“Today the labor, tomorrow the fruit,” De Wever said in a post on X, noting that the agreement and other reforms would enhance Belgium’s debt position by €32 billion.
Belgium’s deficit has reached 5.4 percent of GDP this year, with public debt at 104.7 percent of GDP. The European Commission recently warned that if current policies remain unchanged, Belgium’s deficit could hit 5.9 percent by 2027, with only Poland having a worse performance in the EU.
The government has increased excise duties on natural gas, and certain recreational products, including hotel stays and takeaway food, will become more expensive. Taxes on flight tickets have also been raised from €5 to €10.
There will not be a general increase in value-added tax, as the Francophone liberal MR party opposed that move.
Belgium has adjusted its wage-indexing system, linking salary increases to inflation, with changes affecting high earners.
The government has pledged to reintegrate 100,000 individuals currently on sick leave back into the workforce. A €2 tax has been introduced on packages from non-European online stores, such as Chinese e-commerce platform Shein.
De Wever’s administration secured the agreement at the start of a three-day general strike impacting public transport, public services, and schools.
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