The tension betw een free entrepreneurship and criminal entrepreneurship in Belgium: a first look
at some opportunities for, and recent initiatives against , criminal entrepreneurs
This article reflects on criminal entrepreneurship and the tension between the economic objective (free entrepreneurship) on the one hand and the security objective (approach towards serious financial and economic (organised) crime) on the other hand. A deeper look is taken into the lack of restrictions in order to allow free entrepreneurship to flourish and where this creates opportunities for criminal entrepreneurs. Specifically, the article discusses examples that lower the barriers to entrepreneurship without providing (sufficient) accompanying measures, resulting in further opening the door to criminal organisations. For these organisations and criminal entrepreneurs, it has become increasingly easier to engage in fraud, money laundering, illegal trading, and remain under the radar. However, there have also been some recent legislative initiatives and local best practices in the fight against criminal enterprises. These are also discussed in the article.