Flemish budget deficit for 2026 rises to 2.18 bn euros
The Flemish budget will record a deficit of 2.18 billion euros this year, shows the budgetary adjustment, which will be debated in the Flemish Parliament from Tuesday. One striking observation is that the dividend from Brussels Airport, in which Flanders recently acquired a major stake, was estimated to be higher.
When the 2026 budget was drawn up, a deficit of 1.7 billion euros was taken into account. Budget minister Ben Weyts however already warned last month that the figure had since risen, partly due to rising inflation.
The tables now show that the deficit is 443 million euros higher than when the budget was drawn up. This figure does not include the rising expenditure on the construction of the Oosterweel link and the “Flemish Resilience” recovery plan. If these were included, the deficit would be 742 million euros higher than initially estimated.
The budget deficits are also driving up the interest costs that Flanders has to pay each year. This now amounts to 1.23 billion euros per year.
Dividend from Brussels Airport
A striking observation is that the dividend from Brussels Airport, in which Flanders recently acquired a major stake, was estimated to be higher. Brussels Airport announced last month that it would pay out a dividend of 41 million euros to shareholders, of which 24.3 million euros is for Flanders. This was initially recorded as 31.3 million euros more.
Egbert Lachaert, of the liberal party Anders, criticised the news regarding the Brussels Airport dividend. “With the purchase of Brussels Airport, almost 3 billion in debt was suddenly added just to stick a Flemish lion on the airport, and they intended to finance that with the dividends. They now have to more than halve the dividends because this is completely unrealistic. This is not responsible financial policy,” he said.
“This remains a significant investment, the return on which will naturally not be fully apparent in the first year. But that return will increase,” responded Weyts.
#FlandersNewsService | Minister Ben Weyts © PHOTO BELGIAN_FREELANCE / Werner Lerooy
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