Belgium to Cap Combined Pensions for Former EU Officials
The Belgian government is moving to close a long-standing loophole that allows former politicians and magistrates with mixed Belgian-European careers to receive combined pensions of up to €16,000 per month — nearly double the legal maximum. The Arizona coalition government plans to give the Federal Pensions Service authority to preventively suspend payments to hundreds of individuals who have refused to disclose their European pension income.
The Wijninckx Ceiling
Belgium’s “Wijninckx ceiling” — named after former senator Roger Wijninckx — sets a legal maximum pension of €8,291.60 gross per month, applicable to all pension benefits combined. However, the law previously did not require disclosure of pension income earned from European Union institutions, creating a loophole for those who served both Belgian and European roles.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the Federal Pensions Service contacted 629 individuals who potentially hold combined Belgian-EU pensions, requesting disclosure of their European pension amounts. Only 188 — approximately 30% — responded.
Preventive Suspension Proposed
The government is now considering giving the Pensions Service the authority to “preventively” suspend pension payments to the 441 individuals who have not yet responded, until they provide the required data. Minister of Pensions Jan Jambon (N-VA) has promised a draft law to enable this measure, as reported by De Morgen.
The Arizona coalition — comprising N-VA, MR, CD&V, Vooruit, and Les Engagés — included this commitment in its coalition agreement of January 2025, pledging to apply the Wijninckx ceiling to those with mixed Belgian-international careers.
High-Profile Figures Affected
The issue first gained public attention in February 2026 when the far-left PVDA party published a dossier on what it called “graaipensioenen” (grab pensions). According to PVDA calculations based on data from Sudpresse, several high-profile former politicians are among those whose combined pensions exceed the legal maximum:
- Louis Michel (MR): Estimated combined pension of €16,575.55 per month
- Philippe Busquin (PS): Estimated €14,605.88 per month
- Didier Reynders (MR): Estimated €12,636.21 per month
Other figures whose pensions reportedly exceed the Wijninckx ceiling include former Prime Ministers Guy Verhofstadt (Anders) and Herman Van Rompuy (CD&V), as well as Geert Bourgeois (N-VA) and Filip De Man (Vlaams Belang). The Chamber of Representatives has refused to disclose the names of politicians who have retained lawyers regarding the matter.
Political Reaction
Sofie Merckx, PVDA faction leader in the Chamber, has been a vocal critic of the situation. “Some political pensions amount to up to €16,500 per month, while the average employee pension is €1,667,” she said in a PVDA press release. “That’s a difference of factor ten.” She called for the government to “correctly cap the pensions of politicians” and declared: “Done with the grab pensions — everyone equal before the law.”
According to Redactie24, Minister Jambon promised a draft law during a parliamentary question session in February, and the government is now following through on that commitment.
Broader Pension Reform Context
The measure is part of a wider pension reform agenda by the Arizona government, which has faced pressure from the European Commission to overhaul Belgium’s pension system. The government risks losing €31 million in EU recovery funds if reforms are not implemented. The broader reform has proven controversial, drawing approximately 80,000 protesters earlier this year.
Implications and Outlook
If enacted, the preventive suspension measure would mark a significant step in closing a loophole that has allowed a small group of well-connected former officials to receive pensions far exceeding the legal maximum. However, legal challenges are expected. Affected individuals may argue that their EU pension data falls under different jurisdictional rules or that preventive suspension violates their rights.
The cross-party nature of the affected individuals — spanning liberals, socialists, Christian democrats, nationalists, and far-right parties — means the issue requires careful political navigation within the coalition. The government’s ability to enforce disclosure and apply the cap retroactively remains an open question.
For now, the 441 non-respondents face a stark choice: disclose their European pension income or risk having their Belgian pension payments suspended. The draft law, once presented to parliament, will test whether the government can turn political commitment into enforceable legislation.