Brussels Governance MonitorKey dossiers
The dossiers shaping the future of Brussels, tracked and sourced
Accessibility and disability in Brussels: transport, employment and data
Brussels has approximately 23,100 disability allowance recipients (FPS, 2024). The handistreaming ordinance (2016) requires the systematic inclusion of disability in all policies. The DPR mentions handistreaming once, with no dedicated section or quantified target.
Subsidised Contract Workers: the weakened pillar of Brussels non-profit employment
~10,000 ACS positions in Brussels (6,700 active), regional budget of ~250M EUR via Actiris. No new positions created since 2007. The 6th State Reform transferred the competence to the Regions. The regional reform launched in 2015 shifts the tool from structural support to activation policy. The non-profit sector demonstrated on 3 February 2026 for a social agreement.
Citizens' assemblies: 6 commissions completed, 205+ recommendations, 7th in preparation
Brussels has two participatory democracy mechanisms: the deliberative commissions of Parliament (45 randomly selected citizens + 15 MPs) and the permanent citizens' assembly for climate. Six commissions completed since 2021 (205+ recommendations), a 7th on public cleanliness approved in January 2026. The climate assembly has completed 3 cycles. In parallel, several municipalities have launched participatory budgets.
Well-being and quality of life in Brussels: indicators, rankings and challenges
Brussels residents rate their life satisfaction at 7.5/10 (IBSA/FPB, 2023), below Flanders (7.8). Poverty affects 25-33% of the population (EU-SILC), loneliness fell from 9.5% to 4.8% (Q3 2024). Life expectancy is 82.15 years (2024). Brussels ranks 40th globally by Mercer (2024). Air quality meets EU standards but not WHO PM2.5 recommendations.
BIFFF: where Brussels culture lodges
Forty years, five addresses, four levels of government. The Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (44th edition, 3-18 April 2026) depends on €120,000/year from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and on a fragile regional-municipal scaffolding that the 2026-2029 Brussels government agreement is dismantling. No Dutch-speaking safety net: the English name protects the programming, but no Flemish political sponsor will defend the festival if the lasagne tears apart.
Data centres and AI: impact on the Brussels energy system
Belgian data centres consume 3.2 TWh of electricity (4% of the national total, twice the European average). With KevlinX BRU01 operational in Neder-Over-Heembeek since January 2026, the Brussels-Capital Region is directly affected. Projections indicate 7 to 15.5 TWh by 2035.
Compulsory education in Brussels: the impact of FWB and Flemish Community budget cuts
92% of Brussels children aged 3-17 attend schools in one of the Community networks (mostly FWB, about one-fifth in the Flemish Community). These two levels of power — over which the Region has no control — are imposing simultaneous cuts in 2026: €86.7M in FWB compulsory education, and €63.5M in Flemish secondary (revised downward on 15 March). The 9 April 2026 strike illustrates a social crisis settling into the walls of Brussels schools.
Bankruptcies in Brussels: overview, sectors and regional mechanisms
In 2025, 2,208 businesses were declared bankrupt in the Brussels-Capital Region (+13.2% year-on-year). Construction, hospitality and transport are the hardest-hit sectors. The Region has support mechanisms (CEd, hub.brussels, PRJ), but their capacity relative to the scale of the phenomenon remains to be documented.
Good Move: new regional plan to succeed it
The February 2026 agreement provides for a new Regional Mobility Plan to succeed Good Move, with smaller cells centred on school zones and a fundamental revision focused on road safety and quality of life.
LEZ: maintained with annual pass and reduced fines
LEZ saga: on 27 March, Budget Minister De Smedt (Anders) suspends fines from 1 April, contradicting State Secretary Persoons (Vooruit) 24h earlier. Groen denounces a 'power grab'. ~30,000 vehicles in legal limbo. Reformed framework targeted for January 2027.
Shared mobility in Brussels: e-scooters, bicycles, taxis and the battle over concessions
In March 2025, around 9,200 shared e-scooters and 6,500 shared bicycles operate in Brussels, within a regulatory framework in full legal turmoil. The Villo! concession (360 stations, JCDecaux) expires in September 2026 with no identified successor. Taxis are undergoing a zero-emission transition postponed to 2027, while the Labour Court reclassified an Uber driver as an employee.
PFAS in Brussels: soil and water contamination
82 contaminated parcels identified in the Brussels Region. The Sicli site in Uccle shows levels up to 1,058× the standard (31 PFAS compounds in soil, 20 in groundwater). TFA exceeds the EU 'total PFAS' standard (500 ng/L, in force since January 2026) in all 6 drinking water reservoirs. Landmark 3M trial in Belgium (1,400 residents, EUR 28M). The Environment Council calls for an integrated framework.
Security plan: anti-drugs commissioner, 10M EUR for stations and police zone merger
The February 2026 agreement provides for an integrated regional security plan, a regional anti-drugs commissioner, 10M EUR for securing the Midi and Nord railway stations, and interconnection of video surveillance systems. In parallel, the federal government is driving the merger of Brussels' 6 police zones into a single zone (6,500 officers, 55M EUR over 5 years, effective 2027).
Economic Transition: Shifting Economy, Labels and Sustainability Reporting
The Shifting Economy sets the 2030 target of directing subsidies exclusively to exemplary businesses, but only 188 out of 118,000 (0.16%) hold the Ecodynamic label. Omnibus I (Feb. 2026) reduces CSRD scope by 80%. The exemplarity mechanism increases regional subsidies by 2.5% to 45% since March 2024.
Seniors in Brussels: housing, autonomy and data
Brussels has approximately 163,000 people aged 65 and over (13% of the population). Iriscare funds 211 elderly care facilities (541M EUR in 2024). The DPR (Regional Policy Declaration) mentions home care and informal caregivers, without a specific budget or quantified targets.
SLRB: 1,000+ public housing units and financial consolidation
The February 2026 agreement provides for the financial consolidation of the SLRB and the construction of over 1,000 public housing units during the legislature (400M EUR). The waiting list exceeds 62,000 households.
Brussels Overflight: 40 Years of Conflict, 450,000 Affected Residents
Brussels Airport: 204,147 flights/year, 24.4M passengers (2025). Crucke Route (96% violations) + runway 01 (night use +252%). The State has been convicted 5 times, 25M EUR in cumulative penalties. Koekelberg, Molenbeek, Jette in court + 5 Flemish municipalities. Ultrafine particles measured up to 7 km. Federal-Flemish protocol (Dec. 2025).
Vivaqua: financial consolidation announced
The February 2026 agreement provides for the financial consolidation of Vivaqua. The multi-year investment plan (~1.3 billion EUR) for water network renewal can be restarted.
Police zone merger: from 6 to 1, vote expected before summer 2026
The federal government approved in second reading (23 Dec. 2025) a draft bill merging the 6 Brussels police zones into a single zone, with a budget of EUR 65M. Minister Quintin presented the project to the Chamber's Interior committee (10 Feb. 2026). Vote expected before summer 2026.
Reform of the regional administration: from 25 entities to 4 pillars
The Brussels government announces an administrative 'Big Bang': restructuring ~25 regional entities into 4 pillars, an extended hiring freeze, and a target of 250-300M EUR in savings by 2029. First confirmed merger: perspective.brussels + urban.brussels in 2026.
Metro 3: project frozen for 10 years, replaced by tram
The February 2026 agreement suspends the Metro 3 project as conceived (Albert — Bordet extension, ~5.2 Bn EUR) for 10 years. The Nord–Bordet section is frozen and replaced by a tram completing the loop of the existing network.
Early childhood in Brussels: nurseries, waiting lists and triple institutional authority
In Brussels, the coverage rate for nursery places varies from 16% in Anderlecht to 67% in Etterbeek — a gap that reflects unequal access to care for young parents. Three authorities share the competence: ONE (French Community), Opgroeien (Flemish Community) and Iriscare (COCOM, bicommunal). The FWB announced €74M in cuts to early childhood in 2026, partially offset by a €43M ONE emergency fund.
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