Sectoral heritage: impact of 20 months without government on Brussels sectors (2024-2026)

Sector-by-sector assessment of what the Brussels-Capital Region inherited from 20 months of caretaker government. Archived content — this data will no longer be updated.

June 2024 — February 2026

This page archives the sector-by-sector state of the Brussels-Capital Region at the end of 20 months of caretaker government (June 2024 — February 2026). This content has historical value: it will no longer be updated.

Nonprofit sector

A vital sector for Brussels

The nonprofit sector is one of the pillars of the Brussels social economy. With approximately 80,000 jobs, it accounts for a significant share of employment in the Brussels-Capital Region. These workers operate in essential fields: socio-professional integration, personal assistance, early childhood care, mental health, support for people with disabilities, homeless services and integration of newcomers.

The sector's operations rely heavily on multi-year agreements between the Region and associations, accreditations granted by regional and community authorities, and discretionary subsidies that fund the launch or continuation of specific projects.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, while the government was in caretaker mode, all three mechanisms were frozen.

Multi-year agreements: the heart of the problem

The mechanism

Multi-year agreements are funding contracts between the Region (or the Community Commissions) and nonprofit organisations. They typically cover a period of 3 to 5 years and define the missions, objectives and financial resources allocated.

These agreements form the backbone of nonprofit funding. They enable organisations to plan their activities, retain their teams and guarantee continuity of services to beneficiaries.

What is blocked

Dozens of multi-year agreements expired since June 2024. Under the caretaker government, the regional executive could not:

Renew existing agreements that have expired
Negotiate new agreements with organisations
Increase financial allocations to account for inflation
Adapt missions to the evolving needs of the population

Organisations whose agreements had expired generally continued to operate on the basis of tacit renewals or provisional funding. This created considerable legal and financial uncertainty: organisations did not know what resources they would have in the medium term.

The concrete consequences

According to the CBCS, several organisations have had to:

Postpone recruitment planned in their staffing plans
Scale back programmes due to lack of budgetary certainty
Turn away new beneficiaries for want of guaranteed capacity
Freeze investments in premises, equipment and digital tools

Source: CBCS, report on the state of the Brussels nonprofit sector, 2025.

Accreditations: the door closed to new services

The principle

Accreditation is the administrative act by which a public authority recognises that an organisation meets the conditions to carry out a specific activity. It determines access to public funding and, in some cases, is a legal requirement to operate.

The impact of the freeze

Between June 2024 and February 2026, no new accreditation was issued by the Brussels-Capital Region for nonprofit services. In practice:

New initiatives by existing organisations could not be launched
New organisations could not obtain the recognition needed to operate
Changes to accreditation (capacity extensions, changes to target groups) were on hold
Transfers of accreditation in the event of restructuring were complicated

This situation was particularly problematic in neighbourhoods where social needs were most acute. Field projects, sometimes prepared over months, remained shelved for lack of a political decision.

Discretionary subsidies: the freeze on room for manoeuvre

Discretionary subsidies represent the portion of nonprofit funding that depends directly on discretionary political decisions. They fund one-off projects, experimental initiatives and responses to emerging needs.

Under the caretaker government, discretionary subsidy budgets were frozen. Only commitments made before June 2024 were honoured. This meant:

No new regional calls for proposals for the nonprofit sector
No emergency funding to respond to unforeseen social crises
No experimentation with new models of social intervention
No ad hoc support for organisations in financial difficulty

What continues to function

Structural subsidies

Structural funding committed before June 2024 continues to be disbursed. Organisations with agreements still in force receive their funding instalments. Nonprofit workers' salaries are paid.

The federations

Sectoral federations play a crucial role in coordination and advocacy:

CBCS (Brussels Council for Socio-Political Coordination) documents the impact of the crisis on the sector and coordinates demands
FeBISP (Brussels Federation of Socio-Professional Integration Organisations) supports its members in managing the uncertainty
Brupartners (the Region's Economic and Social Council) continues its advisory missions

Front-line services

Direct services to beneficiaries -- day centres, food aid, individual social support -- continue to operate with existing resources.

The populations most affected

The freeze on the nonprofit sector primarily affected the most vulnerable populations in Brussels:

People on socio-professional integration pathways, whose programmes are weakened
Single-parent families who depend on local services
Newcomers awaiting integration support
Homeless people for whom new shelter places could not be created
Isolated elderly people whose home care services are not being reinforced

Outlook

The Brussels nonprofit sector has significant resilience, but it is not unlimited. The longer the caretaker period continued, the worse the structural consequences became:

Loss of expertise: qualified workers leave the sector for more stable employment
Erosion of services: programmes are gradually scaled back for lack of refinancing
Accumulation of needs: populations not supported today will present heavier needs tomorrow
Financial fragility: organisations exhaust their reserves and cash flow

Each month without a fully empowered government represented a social debt that the nonprofit sector will have to absorb, with resources that were not adapted to the reality of needs.

Main source: CBCS, annual report 2025; FeBISP, sectoral situation note.

Construction

A sector at the crossroads of urban planning and the economy

The construction and real estate sector in Brussels is an essential link in the regional economy and urban transformation. It employs tens of thousands of workers and generates considerable economic activity, in both new construction and renovation of the existing building stock.

Brussels urban planning relies on strategic instruments -- Master Development Plans (PADs), regional urban planning permits and infrastructure public contracts -- all of which require fully empowered political decisions. The absence of a regional government between June 2024 and February 2026 froze all of these mechanisms.

Master Development Plans: the strategic freeze

What is a PAD?

Master Development Plans are territorial planning tools created by the Brussels Code of Territorial Planning (CoBAT). They define the development framework for strategic zones at the regional level: land use, building density, public spaces, mobility and collective facilities.

A PAD commits the Region to a long-term vision for a neighbourhood or an urban hub. Its adoption is a major political act that requires a fully empowered government.

The frozen PADs

Several PADs are currently awaiting adoption or amendment:

PAD Heysel: the redevelopment of the Heysel plateau, including the Neo project, was suspended. This project planned a congress centre, retail, housing and public spaces on one of the largest development sites in Brussels.
PAD Gare du Midi: the transformation of the Gare du Midi area, one of the Region's most ambitious urban projects, could not proceed. The PAD was to provide a framework for the reconversion of this strategic zone between rail mobility and urban renewal.
PAD Delta: the development of the Delta-Herrmann-Debroux site, linked to the dismantling of the viaduct and the creation of a new neighbourhood, is on hold.
PAD Casernes: the conversion of the former Ixelles barracks site into a mixed-use neighbourhood was blocked.
PAD Mediapark: the redevelopment of the RTBF/VRT site at Reyers was frozen.

Each of these PADs represents potential investments of hundreds of millions of euros and the creation of thousands of homes and jobs.

Source: perspective.brussels, PAD progress report, 2025.

The consequences of immobility

The freeze on PADs has cascading effects:

Legal uncertainty: developers and investors did not know which regulatory framework would apply to their projects
Postponement of private investment: without an adopted PAD, private projects that depended on the regulatory framework were suspended
Loss of attractiveness: Brussels lost ground to other European cities that were moving forward on their urban projects
Deterioration of sites: land awaiting redevelopment degraded or remained underused

Regional public contracts: hundreds of millions on hold

The scale of the freeze

The Brussels-Capital Region is a major client for the construction sector. Its public contracts cover:

Mobility infrastructure: tramways, tunnels, major cycle paths
Public buildings: schools, sports facilities, cultural centres
Public spaces: squares, parks, roads
Public housing: programmes of the SLRB, Alliance Habitat

Under the caretaker government, only maintenance contracts and prior commitments were honoured. New strategic contracts -- those requiring a political decision -- were postponed.

The Confederation Construction Bruxelles-Capitale estimated that hundreds of millions of euros in public contracts were awaiting launch. This freeze directly affected the order books of Brussels construction firms.

The domino effect on employment

The construction sector operates on long project cycles (2 to 5 years from design to delivery). The freeze did not immediately translate into massive job losses -- ongoing sites continued -- but it created a gap in the pipeline that will be felt from 2026-2027 onwards:

Engineering firms saw their commissions decline
General contractors postponed their hiring plans
Specialist subcontractors lost contracts
Materials suppliers saw demand fall

Urban planning permits: a two-tier system

What works

Urban planning permits falling under municipal authority continue to be issued. The 19 Brussels municipalities process permit applications for:

Small and medium-scale projects
Renovations of existing housing
Local changes of use
Neighbourhood retail fit-outs

Urban.brussels, the regional urban planning authority, continues to handle routine cases and requests for opinions.

What is blocked

Regional-scope urban planning permits -- those requiring a government decision -- were on hold:

Major mixed-use projects (housing, offices, retail) on PAD sites
Large-scale public facilities of regional scope
Strategic projects linked to mobility or infrastructure
Derogations from the Regional Land Use Plan (PRAS) for projects that deviate from existing zoning

Ongoing construction sites: continuity assured

It is important to note that projects with all permits and funding in place before June 2024 continue normally:

SLRB social housing construction sites already under way
Renovation work on Brussels tunnels (Bruxelles Mobilite programme)
Metro 3 construction (federal/STIB responsibility)
Private projects with all permits granted

Construction did not come to a halt in Brussels. But the renewal of the project pipeline was frozen.

Outlook: an accumulating urban debt

Urban planning is a long process. Decisions not taken today will have visible consequences in 5 to 10 years:

Housing not built: each year of delay in adopting PADs pushes back the delivery of thousands of homes in a Region that desperately needs them
Ageing infrastructure: investments not made in public facilities worsen the maintenance deficit
Slowed energy transition: energy renovations of public buildings and new construction standards remain on hold
Regional competitiveness: the accumulated delay in urban development affects Brussels' attractiveness for businesses and investors

The Confederation Construction Bruxelles-Capitale and perspective.brussels agree: each month of political immobility deepens an urban and economic debt from which the Region will take years to recover.

Sources: perspective.brussels, activity report 2025; Confederation Construction Bruxelles-Capitale, situation note; urban.brussels, permit statistics.

Health and social

COCOM: a key institution for social affairs in Brussels

The Joint Community Commission (COCOM), known in Dutch as the Gemeenschappelijke Gemeenschapscommissie (GGC), is the bi-communal institution responsible for personal assistance and health matters in Brussels. It covers so-called "bi-personal" matters: those that fall under neither the French Community nor the Flemish Community exclusively, but address all Brussels residents regardless of their linguistic affiliation.

Its scope of action is broad:

Nursing homes and care homes (MRS)
Home care for the elderly and dependent persons
Outpatient mental health services
Homelessness policy and emergency shelter
Early childhood care (bi-communal component)
Services for people with disabilities
Bi-communal hospitals

Between June 2024 and February 2026, COCOM operated under a caretaker government and its budget was managed through provisional twelfths. Its executive arm, Iriscare, continued its core missions but could not commit any significant new expenditure.

The freeze on accreditations: the door is closed

The accreditation mechanism

Accreditation is the act by which COCOM recognises that a care facility or service meets the required quality and safety standards. It determines access to public funding and, in most cases, is a legal requirement to operate.

Between June 2024 and February 2026: zero new accreditations

Under the caretaker government, COCOM could not issue any new accreditation. The consequences were direct:

No new nursing homes despite the ageing of the Brussels population. The number of people over 80 in Brussels increased each year, but the supply of residential care was frozen.
No new day centres for elderly or disabled persons
No new accredited home care services
No capacity extensions for existing facilities that are saturated

Facilities that submitted accreditation applications before June 2024 see their files on indefinite hold. Some have invested in premises, recruited staff and find themselves without official recognition.

Source: Iriscare, annual report 2024.

Iriscare agreements: funding under pressure

The role of agreements

Iriscare, the public interest body that implements COCOM policy, funds care providers and facilities through multi-year agreements. These agreements define the missions, resources and quality objectives for each accredited service.

The refinancing blockage

Several multi-year agreements expired since June 2024. Under the caretaker government, Iriscare could not:

Renew expired agreements under updated conditions
Revalue rates to account for inflation and rising costs
Adapt agreements to evolving needs (ageing, mental health, precariousness)
Fund new pilot projects or experiments

Care providers continued to operate on the basis of tacit renewals under previous conditions. The gap between actual costs and funding widened each month.

Provisional twelfths

COCOM's budget was managed through provisional twelfths: each month, one twelfth of the previous year's budget was released. This mechanism guaranteed continuity of operations but prohibited:

Any budget increase, even to cover indexation
Any new investment in infrastructure or equipment
Any new policy, even if it responds to a documented urgent need

Homelessness policy: the permanent emergency

The figures

The count carried out by Bruss'Help in November 2024 recorded 7,134 homeless or without-a-home people in Brussels. This figure has been rising steadily:

2018: 4,187 people
2020: 5,313 people
2022: 6,496 people
2024: 7,134 people

The increase is 70% in six years. It affects all profiles: single people, families with children, young adults, elderly people, migrants in transit.

Source: Bruss'Help, count reports 2018-2024.

What works

The winter emergency scheme: each year, additional emergency shelter places are opened during the winter period (November to March). This scheme is recurrent and funded from existing budgets.
Bruss'Help: the coordinating organisation for the homelessness sector continues its missions of counting, referral and coordination between stakeholders.
Existing reception centres: facilities accredited and funded before June 2024 remain operational.

What is blocked

The structural plan to combat homelessness required political decisions that the caretaker government could not take:

Housing First: the programme, whose effectiveness is demonstrated by the scientific literature, could not be extended to new cohorts of beneficiaries
Permanent shelter places: making emergency shelter places permanent beyond the winter scheme requires multi-year budget commitments
Transit housing: no new agreements between COCOM and municipalities to create transitional housing
Multidisciplinary support: no reinforcement of field teams (social workers, mediators, psychologists)

Mental health: needs without answers

A structural crisis

Mental health needs in Brussels have been rising structurally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Outpatient mental health services (Services de Sante Mentale -- SSM) face waiting lists of several months for a first consultation.

The most affected populations:

Young people (18-25): anxiety, depression, social isolation
People in precarious situations: precariousness is a major determinant of mental health
Isolated elderly people: loneliness aggravates cognitive and depressive disorders
Migrants and asylum seekers: trauma, post-migration stress, language barriers

What is blocked

Under the caretaker government, COCOM could not launch any new mental health initiative:

No new mobile crisis teams despite the saturation of existing services
No new community mental health centres
No targeted prevention programmes (youth, elderly, precarious environments)
No reinforcement of existing SSMs whose teams are understaffed
No new agreements with hospitals for psychiatric emergencies

Existing teams continued to work, but they were absorbing growing demand with constant resources.

Source: Brussels mental health network; Observatory of Health and Social Affairs.

Nursing homes: an ignored demographic challenge

The demographic reality

The ageing of the Brussels population is an established fact. The number of people over 80 increases each year, resulting in growing demand for places in nursing homes and care facilities.

The frozen supply

Under the caretaker government:

No new accreditations for nursing homes
No capacity extensions for existing facilities
No refinancing to improve the quality of care
No pricing policy adapted to residents' purchasing power

Nursing home staff faced difficult working conditions: heavy workloads, salaries under pressure, high turnover. The freeze on investments worsened this situation.

What continues to function

Despite the blockages, the system has not collapsed:

Iriscare handles day-to-day management: payments to providers, file processing, quality inspections
Accredited services continue to operate within the limits of their current resources
Bruss'Help coordinates the homelessness sector with an operational winter scheme
The Observatory of Health and Social Affairs continues to produce data and analyses
Existing mobile teams in mental health continue their interventions

Family allowances: a separate budgetary pressure

Family allowances in Brussels fall under COCOM competence since the 6th state reform. This transfer of powers entrusted Brussels with managing its own family benefits for over 308,000 children.

In February 2026, the Brussels Parliament adopted a reform of family allowance management aimed at achieving savings. This reform includes a reduction of subsidies to family allowance funds and a gradual consolidation of operators towards Famiris.

This reform is not a consequence of the caretaker government freeze. It is a separate parliamentary decision, driven by COCOM's budgetary constraints. However, it adds to the difficulties of the Brussels social sector and amplifies the pressure on families.

Source: La Libre Belgique, 7 February 2026; Brussels Parliament, draft ordinance DeFI/Anders/PS.

Conclusion: a social health system under strain

COCOM/GGC is the institution that covers the most fundamental needs of Brussels residents: health, assistance for the elderly, homelessness policy, mental health. The freeze on its investment and decision-making capacity had direct consequences for the most vulnerable populations.

Each month under the caretaker government:

Waiting lists grew longer
Existing facilities were stretched thinner
Unmet needs accumulated
The social debt deepened

The new government will need to adopt a multi-year budget, renew agreements with providers, accredit new facilities and launch the structural plans that the situation demands.

Main sources: Iriscare, annual report 2024; Bruss'Help, count November 2024; Observatory of Health and Social Affairs, Social Barometer 2025; COCOM, budget on provisional twelfths.

Horeca

An emblematic sector for Brussels

The horeca sector (hotels, restaurants, cafes) is one of the most visible parts of the Brussels economy. With approximately 9,000 establishments and 35,000 direct jobs, it constitutes a major economic pillar of the Brussels-Capital Region. The sector is also intimately linked to the city's cultural identity, its tourist appeal and the vitality of its neighbourhoods.

The Brussels horeca sector depends on several regional mechanisms: seasonal employment subsidies, urban planning and terrace permits, the tourism policy led by Visit.brussels, and sectoral premiums managed by Actiris and hub.brussels.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, the caretaker regional government could no longer take new decisions in these areas.

Subsidies for seasonal workers: a critical shortfall

The mechanism

Brussels horeca is characterised by strong seasonality. The summer months, festive periods and major events (European summits, international conferences) generate peaks in activity that require hiring seasonal workers. The Brussels-Capital Region had developed specific support schemes for these temporary hires.

What is blocked

Under the caretaker government, no new seasonal employment support scheme could be launched. Existing budgets were frozen at pre-June 2024 levels. In practice:

No new subsidies for hiring seasonal workers in 2025 and 2026
No adjustment of amounts for inflation and rising labour costs
No targeted programmes for hard-to-employ jobseekers in the horeca sector
No specific support for the sector's digital transition

According to Federation Horeca Brussels, this situation forced many establishments to limit their seasonal hiring or offer less favourable contracts to workers.

Source: Federation Horeca Brussels, communication on seasonal employment, 2025.

Terrace permits: urban policy on hold

The stakes

Terraces are an essential element of the business model of many Brussels cafes and restaurants. They are also an issue of urban planning, public space sharing and quality of life in neighbourhoods.

The granting of terrace permits and approval of extensions fell under political decisions that could not be taken under the caretaker government, except for matters of day-to-day management.

The consequences

No new terrace permits for recently opened establishments
No extension of existing terraces into new spaces
No regularisation of provisional arrangements inherited from the COVID period
No adaptation of regulations to new urban realities (pedestrianisation, cycle lanes)

Operators wishing to install or enlarge a terrace had to wait for a fully empowered government to be formed.

Source: Brulocalis, note on urban planning permits under a caretaker government, 2025.

Tourism policy: a strategy on hold

The context

Brussels welcomed approximately 8.5 million overnight stays in 2024, up from the post-COVID years. The Region has a dedicated body, Visit.brussels, responsible for tourism promotion and sector support.

What is suspended

The regional strategic tourism plan, which defines priorities and investments for the development of tourism in Brussels, was suspended. Visit.brussels continued its routine promotion activities but could not:

Launch major new campaigns requiring additional budgets
Develop new international partnerships committing the Region
Fund new tourist reception infrastructure
Adapt the strategy to changes in the international tourism market

Source: Visit.brussels, activity report 2024; hub.brussels, Brussels economic observatory.

Sectoral employment premiums

Regional employment premiums specific to the horeca sector, managed by Actiris, were an important lever for encouraging recruitment in a sector that struggles to attract staff. Under the caretaker government:

Premium amounts could not be increased
Eligibility criteria could not be broadened to new target groups
Specific support programmes could not be strengthened
Coordination between Actiris, Forem and VDAB for commuting workers was frozen

Source: Actiris, annual report 2024.

What continues to function

Existing support

Employment support programmes committed before June 2024 continue to be implemented. Horeca employers already receiving premiums or subsidies continue to receive them under the agreed terms.

Basic tourism promotion

Visit.brussels continues its promotion activities within its existing operating budget. Campaigns planned before June 2024 are being carried out normally.

Support services

Actiris and hub.brussels continue to support jobseekers and entrepreneurs in the horeca sector with existing resources.

Impact on the ground

The freeze on regional mechanisms had direct consequences for the sector's daily life:

Reduced seasonal employment: fewer seasonal positions opened during peak periods
Postponed investments: renovation and expansion projects were on hold
Weakened competitiveness: Brussels establishments were disadvantaged compared to neighbouring regions that adapted their policies
Stagnating tourist appeal: without new initiatives, Brussels lost ground to other European capitals

Outlook

The Brussels horeca sector demonstrated its resilience during the health crisis. But the combination of persistent inflation, structural recruitment difficulties and the absence of an active regional policy weakened a sector already under pressure.

Each tourist season without adapted support represented lost revenue for establishments, a missed employment opportunity for workers and a weakening of Brussels' economic attractiveness.

Main sources: Federation Horeca Brussels; Actiris, annual report 2024; Visit.brussels, activity report 2024; hub.brussels, economic observatory.

Culture

Brussels, a cultural capital under pressure

Brussels occupies a unique place in the European cultural landscape. As a bilingual city at the heart of Europe, it is home to approximately 300 subsidised cultural institutions and generates some 15,000 jobs in the cultural sector. Theatres, museums, art centres, concert halls, galleries, dance companies and artistic collectives make the capital an internationally recognised creative hub.

The funding of this cultural vitality relies on a system involving several levels of government that must be clearly distinguished:

Community (FWB, Flemish Community): the majority of cultural subsidies in Brussels. Multi-year programme contracts, accreditations and structural funding for major institutions fall under Community competence. This level continues to operate, but without indexation of funding envelopes.
Regional (Brussels-Capital Region): co-funding of cultural projects, one-off subsidies, regional accreditations, inter-level coordination. This level has been frozen since 9 June 2024.
Municipal: municipal subsidies for local initiatives, provision of venues and infrastructure. This level continues but some communes have made budget cuts.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, the specifically regional mechanisms were frozen. Community competences continued but were progressively eroding due to non-indexation.

Cultural subsidies: the heart of the problem

The mechanism

The Brussels-Capital Region devotes an annual budget of approximately EUR 120 million to cultural policies, directly or through the community commissions. These funds finance the operations of cultural institutions, artistic programming, artist residencies, cultural mediation projects and support for emerging creators.

What is blocked

Under the caretaker government, the entire system of regional cultural funding was frozen:

No new subsidies for emerging cultural projects
No revaluation of existing allocations to account for inflation
No additional support for structures in financial difficulty
No regional calls for proposals for artistic creation

Institutions receiving structural subsidies committed before June 2024 continue to receive them. But every new application goes unanswered.

Source: RAB/BKO, note on the impact of caretaker mode on the Brussels cultural sector, 2025.

Festivals: a nuanced situation

The Kunstenfestivaldesarts

The Kunstenfestivaldesarts, an internationally renowned performing arts festival, is primarily funded by the Federation Wallonia-Brussels and the Flemish Community (community competence). These multi-year subsidies continue to be disbursed, even without a regional government. The festival is therefore not directly threatened by the regional crisis.

However, the regional co-funding share could not be renewed or increased under the caretaker government, which limited room for development.

Events more directly affected

Festivals and events that rely more heavily on specifically regional funding are more exposed:

Events linked to Brussels heritage (regional competence)
Intercultural and bilingual events characteristic of Brussels
The Zinneke Parade and Image de Bruxelles festivals, whose regional funding is significant

The concrete consequences

Postponed ambitious projects: productions requiring regional co-production are suspended
Loss of international partnerships: foreign institutions hesitate to commit without regional co-funding guarantees
Increased precarity for artists: fewer commissions and residencies funded at the regional level

Source: RAB/BKO, policy watch, February 2026; COCOF, budget report 2025.

Bookstores and the book trade in Brussels

An economically fragile sector

The Press and Books sub-sector is the only segment of the cultural and creative industries (CCI) in decline in Brussels: -3% of enterprises over ten years, while the overall CCI sector is growing (+21% in jobs since 2013). It nevertheless accounts for 4,200 enterprises and EUR 1.7 billion in turnover (source: hub.brussels, CCI study 2023).

Brussels has approximately 30 independent bookstores of small to medium size. Their average profit margin is approximately 1% of turnover -- an extremely precarious balance. French-language bookstores additionally lose 0.5% margin on books imported from France (VAT 5.5% in France vs 6% in Belgium).

Filigranes: near-bankruptcy and revival

Filigranes, Belgium's largest bookstore (accounting for roughly one-tenth of all physical book purchases in the country), narrowly avoided bankruptcy in 2024 after two restructurings in 18 months. Acquired in December 2024 by businessman Mehmet Sandurac (EUR 305,000 + EUR 1.5 million investment), it reopened on 23 April 2025 at Boulevard de Waterloo (Mayfair) with 30 employees and ~150,000 titles.

Chain reorganisations

Club (Standaard Boekhandel subsidiary) underwent a reorganisation in 2024. The Club Flagey and Club Dockx stores in Brussels were transferred to Press Shop and More. The brand was renamed "Librairie Club" in 2025. Furet du Nord went bankrupt in Belgium (Louvain-la-Neuve, Namur).

The Brussels Book Fair

The 54th Brussels Book Fair (Tour and Taxis, March 2025) attracted a record 85,000 visitors (+13% vs 2024), with 1,200 authors, 300 exhibitors and 500 publishing houses represented. The 55th edition is planned for 26-29 March 2026.

Federal threat: VAT at 9%

The proposed Arizona federal coalition plans a VAT increase on books from 6% to 9%. The French-language booksellers' union calls the measure "catastrophic" for a network operating on 1% margins. Such an increase would encourage cross-border online purchasing at the expense of physical bookstores.

Sources: hub.brussels (CCI study 2023), RTBF (Brussels bookstores, 2024; Book Fair 2025), SLFB (bookstores report 2024-2025), Actualitte.

Community centres: the local cultural fabric

The role of the centres

Cultural and community centres form the local cultural network across the 19 Brussels municipalities. They offer spaces for creation, dissemination and artistic practice accessible to all audiences, and play an essential role in neighbourhood social cohesion.

The impact of the freeze

Allocations to regional community centres could not be increased or redirected. In practice:

No refinancing to offset inflation of operating costs (energy, rent, equipment)
No new missions entrusted to the centres (digital mediation, reaching new audiences)
No investment in the renovation of local cultural infrastructure
No adaptation of programming to the changing needs of neighbourhoods

Centres that had been operating on tight budgets for years saw their room for manoeuvre shrink further.

Source: COCOF, state of play of cultural centres, 2025; VGC, annual report 2024.

Cultural accreditations: the door closed to new initiatives

Under the caretaker government, no new accreditation could be issued to cultural structures. This blocked:

The official recognition of new companies or artistic collectives
Access to public funding for young structures
Changes to accreditation for institutions wishing to expand their activities
The creation of new cultural venues requiring regional accreditation

Source: French Community Commission, report on cultural accreditations, 2025.

What continues to function

Community funding (the majority)

The majority of cultural subsidies in Brussels come from the community level: the Federation Wallonia-Brussels and the Flemish Community fully exercise their cultural competences, independently of the regional crisis. Multi-year programme contracts are maintained. However, the absence of indexation is causing a progressive erosion of real funding, estimated at several percentage points per year.

Ongoing regional structural funding

Regional structural subsidies committed before June 2024 continue to be disbursed. Beneficiary institutions receive their allocations under existing agreements.

Artistic autonomy

Cultural institutions with their own reserves, box office revenues, community funding or private funding continued to programme their seasons. Artistic creation did not stop, but complementary regional resources were frozen.

The populations most affected

The freeze on regional cultural mechanisms affected people unevenly:

Young creators who could not access their first public funding
Emerging companies whose projects remain shelved
Audiences in working-class neighbourhoods who depend on community centres for access to culture
Intermittent cultural workers whose work opportunities are shrinking
Artists not affiliated with major institutions, who are more dependent on one-off subsidies

What BGM does not say

This card does not say that all cultural funding in Brussels was blocked. The majority of cultural subsidies come from the community level (Federation Wallonia-Brussels, Flemish Community), where multi-year commitments continue. The regional crisis affects the specifically regional levers -- co-funding, regional accreditations, inter-level coordination -- and not the entire system.

Furthermore, the cultural sector faces pressures from other levels of government that are not linked to the regional crisis: non-indexation of community programme contracts, federal budget cuts to national institutions, VAT increases on leisure, reductions to Creative Europe at the European level. These factors accumulate alongside the regional freeze but do not stem from it.

Outlook

The Brussels cultural sector survived the health crisis thanks to emergency mechanisms. But the institutional crisis was different: it did not trigger exceptional support measures. The freeze was silent, gradual and cumulative.

Each season without an active cultural policy represented an impoverishment of the offering, a loss of talent and a weakening of Brussels' international reputation as a cultural capital.

Main sources: RAB/BKO, report 2025; COCOF, budget and activity report 2025; VGC, annual report 2024; IBSA, sectoral economic data.

Transport

A lifeline for Brussels mobility

The Brussels public transport network, managed by STIB-MIVB, forms the backbone of mobility in the Brussels-Capital Region. With approximately 430 million journeys per year, 4 metro lines, 18 tram lines and 54 bus lines, STIB carries hundreds of thousands of Brussels residents, commuters and visitors daily.

The operation and development of this network depend on regional political decisions: the multi-year investment plan, budgetary arbitrations on major infrastructure projects, fare policy and the planning of new lines.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, these levers were frozen. The network operated, but it could no longer evolve.

Metro 3: a project that advances, decisions that wait

The state of play

The Metro 3 project is the largest transport infrastructure construction project in Brussels history. It provides for the construction of a new metro line linking Gare du Nord to Bordet (Evere), with seven new stations. The total cost is estimated at approximately EUR 3.2 billion, co-financed by the Brussels-Capital Region and the federal government through Beliris.

Civil engineering works continue in accordance with contracts committed before June 2024. The tunnel boring machines advance, stations are being excavated, and workers are on site.

What is blocked (regional level)

However, key political decisions remained suspended:

Budgetary arbitrations: cost overruns could not be the subject of political decisions
Timeline: any adjustments to the commissioning date could not be validated
Southern extension: any decision on extending the line to southern Brussels was deferred
Intermodal integration: decisions on connecting Metro 3 with other networks (SNCB, TEC, De Lijn) required political arbitration

What continues (federal level)

Beliris, the federal cooperation agreement that co-finances Metro 3, continued to operate independently of the regional crisis. Federal investment decisions, public contracts managed by Beliris and the technical monitoring of the construction site continued. The project therefore advanced on its federal component, but the regional governance component was frozen.

The risk was that of a construction site operating at two speeds: the federal component (Beliris) that decided and invested, and the regional component (STIB/Region) that could no longer arbitrate the strategic choices within its remit.

Source: Beliris, Metro 3 progress report, 2025; STIB, annual report 2024.

STIB investment plan: the strategic freeze

The mechanism

STIB operates on the basis of a management contract with the Brussels-Capital Region, which defines public service obligations, quality targets and financial resources. This contract is accompanied by a multi-year investment plan that programmes the purchase of new rolling stock, station renovation, network extension and infrastructure modernisation.

What is suspended

The multi-year investment plan could not be renewed or adapted. The consequences were gradual:

No ordering of new rolling stock beyond existing contracts
No renovation of ageing stations outside of already-launched projects
No investment in the digital modernisation of the network (ticketing, real-time passenger information)
No adaptation of services to Brussels' demographic changes

Rolling stock aged, stations deteriorated, and needs grew with the increasing Brussels population.

Source: STIB, investment plan 2020-2025; Brussels Mobility, regional mobility plan.

New lines and frequencies: a frozen offering

The need

Several rapidly expanding neighbourhoods (Heysel, Tour and Taxis, renovated European quarter) require an adaptation of the public transport offering. Projects for new tram lines, bus route extensions and increased frequencies were under study before June 2024.

What is blocked

No creation of new bus or tram lines
No increase in frequencies on saturated lines
No route changes to serve new neighbourhoods
No decision on dedicated tramway projects

Users in poorly served neighbourhoods continued to endure long journey times and multiple connections.

Source: Brussels Mobility, new lines feasibility study, 2024.

Fares and accessibility

Decisions on STIB network fares were also frozen:

No changes to social fares for vulnerable populations
No extension of free travel to new user categories
No fare harmonisation with other operators (TEC, De Lijn, SNCB)
No additional investment in accessibility for persons with reduced mobility (PRM)

Source: STIB, fare schedule 2024; Brussels Mobility, accessibility plan.

What continues to function

Ongoing operations

STIB continues to transport hundreds of thousands of passengers daily. Timetables are maintained, lines operate, and staff are in place. Existing service quality is preserved.

Ongoing construction

All projects launched before June 2024 continue normally. Metro 3 advances, planned station renovations are being carried out, and ordered rolling stock is being delivered.

Maintenance

Network maintenance (tracks, stations, rolling stock) continues to be carried out within existing budgets.

Impact on users

The freeze on decision-making had tangible consequences for users:

Saturation of lines during peak hours with no prospect of short-term improvement
Ageing of rolling stock on certain lines
Lack of adequate service in newly developing neighbourhoods
Stagnation of social fare options despite rising cost of living

Outlook

Brussels public transport faced a paradox: a mega-project (Metro 3) that advanced mechanically, but an overall system that could not adapt to the changing needs of the city. Each month without political decisions widened the gap between the transport offering and user demand.

The Metro 3 question perfectly illustrated this tension: the tunnel boring machines dug, but the decisions that determined service quality, intermodality and the final cost of the project awaited a fully empowered government.

Main sources: STIB, annual report 2024; Beliris, Metro 3 monitoring; Brussels Mobility, regional mobility plan; hub.brussels, sectoral economic data.

Education

Education and training: a major regional issue

Education and vocational training are a central issue for the Brussels-Capital Region. With a youth unemployment rate of approximately 28%, a dense school network of 700 schools and a regional vocational training body (Bruxelles Formation) that serves 18,000 trainees per year, education and training policies are essential levers for socio-economic integration.

In Belgium, compulsory education falls under the competence of the Communities (French, Flemish, German-speaking). However, the Brussels-Capital Region exercises its own competences in vocational training, school infrastructure, educational coordination and bilingual projects. These competences are directly affected by the caretaker freeze.

Bruxelles Formation: programmes on hold

The role

Bruxelles Formation is the regional public body for vocational training. It offers qualifying training in dozens of occupations -- construction, digital, languages, management, healthcare -- aimed at Brussels jobseekers. The body works in partnership with Actiris, VDAB Brussels and numerous accredited training providers.

What is blocked

Existing training programmes were being continued, but no new programme could be launched:

No new training courses in sectors with labour shortages (digital, green transition, healthcare)
No adaptation of existing programmes to labour market changes
No new partnerships with private training providers
No strengthening of skills validation mechanisms
No increase in the number of places on the most in-demand courses

For a region where youth unemployment exceeds 28%, the freeze on training policy constituted a structural handicap.

Source: Bruxelles Formation, activity report 2024; Actiris, Brussels labour market overview 2025.

School infrastructure: blocked renovations

The situation

The Brussels school estate is ageing. Many buildings date from the early 20th century and require significant renovation: thermal insulation, safety standard compliance, PRM accessibility, digital equipment. Perspective.brussels estimates that over 100 school buildings require priority intervention.

What is suspended

School renovation projects that had not been formally committed (public procurement launched, budgets allocated) before June 2024 were blocked:

No new renovation projects financed by the Region
No investment in the energy efficiency of Brussels schools
No fire safety upgrades for the oldest buildings
No creation of new school places in demographically growing neighbourhoods

The municipalities, which manage part of the school estate, were also constrained in their investments by the regional budget situation.

Source: Perspective.brussels, school facilities monitoring, 2025; IBSA, school demographic data.

Bilingual education: suspended pilot projects

The context

Brussels is an officially bilingual region (French-Dutch), but in practice bilingualism is declining. Knowledge of Dutch is nevertheless a considerable asset on the Brussels job market, and bilingual education is a lever for social cohesion in a linguistically diverse city.

Before June 2024, the Region had launched consultations and pilot projects aimed at strengthening bilingual education, in collaboration with the Communities. These initiatives were suspended.

What is blocked

No launch of new bilingual education pilot projects
No regional funding for language bridging initiatives in schools
No enhanced coordination between the French Community and the Flemish Community on the bilingual school offering
No support for schools wishing to develop immersion programmes

Source: Brupartners, opinion on bilingual education in Brussels, 2024; VGC, report on Dutch in Brussels.

Subsidies for innovative education projects

Regional subsidy budgets for innovative education projects -- digital learning in schools, tackling school dropout, youth employment insertion -- were frozen:

No new regional calls for proposals in the education field
No funding for pedagogical experiments
No additional support for schools in priority neighbourhoods
No investment in digital educational tools

Source: COCOF, report on education policies, 2025; Bruxelles Formation, strategic note 2025.

What continues to function

Existing training

Training programmes launched before June 2024 continue to be delivered. Enrolled trainees continue their training pathways. Bruxelles Formation and its partners ensure service continuity.

Community education

The French and Flemish Communities continue to fully exercise their competences in compulsory education. Schools operate, teachers are in place, and curricula are delivered.

Committed projects

School renovation projects whose public procurement had been launched before June 2024 continue normally.

The populations most affected

The freeze on education and training mechanisms primarily affected:

Young jobseekers who could not find training suited to their career plans
Workers in career transition who could not access new qualifying programmes
Pupils in dilapidated schools studying in deteriorating material conditions
Families in growing neighbourhoods who lack school places
Non-bilingual Brussels youth whose job market prospects are reduced

Outlook

Education and training constitute the most cost-effective long-term investment for a region facing high structural unemployment. Each month without an active training policy represented skills not acquired, jobs not filled and young people remaining distant from the labour market.

The freeze on school renovations also had long-term consequences: buildings deteriorated, renovation costs increased and learning conditions worsened for pupils.

Main sources: Bruxelles Formation, activity report 2024; Actiris, labour market 2025; Perspective.brussels, facilities monitoring; IBSA, Brussels socio-economic indicators.

Digital

A strategic sector for the future of Brussels

The technology and digital sector is a growing pillar of the Brussels economy. With approximately 40,000 direct jobs and an ecosystem of over 1,200 startups, Brussels has positioned itself as a digital hub in Europe. The presence of European institutions and international organisations strengthens the Region's attractiveness for technology companies.

The sector depends on several regional mechanisms: the Smart City strategy, digital inclusion subsidies, startup incentives managed by Innoviris and hub.brussels, and the digitalisation of public services.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, the caretaker regional government could no longer take new structural decisions in these areas.

Smart City strategy: an interrupted vision

The mechanism

Brussels' Smart City strategy aimed to integrate digital technologies into urban management: smart mobility, data management, connected public services, digital citizen participation. This framework plan defined investments and priorities to make Brussels a smart and inclusive city.

What is blocked

Under the caretaker government, no new strategic initiatives could be launched. In practice:

No new smart city projects (urban sensors, open data, participatory platforms)
No adaptation of the plan to rapid technological developments (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity)
No new public-private partnerships in the digital domain
No funding for new regional digital infrastructure

Source: Brussels-Capital Region, Smart City plan; hub.brussels, digital economy observatory, 2025.

Digital inclusion: vulnerable populations left waiting

The stakes

Brussels has a significant proportion of residents in situations of digital vulnerability: elderly people, low-skilled individuals, newcomers. Regional digital inclusion programmes fund training, public digital spaces and support schemes.

What is frozen

No new calls for projects for organisations active in digital inclusion
No expansion of public digital spaces in disadvantaged neighbourhoods
No adaptation of programmes to new needs (mandatory online administration, post-COVID digital divide)
No strengthening of partnerships with CPAS/OCMW social welfare centres and municipalities

Grassroots organisations such as BeCode reported a growing need for digital training that existing resources could not meet.

Source: BeCode, activity report 2024; King Baudouin Foundation, digital inclusion barometer, 2025.

Startup incentives: a weakened ecosystem

The context

The Brussels startup ecosystem developed thanks to a range of regional instruments: pre-activity grants, Innoviris innovation premiums, hub.brussels support, and Region-backed incubators.

Consequences of the freeze

No new programmes for innovation support adapted to current technological trends
No revaluation of grant and premium amounts against inflation
No new agreements with incubators and accelerators
No regional strategy for attracting international technology talent

Innoviris continued to fund projects approved before June 2024, but could not launch new large-scale calls for projects.

Source: Innoviris, annual report 2024; hub.brussels, Brussels startup barometer, 2025.

Digitalisation of public services: modernisation on pause

Brussels' regional administrations had begun an extensive digitalisation programme. Under the caretaker government:

New digitalisation projects (single digital window, regional digital identity) were suspended
Major IT public procurement could not be launched
Digital training for civil servants was limited to existing programmes
Interoperability between the systems of different Brussels administrations stagnated

Source: CIRB (Centre for IT for the Brussels Region), activity report 2024.

What continues to function

Technology companies

Technology companies established in Brussels continued their activities normally. The private digital market was not directly affected by the caretaker government, although the absence of an active regional policy reduced the territory's attractiveness.

University research

Brussels universities continue their research programmes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and big data. Projects funded by European programmes (Horizon Europe) are unaffected.

Existing digital services

Regional digital platforms and services already deployed continue to function with existing maintenance budgets.

Impact on the ground

The freeze on regional mechanisms had concrete consequences for the digital sector:

Weakened startup ecosystem: without new incentives, Brussels startups are disadvantaged compared to Flemish and Walloon ecosystems
Widening digital divide: vulnerable populations lack training and support
Technological lag: the Smart City strategy falls behind other European capitals
Declining attractiveness: international digital talent turns to regions offering more active support

Outlook

The Brussels digital sector has structural assets: the European presence, a quality university pool, cultural diversity conducive to innovation. But these assets are not sufficient without an active regional policy of support and development.

Each month without a regional digital strategy represented accumulated delay compared to cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin or Lisbon, which were investing heavily in their digital transformation.

Main sources: Agoria, report on the Belgian digital economy 2024; Innoviris, annual report 2024; hub.brussels, economic observatory; BeCode, activity report 2024.

Environment

A sector at the heart of Brussels' challenges

Environment and climate are central challenges for the Brussels-Capital Region. With high urban density, an ageing building stock and European climate targets to meet, Brussels faces major environmental challenges: energy renovation of buildings, air quality, water management and biodiversity conservation.

Regional environmental policy relies on several key mechanisms: Renolution premiums, the Blue Deal for water management, the air quality action plan and the Nature Plan for biodiversity. These programmes are primarily led by Brussels Environment and its partners.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, the caretaker regional government could no longer take new structural decisions in these areas.

Renolution premiums: energy renovation stalls

The mechanism

The Renolution programme is the Region's primary lever for encouraging the energy renovation of buildings. It offers premiums for roof and facade insulation, replacement of oil boilers, installation of solar panels and heat pumps. This programme is essential for meeting regional climate targets.

What is blocked

Under the caretaker government, the Renolution programme could no longer accept new applications. Files submitted before June 2024 continued to be processed, but:

No new premium applications are accepted
No adjustment of premium amounts for construction cost inflation
No expansion of the programme to new types of work
No simplification of administrative procedures promised by the Region

With approximately 75% of Brussels buildings rated EPC D or lower, the need for energy renovation remains massive.

Source: Brussels Environment, Renolution review 2024; EPC certificates, regional statistics, 2025.

Blue Deal: water management suspended

The stakes

Brussels faces a dual water challenge: increasingly frequent flooding episodes during heavy rainfall, and the need for sustainable water resource management in the context of climate change. The Blue Deal, an interregional water management plan, provided for investments in stormwater infrastructure, surface de-sealing and protection of flood-prone areas.

What is frozen

No new projects for surface de-sealing or storm basins
No funding for new stormwater management infrastructure
No update to the mapping of flood risk zones
No new partnerships with municipalities for local water management

Source: Brussels Environment, water management plan 2022-2027; Vivaqua, annual report 2024.

Air quality: measures on hold

The context

Air quality in Brussels remains a major public health issue. The low-emission zone (LEZ), established in 2018, progressively restricts access for the most polluting vehicles. The regional air quality action plan provided for a gradual tightening of standards and complementary measures.

What is suspended

The tightening schedule for the low-emission zone could not be accelerated or modified
New measures to reduce air pollution could not be adopted
The enhanced monitoring plan planned for 2025-2026 could not be launched
Subsidies to individuals for replacing polluting vehicles were frozen

Source: Brussels Environment, air quality report 2024; regional Air-Climate-Energy plan.

Biodiversity: the green network on pause

The Nature Plan of the Brussels Region aimed to strengthen urban biodiversity and develop the green network (ecological corridors, neighbourhood green spaces, green roofs). Under the caretaker government:

New projects for creating green spaces are suspended
Neighbourhood contracts incorporating a biodiversity component could not be launched
The management plan for Brussels' Natura 2000 areas could not be updated
Subsidies for citizen greening projects were frozen

Source: Brussels Environment, Nature Plan 2016-2020 (extended); biodiversity report 2024.

What continues to function

Environmental permits

Environmental permits already issued remain valid. Renewal applications and routine administrative procedures continue to be processed by Brussels Environment.

Environmental monitoring

Brussels Environment continues its monitoring missions: air quality measurement stations, watercourse monitoring, management of regional green spaces and forests (Sonian Forest, regional parks).

Low-emission zone

The LEZ continues to operate according to the schedule established before June 2024. Controls and sanctions remain in force.

Impact on the ground

The freeze on environmental mechanisms had direct and measurable consequences:

Delayed climate targets: the CO2 reduction commitments for 2030 are becoming difficult to achieve
Slowed energy renovation: property owners could no longer access Renolution premiums for new projects
Flood risks: without new investments in water management, Brussels' vulnerability to heavy rainfall increases
Public health: the delay in strengthening air quality measures directly affects residents' health

Outlook

Environmental policy is a domain where lost time is difficult to make up. Each year without an active energy renovation programme increased the Region's climate debt. The European Green Deal targets were not suspended by Brussels' political crisis.

The new regional government will need not only to relaunch the frozen programmes, but also to compensate for the accumulated delay to meet Belgium's climate commitments.

Main sources: Brussels Environment, annual reports 2024; Renolution.brussels; Air-Climate-Energy plan; Inter-Environnement Bruxelles, analyses 2025.

Commerce

Local commerce, the vital fabric of Brussels

Commerce is an essential pillar of the Brussels economy and neighbourhood life. With approximately 60,000 commercial establishments and 55,000 direct jobs in retail, this sector runs through all 19 municipalities of the Region. From the major shopping streets (Rue Neuve, Avenue Louise, Chaussee d'Ixelles) to small neighbourhood shops, the Brussels commercial fabric is dense and diverse.

Regional commerce policy relies on several mechanisms: revitalisation subsidies, the night economy strategy, commercial regulation and the regional commerce action plan. These instruments are primarily managed by hub.brussels and Atrium Brussels.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, the caretaker regional government could no longer take new decisions in these areas.

Commercial revitalisation: struggling neighbourhoods without support

The mechanism

Commercial revitalisation programmes aim to combat the decline of Brussels' commercial centres. They fund the renovation of empty retail units, support for struggling shopkeepers, improvement of public spaces around commercial areas and collective promotion of shopping neighbourhoods.

What is blocked

With a vacancy rate estimated at approximately 15% in the Brussels Region, the need for revitalisation remained significant. Under the caretaker government:

No new calls for projects for the renovation of empty retail units
No funding for new shopkeeper support programmes
No partnership agreements with municipalities for revitalisation projects
No support for shopkeeper associations to develop collective strategies

Some Brussels neighbourhoods, particularly in low-income areas, saw their commercial situation deteriorate in the absence of regional support.

Source: hub.brussels, Brussels commerce observatory, 2025; Atrium Brussels, activity report 2024.

Night economy: a strategy on hold

The stakes

Brussels has a rich nightlife that contributes to its attractiveness and generates significant economic activity: restaurants, bars, concert venues, clubs. The Region had begun developing a specific strategy to support and regulate this night economy, balancing economic activity, residents' peace and security.

The consequences

No adoption of the night economy strategy
No adapted regulatory framework for nighttime activities
No structural mediation between nighttime operators and residents
No funding for adapted nighttime safety and cleanliness programmes

Source: hub.brussels, study on the Brussels night economy, 2024; BECI, commerce position paper, 2025.

Commercial regulation: modernisation on hold

The regulatory framework for Brussels retail was due to be modernised to adapt to sector developments: the rise of e-commerce, new forms of commerce (pop-up stores, dark kitchens), adaptation of trading hours. Under the caretaker government:

The planned regulatory updates could not be adopted
The administrative simplifications promised to shopkeepers were postponed
The legal framework for new forms of commerce remained unclear
Coordination with the federal level on e-commerce issues stagnated

Source: UCM Brussels, survey of Brussels shopkeepers, 2025.

Regional commerce action plan

The regional action plan coordinates all commerce support policies: shopkeeper training, digital support, promotion of Brussels artisans, commercial attractiveness. Under the caretaker government:

Renewal of the expired plan was impossible
New support measures could not be launched
Coordination between different institutional actors was limited to routine tasks
Budgets could not be reallocated to address sector emergencies

Source: hub.brussels, commerce action plan 2019-2024 (expired); Atrium Brussels, annual report 2024.

What continues to function

Commercial activity

Brussels shopkeepers continue their activities within the existing regulatory framework. The market functions normally, although the absence of an active support policy weakens the most vulnerable businesses.

Existing permits

Commercial permits and authorisations issued before June 2024 remain fully valid. Renewal procedures within the framework of day-to-day management continue.

Basic support

hub.brussels and Atrium Brussels continue to support shopkeepers and entrepreneurs with existing resources and programmes.

Impact on the ground

The freeze on regional mechanisms had visible consequences in Brussels neighbourhoods:

Increasing vacancy: without a revitalisation programme, struggling shopping streets deteriorate
Weakened neighbourhood commerce: small independent shopkeepers lack support against online competition
Slowed digital transition: shopkeepers wishing to digitalise lack guidance
Declining commercial attractiveness: Brussels loses ground to better-supported peripheral commercial zones

Outlook

Brussels commerce faces a structural transformation: the rise of e-commerce, evolving consumption habits, sustainability challenges. Without an active regional policy, this transformation is occurring at the expense of neighbourhood shops and the vitality of local areas.

The new regional government will need to relaunch commercial revitalisation programmes and adapt the regulatory framework to the sector's new realities, or risk increasing vacancy rates and deterioration of the local commercial fabric.

Main sources: hub.brussels, commerce observatory 2025; Atrium Brussels, activity report 2024; UCM Brussels, shopkeeper survey 2025; BECI, position paper 2025.

Housing (sector)

Housing, the primary concern of Brussels residents

Housing is the primary concern of residents of the Brussels-Capital Region. With rents among the highest in Belgium and a structurally insufficient social housing stock, the Brussels housing crisis is a long-standing challenge that the current political crisis is making worse.

The sector depends on several regional mechanisms: social housing construction programmes led by the SLRB/BGHM, rent regulation, the investment plan for renovating the existing social housing stock, and urban renovation contracts that incorporate affordable housing.

Between 9 June 2024 and 14 February 2026, the caretaker regional government could no longer take new structural decisions on housing.

Social housing construction: supply stagnates

The mechanism

The SLRB/BGHM (Brussels Regional Housing Corporation) coordinates regional social housing policy. It oversees the 16 SISP (public housing companies) that manage approximately 40,000 social housing units. New construction programmes are decided and funded at the regional level.

What is blocked

With over 50,000 households on the social housing waiting list, the need for construction was massive. Under the caretaker government:

No new social housing construction programmes
No new land identified or acquired for construction
No public-private partnerships for mixed housing projects
No revision of allocation criteria to respond to emergency situations

Projects already committed before June 2024 continue, but the pipeline for new projects is empty.

Source: SLRB/BGHM, annual report 2024; waiting list statistics, 2025.

Rent regulation: the status quo

The stakes

Brussels is the only Belgian Region where the question of rent regulation has been politically discussed. The indicative rent grid, a non-binding reference tool, was due to be strengthened. The Brussels rental framework also required adaptations to protect tenants from rising rents.

What is suspended

No strengthening of the indicative rent grid
No introduction of a binding rent regulation mechanism
No adaptation of legislation on primary residence leases
No new measures to protect against abusive evictions

The rental framework remains as it was before June 2024, with no adaptation to market developments.

Source: Rent Observatory, report 2024; Tenants' Union, analyses 2025.

SLRB/BGHM investment plan: renovation slows

The context

Brussels' social housing stock is ageing. Many units require significant renovation work: thermal insulation, safety compliance, replacement of technical installations. The SLRB/BGHM's multi-year investment plan provided for an ambitious renovation programme.

The consequences

The investment plan could not be renewed or extended
Renovation budgets are limited to already approved allocations
Emergency repairs are maintained, but major renovations are postponed
The energy performance of the social housing stock stagnates while energy costs rise

Social housing tenants bore the direct consequences of this freeze: poorly insulated units, high energy bills, persistent damp problems.

Source: SLRB/BGHM, investment plan 2020-2024 (expired); SISP reports, 2024.

Urban renovation contracts: forgotten neighbourhoods

Urban renovation contracts are an essential tool of Brussels' urban policy. They enable the revitalisation of disadvantaged neighbourhoods by combining affordable housing construction, public space renovation and creation of community facilities. Under the caretaker government:

No new urban renovation contracts
No funding for new housing projects in targeted neighbourhoods
No strengthened coordination between regional and municipal levels
No structural response to gentrification and social mix challenges

Source: Perspective.brussels, urban renovation contracts review, 2024.

What continues to function

Management of the existing stock

The 16 SISP continue to manage the approximately 40,000 existing social housing units. Allocation of vacant units, routine maintenance and rent collection continue normally.

Lease contracts

Existing lease contracts, both in the social and private sectors, remain fully in force. The rights and obligations of tenants and landlords are not affected by the caretaker government.

Housing allowances

Housing allowances (rent subsidies) already granted continue to be paid within existing budgets.

The disengagement of private investors

The Federia Barometre des locations 2025 (published 11 February 2026) confirms a worrying trend: estate agents signed 10% fewer rental contracts in 2024, despite sustained demand. Federia identifies a "progressive disengagement of private investors" from the Brussels rental market.

This decline is explained by a combination of factors:

Regulatory uncertainty: rent control (May 2025) and the outdated reference grid (2017-2020 data) create legal ambiguity
Punitive taxation: registration duties remain at 12.5% in Brussels, compared to 3% in Wallonia and 2% in Flanders
Political paralysis: the absence of a government prevents any adaptation of the regulatory framework

The median apartment rent reached 1,213 euro/month at end 2025, up 28% since 2021. Finding housing under 1,000 euro/month has become rare, including for studios.

Source: Federia, Barometre des locations 2025.

Impact on the ground

The freeze on regional mechanisms had direct human consequences:

Record waiting list: 62,234 households awaiting social housing, representing 10% of Brussels households
Persistent poor housing: without renovation of the social stock, living conditions do not improve
Rental precariousness: without regulatory adaptation, private-sector tenants remain exposed to rent increases
Shrinking supply: the disengagement of private investors is reducing available supply
Struggling neighbourhoods: without urban renovation contracts, the deterioration of certain neighbourhoods continues

Outlook

Housing was the area where Brussels' political crisis had the most direct human consequences. Each month without new construction programmes meant additional years of waiting for households on the social housing waiting list.

The new regional government will need to make housing an absolute priority: relaunching social construction, renovating the existing stock, adapting rent regulation and responding to the urgency of poor housing conditions in Brussels.

Main sources: SLRB/BGHM, annual report 2024; Rent Observatory 2024; Tenants' Union, analyses 2025; Perspective.brussels, urban renovation review 2024.