Belgian government starts National Day with socio-economic reforms

The federal government reached its summer agreement at around 4.00 on Monday morning, 21 July, Belgium’s National Day. Senior ministers negotiated all night on a series of socio-economic reforms.

Prime minister Bart De Wever showed his satisfaction by giving his first press conference since taking office months ago. He summarised the main points of the agreement, which included "pension reform, tax reform, modernisation and flexibilisation of the labour market, and finally, an agreement on the framework law for healthcare".

The merger of the six Brussels police zones was also confirmed by the inner cabinet.

The aims of the reforms are to ensure people work long enough before retiring, to provide higher net pay for workers, to make work-related rules more flexible, and to revise the financing of the healthcare system.

_{Bart De Wever © BELGA PHOTO MARIUS BURGELMAN}

Related news

Core cabinet disbands without reaching a summer agreement

Belgium's core cabinet disbanded Friday morning without reaching an agreement, according to various sources.

www.belganewsagency.eu

Government gives green light to merger of six Brussels police zones

The federal government has given the green light to the draft law enabling the merger of the six Brussels police zones. The reform will be accompanied by an investment of 55 million euros over five years to set up the new zone, announced interior minister Bernard Quintin after Friday's council of ministers. The merger should be operational in the first half of 2027.

www.belganewsagency.eu