Flanders approves new support package for voluntary council mergers
The Flemish government has approved a new financial support package to encourage voluntary mergers between local councils.
Under the scheme, the government will take over up to 16 million euros in debt for merged councils, rising to 20 million if three or more councils join together. Councils will also receive a 1 million euro grant to help cover transition costs, such as IT upgrades and staff changes. An extra 250,000 euros will be paid for each additional merger partner.
The amount of debt relief depends on the size of the new council. Mergers creating councils of up to 20,000 residents will receive 300 euros per resident, rising to 500 euros per resident for councils with between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Support falls again for larger councils, as the government says they have greater financial capacity.
The reforms also simplify the merger process. Councils will have more time to prepare, with mergers agreed by the end of 2028 taking effect in 2031. New rules will also prevent legal disputes over local election results from delaying mergers, following problems in 2024.
Flemish Interior minister Hilde Crevits stressed that mergers would remain voluntary. She said previous mergers had shown that larger councils could improve efficiency and services while helping smaller municipalities cope with financial and demographic pressures.
The latest reforms follow a wave of mergers in 2025, when 28 municipalities combined into 13 new councils. While financial incentives have encouraged mergers, some have faced local opposition. In Zwijndrecht, residents protested after the council approved a merger despite a referendum in which 80 per cent of voters opposed the plan.
#FlandersNewsService | © Interior minister Hilde Crevits
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