Core cabinet disbands without reaching a summer agreement
Belgium's core cabinet disbanded Friday morning without reaching an agreement, according to various sources.
Top ministers had been meeting since Thursday to negotiate a summer agreement ahead of Belgium's national holiday on 21 July. While they reached a deal on additional resources for Public Social Welfare Centers (PCSWs), no confirmation was given on other key issues such as tax reform, pension reform and supplementary fees.
Around 09:00 Friday, it was confirmed that talks had ended without a broader agreement. "We've already worked very hard and accomplished a lot. We will certainly continue in the coming days," finance minister Vincent Van Peteghem told VRT as he left the meeting.
The goal of the summer agreement is to establish a political consensus on a series of measures that can be implemented through legislation in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the programme law has already advanced further. It includes a set of government measures on which political agreement has been reached, such as limiting the duration of unemployment benefits, reducing VAT on demolition and reconstruction and granting parental leave for foster parents.
Prime minister Bart De Wever pictured during a plenary session of the Chamber at the federal parliament, in Brussels on Thursday 17 July 2025. ©BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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