WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE BELGIUM BRUSSELS - The Brussels Times - BELGIUM IN BRIEF - Tuesday 7 January 2025

 

View this email in your browser BELGIUM IN BRIEF A new year has started and the Brief is back after a pause for festivities. It's that period when we all look forward, fixing our sights on the priorities for 2025 and eyeing up the challenges that demand our immediate attention. If December encouraged us to coast through the remainder of 2024, January tells us to get busy. And Belgium is itching to get up to speed, with many sectors stressing that their continuation hinges on investment and productivity – and crucially, clarity on the next Federal Government. How much longer must we wait for the five parties to settle on a deal? For many, it has already been too long. But after 211 days the negotiators seem to be galvanising themselves, with some going so far as to suggest that an agreement could be reached by the end of the month. The formator Bart De Wever (who all being well will be Belgium's next PM) is again meeting King Philippe, most likely to ask for another extension to iron out the final differences. Will it really be the last time? Our faith has been tested.  Belgium is used to protracted formation periods, 211 days is still far better than the 494 it took to deliver the last government – a coalition of seven parties. Add up all the days spent forming governments in the last 20 years, and Belgium was in a state of formation for four years and four months. That's a lot of time not actually governing.  Little wonder that many industries are fed up. In a context of rising geopolitical tensions and the erosion of Europe's industrial base as energy prices go up, strong leadership is vital to steady the economy and implement the measures so desperately needed to prevent the national debt from snowballing.  We've grown used to disappointment; could we soon be surprised? Belgium in Brief  is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. Want to sign up?  Click here . 1. Day 211 with no Belgian Government: De Wever meets King for 15th time Since last week, party leaders have been negotiating at a faster pace in the hopes of landing a coalition agreement by the end of January.  Read More . 2. Belgium has second-highest inflation in Eurozone Across the Eurozone, inflation continued to pick up in December (2.4%), for the third month in a row.  Read More . 3. Groceries in Belgium slightly cheaper for first time in five months Since January 2022, food inflation has never fallen below 2% – "leaving prices now more than 27% higher than then."  Read More .   4. Don’t eat your Christmas tree "Christmas trees are not meant to end up in the food chain," the Federal Food Agency stated after the City of Ghent launched a sustainability campaign.  Read More . 5. Culture Minister ‘disagrees’ with Bouchez that her role serves no value "Culture cannot be left solely to market forces," said the leader of the FWB Government.  Read More . 6. Belgian Government negotiators accused of ‘negligence’ "The current deadlock is due to negligent behaviour," the president of a business association stated on Monday.  Read More . 7. What’s the outlook for consumer rights in 2025? 2025 should be the year when consumers will repair more devices instead of buying new. Belgium will introduce a repairability index on many household appliances.  Read More .