Belgian government unlocks 1bn euros for Justice ministry
Belgium’s federal government has agreed to give almost 1 billion euros in extra funding to the Justice Department over the coming years. The deal comes just as the prison system faces record overcrowding and a strike on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Justice minister Annelies Verlinden’s request of 500 million euros for operations and 500 million for infrastructure has been largely granted. She says the accord allows long-overdue investment in “security, legal certainty and public trust”.
A key element is the conversion of temporary financing for prison overcrowding into a permanent measure. From now on, 60m euros a year will be allocated to tackling the crisis, of which 50m is earmarked for Justice. Additional income from efficiency gains, higher surcharges on fines and increased immediate collections will free up a further 50m annually.
The government will also invest in combating serious fiscal and social fraud. 15 million euros is set aside to reinforce prosecutors and courts. A dedicated fund will support wider investment in the coming years, including 264m in 2026 and 336m in 2028.
Vanessa Matz of Les Engages, the minister responsible for the State Buildings Administration, confirmed a separate 600m euro package to expand prison capacity and improve safety standards. She said the spending should help restore dignified detention conditions and improve staff working environments.
The funding boost lands at a moment of acute pressure. Belgian prisons are now sheltering 13,546 detainees, with 580 inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor. That is the highest number ever recorded. Overcrowding is most severe in Flanders, particularly in Antwerp, Dendermonde and Ghent. Facilities in Mons, Nivelles, Marche and Leuze are among the worst affected in Wallonia.
The situation is expected to worsen during today’s and tomorrow’s prison strike. Directors say minimum staffing cannot be guaranteed, forcing police to intervene in almost all institutions. The Red Cross will distribute meals in Saint-Gilles and may be deployed elsewhere.
Justice minister Annelies Verlinden © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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