Although the full coalition agreement won’t be published until later on Friday, a number of measures have been announced by the parties that will form the new regional government in the Brussels-Capital Region. For example, there will be modifications to the Good Move transport plan and much of the work on Metro line 3 will be put on hold.
Budget and finance
The regional budget must be balanced by 2029. This means that 1 billion euro euro needs to by saved.
Public bodies will undergo fundamental reforms and some of them will be merged.
No new staff will be recruited as has been the case at most regional government agencies since the end of 2023.
The Kanal-museum will be given public money from the region until the end of November this year to allow it to open and to cover its initial expenses. After that it will have to find funding elsewhere.
The part of person income tax paid to the region will be reduced by 1%. The Flemish liberals say that this means that the average Brussels taxpayer will pay 268 euro/annum less in income tax.
There are also plans to cut back the amount given to associations and not-for-profit groups in subsidies.
Transport
The Good Move transport plan has been modified. The size of the areas in which through traffic is discouraged will be reduced. The plan will also be more focused on areas such as those close to school.
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will remain. However, fines for those that breach it will be reduced to 80 euro.
The special 12 euro/annum MIVB season tickets for young people (12 to 24) and people over the age of 65 will remain.
The new 15 Tram line between North Station and Tour & Taxis will be built.
The extension of the new metro line 3 to the north of the city will be postponed. The structural work will be completed, however, so that trams might be able to run along its route at some point in the future.
The ongoing work to complete the missing link in the existing underground tram network between Anneessens and South Station will be finished, including the difficult passage under the city’s Zuidpaleis.
Brussels will have a second car-free Sunday.
Housing
More than 1,000 social housing units will be built.
The Nero project on the Heizel Plateau will enter a new development phase.
Be Home a reduction in property tax given to people in Brussels that live in the property they own will be increased from 160 euro to 320 euro.
The upper limit for a reduction in stamp duty when a person (or persons) buy a sole property to live in themselves will be increased to 800,000 euro.
Cleanliness
The regional waste agency Net Brussel will be reformed and modernised.
A Fast Response Team will be set up to clear up rubbish that has been dumped and debris caused by vandals.
Intelligent cameras will be used to catch fly-tippers and the fines they receive will also be increased.
Waste collection will be reformed, including the expansion of the rollout of underground containers and voluntary collection points.
Security
A Brussels drugs commissioner will be appointed.
A regional drugs plan will be drawn up to improve the coordination of law enforcement, prevention, early detection and care.
Additional resources will be allocated to the Brussels Fire Service to increase staffing levels and improve equipment.
A new main fire station will also be built.
Employment
The aim is to increase the employment rate to above 70% by 2030. It is currently below 65%.
More staff from the regional employment service Actiris will be deployed to provide support to unemployed people in their quest to find work.
A language test will be mandatory upon registration. If the test result is unsatisfactory, a language course will be imposed.
Those who do not want to work will be sanctioned more easily than is currently the case.
Bilingualism
A Master Plan for Bilingualism (French/Dutch) will be introduced to improve services in Brussels. This will provide additional resources for language training in public services and healthcare.
Brussels hospitals will be required to implement language policy plans. Dutch-speaking patients will also have to be helped in Dutch.