Brussels government deadlock threatens local organisations and projects
The deadlocked Brussels government negotiations could have severe consequences for the Brussels-Capital Region. Flemish public broadcaster VRT reports that the functioning of many organisations is at risk of grinding to a halt and major projects could be delayed, such as the works on metro line 3.
The formation of a new Brussels government has been in a deadlock for a long time. The main problem at the moment is that the French-speaking socialists of PS refuse to negotiate with the Flemish conservative party N-VA.
Precarious budget
As a result, the outgoing government has to continue to deal with current affairs, but it cannot introduce new policy. It works with a “provisional twelfths” budget, which allows the government to spend 1/12th of its total expenditure for 2024 plus indexation each month. But experts have warned that the Brussels budgetary situation is precarious and will become even worse if there is no change of policy on the part of the regional government.
VRT reports that the functioning of many organisations that depend on subsidies is at risk because of the uncertainty. Many non-profits depend on annual funding and guarantees of funding for the following year.
For example, seven Brussels cycling associations are waiting for a political decision on their funding for the period April-December. If it doesn’t come soon, they face having to stop their activities: these include traffic education for more than 3,000 schoolchildren.
Social projects
There is also uncertainty among municipalities, police zones and the Public Centres for Social Welfare. There is a lack of clarity regarding the funding of SUBLink, which helps homeless people in metro stations, and the opening of a second user room for drug addicts. The delivery of 750 social housing units is in jeopardy, the Brussels Housing Corporation warned.
The stalled negotiations could also cause significant delays for major projects, such as the much-needed renovation of the sewage system, works on metro line 3 and renovation of road tunnels.
A visit to the metro line 3 worksite and Toots Thielemans metro station in Brussels, September 2024. The project may face significant delays due to deadlock in forming the new Brussels government © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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