The Flemish CD&V faction is seeking stricter agreements on the distribution of Belgium’s budgetary efforts across various governments and has submitted a concept note to parliament, announced faction leader Peter Van Rompuy on Sunday.
Last year, the European Commission placed Belgium under enhanced supervision due to deteriorating public finances, imposing an amended adjustment programme on the country in March. However, the Commission does not comment on how the budgetary efforts are divided among different regional governments.
This allocation is typically managed through a cooperation agreement between the regions that has been in place since 2013. The High Finance Council (HFC) offers advice, after which governments negotiate to reach a consensus. Thus far, the regions have failed to agree on a proposal and each submit their plans separately to Europe.
The Flemish CD&V faction now wants to reverse this approach in a revised cooperation agreement: if the regions cannot agree, the advice of the High Finance Council should simply be adopted, explains Van Rompuy. He has submitted a concept note to the Flemish Parliament, which, unlike a decree or resolution proposal, is not put to a vote but may be debated in committee.
Van Rompuy notes that the CD&V faction primarily aims to initiate discussions for a new cooperation agreement on budgetary allocations, which is necessary under the framework of the new European budgetary pact.
He adds that Flanders cannot unilaterally decide on stricter budgetary terms, and the federal government must make the final decision. Federal Budget Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, also from CD&V, is expected to present his proposal shortly, following negotiations within the federal government.
