Budget conclave in Brussels tests cohesion of Boris Dilliès' coalition government

In the days leading up to the budget conclave, civil service officials and ministerial cabinets have been laying the groundwork for negotiations. Dirk De Smedt conducted bilateral discussions last week to ensure the coalition agreement is being respected and to identify technical and risk-related challenges in implementing commitments. The summit will commence at 9:00 on Saturday at the Iris Tower, a building that houses several ministerial offices near Brussels' Gare du Nord.

Political questions that remain unresolved will be addressed during the conclave, and the outcome will hinge on whether coalition partners trust each other enough to take decisive action. Some teams assume ministers will reach a consensus by the weekend, with the most optimistic forecasting an agreement on Sunday morning, while others consider that timeline overly hopeful. De Smedt’s overarching view gives him leverage to prevent shifting funds between portfolios merely to create savings.