PoliticsEconomy
De Wever Threatens Debt Brake as Budget Deal Stalls
Belgian PM Bart De Wever threatens a debt brake as coalition budget talks stall, aiming for a 3-4 billion euro deal for 2027.
—5 min read
Tag
#Budget
56 articles
LaborPolitics
Belgium Grinds to Halt as Nationwide Strike Hits Services
Belgium faces a nationwide public-sector strike over federal budget cuts, disrupting transport, post, waste and public broadcasting.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Walloon 2027 Budget: Car Tax, Inheritance, Infrastructure
Wallonia's government unveiled a three-year 2027-2029 budget with car taxation reform, inheritance relief, infrastructure spending and a new road vignette.
—6 min read
PoliticsEurope
N-VA's De Roover: No 'Magic Formula' on Belgium Budget
N-VA's Peter De Roover dismisses hopes of an easy fix to Belgium's €10 billion budget gap as 'fantasy' as the government misses its deadline again.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Wallonia Unveils 3-Year Budget With Job Bonus, Tax Cuts
Wallonia's MR-Les Engages government presented a three-year budget with a job bonus, lower inheritance taxes, and untouched child benefits.
—7 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Bouchez Blocks VAT Rise as Belgian Budget Talks Stall
MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez refuses a VAT hike, plunging Belgium's budget talks into crisis as De Wever races to avoid an emergency budget.
—6 min read
PoliticsEurope
Magnette: Save on Defence, Not Workers
PS leader Paul Magnette calls for savings on defence and management companies, saying De Wever's budget policy fails workers and pensioners.
—5 min read
PoliticsEurope
Belgium Budget Talks Stall as De Wever's Framework Fails
Belgium's top ministers ended budget talks without a working framework, leaving 10 billion euros in savings unresolved and a key deadline in doubt.
—5 min read
PoliticsEurope
Vandenbroucke Warns He Cannot Stay in Cost-Cut Government
Belgian Deputy PM Frank Vandenbroucke warns he cannot remain in a coalition that 'stomps on the vulnerable,' as budget talks expose coalition rifts.
—5 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Brussels Reaches Deal to Halve 2027 Deficit
Brussels' regional government agreed a 2027 budget, halving the deficit to 719 million euros while sparing residents from across-the-board tax hikes.
—5 min read
PoliticsEurope
Belgium's Twin Budget Talks Risk Federal Crisis
Belgium's federal and Brussels governments opened twin budget negotiations this weekend, with media warning the De Wever coalition could face total crisis.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Flanders to Raise Property Tax Back to 3%
The Flemish government plans to raise property registration fees back to 3%, costing homebuyers nearly 4,000 euros more, as part of its 2027 budget deal.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Diependaele's Final Offer as Budget Deadline Looms
Flemish Minister-President Diependaele presents a 'best and final offer' to reach a budget deal hours before his September Statement deadline.
—5 min read
PoliticsEurope
Flemish Budget Talks Reach Final Phase as Deadline Slips
Flemish budget talks enter their decisive phase with Ben Weyts opening the final round, as a funding gap of up to 1.9 billion euros divides the coalition.
—5 min read
CulturePolitics
Flemish Cultural Sector Warns Against Fresh Budget Cuts
Belgium's cultural sector warns a possible 10% cut would hit jobs and access, as Flanders races to find €2 billion in savings by Monday.
—6 min read
TransportPolitics
Belgium Braces for Rail Strike Called for October 12
Belgium's CGSP union has called a public-sector strike on October 12, with rail staff set to file a notice that could disrupt train services nationwide.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Flemish Water Bills Break 500 Euros as Minister Objects
Average Flemish water bills topped 500 euros for the first time, as a proposed increase sparks a rift between ministers amid budget talks.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Vooruit Targets Business Subsidies in Flemish Budget Fight
Belgium's Vooruit party wants to cut business subsidies and close inheritance tax loopholes, arguing every euro of state support must be well spent.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium's Energy Shock Returns, but Not the Money
As energy prices surge again, Belgium asks whether it can repeat its 2022 support measures—but deep debt leaves little fiscal room to act.
—7 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium Eyes Tax on Non-Profits' €2.7bn Profit
A probe of 17,000 Belgian non-profits found €2.7bn in profit and just €80m in tax. Now the government wants a slice of the sector's surplus.
—5 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgium's De Wever Opens 10 Billion Euro Budget Talks
Belgium's Arizona coalition began crunch budget talks, seeking 10 billion euros to tame a 5.2% deficit and avoid an interest snowball.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
De Wever Opens Belgium Budget Talks With Stark Warning
Belgian PM Bart De Wever hands coalition parties a budget starting note, calling talks to find €10 billion in savings an 'extremely difficult exercise.'
—6 min read
PoliticsEurope
Flemish Budget Talks Open Door to Child Benefit Cuts
Flanders begins its toughest budget talks yet as Vooruit and CD&V drop red lines on Groeipakket child benefit savings, with roughly EUR 2 billion sought.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgium Weighs Taxing Mutuals and Unions Like Firms
A leaked Belgian Finance Ministry note proposes taxing mutuals and unions like companies, giving N-VA ammunition in the 10 billion euro budget fight.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgian Entrepreneurs Tell De Wever Where to Find 10 Billion
Top Belgian entrepreneurs Huts, Duchatelet and Ingels advise PM De Wever to cut spending, not raise taxes, as he hunts for 10 billion euros.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgian Cabinet Meets on Budget After Difficult Talks
Belgium's core cabinet met Saturday to seek about EUR 10 billion in budget savings, following a difficult session and a rift over Palestinian students.
—4 min read
National PoliticsEurope
Prevot Urges Belgium Budget Talks Without 'Diktats'
Belgian Deputy PM Maxime Prevot calls for budget conclave talks free of 'exclusives or diktats' as the Arizona coalition seeks 10 billion euros in savings.
—6 min read
Politics
Flemish Budget Cuts Loom for Education and Welfare
Flemish Vice Minister-President Hilde Crevits signals budget cuts exceeding 1 billion euros will target education and welfare.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium's Company Car Tax Break Faces Budget Scrutiny
Belgium's salary car tax advantage sits on the budget table as the government seeks 10 billion euro in savings. Here's how it works and what could change.
—5 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Magnette unveils 16-billion-euro alternative budget plan
PS leader Paul Magnette details an alternative budget freeing up 16 billion euros without touching workers or pensioners.
—4 min read
Economy & FinancePolitics
Belgium Faces 10 Billion Budget Gap as Bond Rates Surge
Belgium's De Wever government must find 10 billion euros by 2029 as bond rates hit 12-year highs, squeezing the coalition's fiscal plans.
—5 min read
Politics
Belgium Budget Conclave: Government Must Not Fall
Les Engagés' Verougstraete says Belgium's government must not fall as the Arizona coalition faces a critical budget conclave.
—4 min read
Economy & Finance
Belgian Borrowing Costs Hit 14-Year High
Belgium's 10-year bond yield exceeds 3.8%, the highest since 2012, as rising interest costs pressure an already strained federal budget and public debt.
—6 min read
EducationPolitics
Family League Urges More School Supply Funding in Belgium
The Family League urges Belgium's FWB government to boost per-student school supply funding, citing a 73-euro gap between allocations and costs.
—4 min read
Politics
Flemish Budget Hit as 200+ Pilots Demand Up to €18 Million
Over 200 maritime pilots demand €16-18 million from the Flemish government in back seniority pay, creating a significant budget setback.
—6 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Arizona Coalition Cuts Social Security for Half of Savings
Analysis reveals 46% of Belgium's Arizona coalition budget savings come from social security cuts, while deficit reduction targets remain far off.
—4 min read
PoliticsMilitary
House Panel Advances $95 Billion Iran War Funding Package
The House Budget Committee voted 20-14 to advance a $95 billion budget resolution funding the Iran war, farm aid, and voter ID requirements.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgium Launches Subsidy Register, Targets €200M Savings
Belgium launches a public Federal Subsidy Register tracking €180 billion in allocations, targeting €200M in savings from ineffective subsidies by 2029.
—4 min read
PoliticsHealthcare
Belgium Weighs 500-Euro Healthcare Deductible in Budget Push
A RIZIV study proposes a 500-euro patient deductible to save 4.7 billion euros, sparking political debate in Belgium's coalition government.
—5 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgium Targets €10 Billion in Budget Savings by Mid-October
Belgian PM Bart De Wever's government sets €10 billion budget savings target by mid-October, exceeding the €7.7 billion EU minimum.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Magnette Warns of Belgian Budget Black Hole Alternative
PS leader Paul Magnette denounces Belgium's soaring deficit as a 'gigantic budgetary black hole' and proposes a €15B alternative to austerity.
—5 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Wealth Tax Exposes 'Two Injustices' in Belgian Politics
A Belgian wealth tax proposal targeting the top 5% has ignited a fierce political battle, with experts arguing it reveals two deeper injustices.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgian Chamber Approves 2026 Budget Adjustment
Belgium's Chamber of Representatives approves the 2026 budget adjustment, a technical fix that sets the stage for tough multi-year fiscal negotiations.
—4 min read
Local GovernmentEconomy
Molenbeek's 'Truth Budget': €312,000 Deficit, 40 Layoffs
Molenbeek-Saint-Jean presents a 'truth budget' with a €312,000 deficit, 40 layoffs, and reduced bonuses as the Brussels commune faces financial pressures.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgium's €7B Budget Effort Falls Short, Minister Warns
Belgian Budget Minister Van Peteghem warns the €7 billion budget exercise is insufficient, as deficit projections worsen and coalition divisions deepen.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Walloon Budget Debate: PS Warns of Painful Austerity Cuts
Christie Morreale of Belgium's Socialist Party criticizes the Walloon budget adjustment, arguing savings can be made without harming citizens.
—4 min read
Politics
Rousseau Draws Line: High Earners Don't Need Tax Cuts
Conner Rousseau argues tax relief should target lower and middle incomes only, as Belgium faces a budget deficit of at least 7 billion euros.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Anders Party Proposes €16.7B Austerity Plan for Belgium
Belgium's Anders party unveils a €16.7B austerity plan targeting healthcare, civil service, and regional debt to address the federal budget deficit.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Walloon Debt Debate: Fact-Checking the €820 Million Claim
The PS accuses Wallonia's government of adding €820M to regional debt. A fact-check reveals both sides have valid points in a complex fiscal debate.
—5 min read
PoliticsBelgium
Brussels approves first major step of administration reform
Brussels approves Pillar 1 of administration reform, consolidating support services to save up to 300 million euros by 2029.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Belgium Targets €6.7B Savings by 2029 in New Budget Plan
Belgium's Arizona coalition unveils a €6.7 billion savings plan by 2029, with measures on salary indexation, pensions, energy taxes, and air travel.
—5 min read
Politics
MR Board Members Quit RTBF as Belgian Budget Talks Intensify
Five MR board members resign from RTBF amid governance tensions, while budget ministers say July 21 is not a hard deadline for Belgium's federal budget.
—4 min read
Politics
Belgian Minister Rejects MR Chairman's Budget Conclave Idea
Budget Minister Van Peteghem rejects MR chairman Bouchez's conclave idea, exposing coalition tensions amid Belgium's austerity drive.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Walloons Want Tax Cuts and More Spending, Survey Reveals
The 2026 National Budget Survey reveals 40% of Walloons prioritize tax cuts while demanding more state spending, challenging Belgium's austerity plans.
—4 min read
PoliticsVeterans
Trump Vowed to House 6,000 Homeless Vets, Budget Funds Zero
President Trump pledged to house 6,000 homeless veterans at the West LA VA campus, but his FY2027 budget allocated zero dollars for new housing beds.
—5 min read
PoliticsEconomy
CD&V Chairman Mahdi Fires at Coalition Partners Over Budget
CD&V chairman Sammy Mahdi criticizes coalition partners over the centenindex and outlines a plan to find €7 billion in budget savings.
—4 min read