Budget talks in Brussels stall over regional revenue and mobility disputes
Negotiations on the regional budget in Brussels hit a deadlock after clashes between Budget Minister Dirk De Smedt and Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt over extra revenue from the Stib.
Saturday's regional budget negotiations in Brussels started at 9 a.m. but quickly became more complex. Disagreements emerged between Budget Minister Dirk De Smedt and Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt, centering on potential extra revenue from the Stib that the Mobility minister opposed. The dispute intensified on Sunday afternoon, and De Smedt's approach to the talks also drew criticism from some participants.
By Sunday evening, De Smedt opted for one-on-one discussions, temporarily suspending the regional budget negotiations to allow a plenary session on the Cocom budget, covering family allowances, welfare and homelessness policy. Parallel work on the regional budget persists, but no definitive agreement has been reached yet.
Why it matters
The stalemate could delay funding for regional services and affect the broader Cocom budget priorities.
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