travel to France with the deceased for the funeral then return to Belgium to continue the cremation operations and, again, in the presence of the police, the seals are removed to remove the remains from the zinc coffin and then put them back in a wooden coffin. The family therefore had to buy two coffins. In the past, this legislation was justified for health reasons, but it is now completely obsolete in the Schengen area. He therefore wants to know if the negotiations, begun in 2015 with a view to a bilateral agreement, will soon be successful so that families can see their deceased again, if they wish, with their faces uncovered.

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• Pierre Cordier · auteur

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