PM defends summer agreement as necessary step for reform
Prime minister Bart De Wever defended the federal government’s summer agreement on Thursday during a session of the House Committee on Home Affairs, following a request for debate by the opposition.
“Not everything is pleasant,” he admitted, “but it is necessary.” The agreement, concluded on Sunday night, aims to “strengthen the economy, make work pay, and keep social security viable”. De Wever stressed that the government was taking a consultative approach, respecting acquired rights: “I hope people realise that engaging in dialogue can be rewarding.”
He argued that while the agreement’s objectives have been discussed for years, “no concrete progress has been made for far too long”. That, he said, “is finally coming to an end.”
De Wever rejected accusations that labour market reforms constitute “social erosion”, calling them necessary to improve competitiveness. “Employees also benefit, because it has a direct, positive impact on their wages,” he said.
Labour taxes will be reduced to encourage employment over inactivity, while 4.4 billion euros in purchasing power measures will be deployed to support households.
The government is doing what is necessary to guarantee pensions for those who come after us""
De Wever acknowledged concerns over pension reform but argued that the current pressure on the system is due to years of inaction. “The government is doing what is necessary to guarantee pensions for those who come after us,” he said. Existing rights will be preserved, and changes introduced gradually.
Fine-tuning
On healthcare, he defended minister Frank Vandenbroucke against backlash from doctors, citing the inflationary effects of high hospital fees. “Ultimately, families end up paying the price,” De Wever said.
He also confirmed that legislative texts would be fine-tuned in the coming weeks, with openness to adjustments if “undesirable effects” emerge, particularly for women.
"It doesn’t take a single euro away from the most vulnerable"
The summer agreement was praised by members of the governing coalition. Denis Ducarme of MR called it the “best agreement since the beginning of the legislature”. Jean-François Gatelier of Les Engagés described it as centrist: “It doesn’t take a single euro away from the most vulnerable.”
Vooruit’s Oskar Seuntjens defended the reforms as essential to preserve Belgium’s social model. “Doing nothing would have left future generations empty-handed,” he said.
Koen Van den Heuvel of CD&V added that the healthcare budget would rise from 40 million to nearly 50 billion euros, and pensions from 70 billion to 85 billion euros during the current term. “We are reforming to make this financially sustainable in the long term,” he said.
Opposition criticism
Among the opposition parties, Stefaan Van Hecke of Groen attacked the reforms as “ultra-liberal, right-wing and antisocial”, citing health risks associated with night work and warning of a “rupture instead of unity”.
Vlaams Belang’s Barbara Pas dismissed the agreement as “tinkering on the margins”, saying Flemish taxpayers continued to shoulder the cost of migration and the federal structure without real change.
Sophie Merckx of PVDA condemned it as the “social demolition of the century” and called the delay in purchasing power measures until 2029 inadequate, given rising living costs.
Prime minister Bart De Wever © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
Related news
