“Brussels needs road pricing, more efficient building rules and fresh institutional reforms”

With a growing population, high inequality and strong political fragmentation, Brussels faces serious housing, mobility and local government problems. At the request of the former Brussels secretary of state Pascal Smet (Flemish socialist) experts from the OECD - a collaboration between 38 industrialised countries - studied the region's institutional structure, mobility issues, financing and housing policies. They have now made four recommendations.

Housing

Affordable housing is one of the most pressing needs. Faster and better procedures could solve this, for instance by transferring all procedures linked a building permit to the Region, whereas now for smaller projects you still have to go to the municipality. In addition, regulations now also prevent further densification of the city, when that is exactly what is needed, according to the OECD. The supply of social housing or social renting should also increase.  This can be achieved by providing tax breaks to project developers who invest in them. Interestingly, the OECD also advocates regularising rents, something that is already in the pipeline.

Public transport

The OECD lauds Brussels' extensive public transport system: 95 per cent of Brussels residents live within 10 minutes of a bus, tram or metro stop. At the same time, 30 per cent of Brussels residents commute by car.  That’s fewer than the number of people walking (36 per cent) but more than those using public transport (22 per cent). And then, of course, there are commuters from outside Brussels, three quarters of whom come by car.

The OECD sees company cars as the biggest cause of permanent congestion in Brussels but also notes that Brussels is among the congestion capitals worldwide. 75 per cent of commuters come to Brussels by car. A user tax (SmartMove) offers a solution, but better zoning of new (social) housing blocks, next to a public transport hub, offers just as much of a solution. Neighbourhoods should also enjoy better links to each other, rather than just to the city centre.

Better governance

Another thorny issue is the administrative ‘lasagna’ in Brussels is local government. The OECD proposes streamlining the institutional structure by abolishing the Flemish Community Commission (VGC), the Francophone Community Commission (COCOF) and the Common Community Commission (GGC) and giving their powers entirely to the Brussels Region. The unclear and sometimes overlapping division of powers between Region and municipalities is also a cause of irritation. Everything linked to mobility, parking and urban planning should be the responsibility of the Region.

"This would end administrative duplication and increase coherence. Brussels could follow the model of Antwerp or Paris, where districts or arrondissements have limited administrative powers and the main power lies with the central administration." An idea the OECD attributes to Belgian researchers Wouter Van Dooren (UA) and Dave Sinardet (VUB). "That should provide a balance between proximity and coherent governance," the report says.

Although a sharp and clear division of powers is the goal, in practice there will still have to be cooperation. Consultative bodies that streamline policy, such as the Mayors' Conference are a good thing but should be formalised, and preferably made part of Brulocalis, the association of Brussels municipalities. Now the conference's decisions are not transparent. Municipal mergers, OECD notes, are also an option.

The OECD also looks beyond the Brussels Region. It regrets that the Metropolitan Community, a cooperation between Brussels and its hinterland, has remained a dead letter. Transport in particular can be organised across Brussels’ borders. Policy experiments and a Metropolitan Fund should enable a relaunch.

Money flows

Finally, it is crucial that the Brussels Capital Region's finances are strengthened. After 2024, solidarity flows to the Brussels Region decrease and that will be a problem because Brussels already has so many debts. A federal conference on additional funding for Brussels needs to come up with a long-term solution for the Belgian and Flemish capital.